The Astros deserve more love. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros enter the 2025 season with plenty of question marks, but their starting rotation may quietly be one of the team’s biggest strengths. Despite finishing sixth in team ERA last season, Houston’s pitching staff isn’t getting much love from national outlets. MLB’s official rankings of the top 10 rotations didn’t include the Astros, though division rival Texas claimed the No. 9 spot.
But Houston’s rotation is in a far better position than it was this time last year. Injuries to Justin Verlander and JP France complicated things in spring training, and Ronel Blanco was still an unproven starter. This season, the Astros' rotation is already set, with reinforcements on the way. Lance McCullers Jr. could be ready to return in the coming weeks, and Luis Garcia may not be far behind him.
While the national media focuses on the losses of Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker, they aren’t paying as much attention to key additions like Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker. Former MLB GM Jim Bowden predicts a third-place finish for Houston, but the roster still has plenty of firepower.
The Astros’ talent is undeniable. Baseball America ranked eight Astros players in its top 100 list for 2025, tied with the Dodgers for second-most in baseball, trailing only the Braves. MLB Network also placed eight Astros in its top 100, tied for the most with the Mets. Despite these rankings, the Astros continue to fly under the radar.
One of the biggest questions heading into Opening Day is whether Cam Smith or Zach Dezenzo will make the roster. Manager Joe Espada may have tipped his hand, stating he’s “looking beyond the stats” when evaluating Chas McCormick, who is struggling this spring with a .167 average. If McCormick starts in right field and falters, Dezenzo, Smith, and Ben Gamel will be waiting for their shot.
With a solid rotation, key offensive additions, and young talent pushing for playing time, Houston may be far better than some are predicting.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we cover the topics above and much, much more!
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The Houston Texans have secured their lockdown corner for the future, agreeing to a three-year, $90 million extension with Derek Stingley Jr., according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes a staggering $89 million in guaranteed money, making Stingley one of the highest-paid defensive backs in NFL history.
Record deal: Texans All-Pro CB Derek Stingley Jr has agreed to a three-year, $90 million extension including $89 million guaranteed. At $30M base value per year, Stingley is now the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. The CB market has been completely reset.
Deal… pic.twitter.com/g8nzFFFQvj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2025
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Stingley's extension will kick in after his fifth-year option, which the Texans picked up ahead of the extension. He's now under team control for the next five seasons.
Derek Stingley Jr.'s new deal with the #Texans includes a fifth-year option that he was slated to receive in 2026. So, he's under the #Texans' contractual control for five seasons -- two from his rookie deal, plus the three-year, $90M extension reached today.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 17, 2025
Stingley, 23, is coming off a breakout All-Pro season in which he recorded five interceptions (seven if you include the playoffs) and proved to be one of the league’s elite shutdown corners. His performance was instrumental in the Texans' defensive resurgence, solidifying his role as a cornerstone of the franchise.
The only lingering concern for Houston is Stingley’s durability. While he played all 17 regular season games in 2025, it was the first time he managed a full season in the NFL. Injuries limited him to just nine games in 2022 and 11 in 2023. The Texans are banking on his ability to stay on the field, confident that his elite talent outweighs the risks.
With this extension, Houston locks in a defensive playmaker as they continue to build a championship-caliber roster around quarterback C.J. Stroud. If Stingley stays healthy, this investment could pay massive dividends for the Texans' future.
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