How team strategies will dictate Houston Astros free agency, trade market options
BIG MOVES COMING?
31 October 2023
While the Astros and GM Dana Brown are searching for the team's next manager, they also have free agency and the trade market to navigate over the next several weeks.
Michael Schwab is reporting the team will only be around $9 million under the threshold of the competitive balance tax, so it doesn't appear the team will be players for big ticket free agents.
As of right now, here's what the Astros 2024 lineup can look like:
1. Jose Altuve - 2B
2. Alex Bregman - 3B
3. Yordan Alvarez - DH
4. Kyle Tucker - RF
5. Jose Abreu - 1B
6. Yainer Diaz - C
7. Chas McCormick - LF
8. Mauricio Dubon - CF
9. Jeremy Peña - SS
What do you think?
The…
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) October 26, 2023
So if not the free agent market, what about trades? The Astros reportedly had interest in Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo before the trade deadline. Could he be a player still on Houston's radar?
MLBTradeRumors.com wrote a piece about Verdugo recently, and listed the Astros as one of their best fits for his services. He's a left-handed bat that could replace Michael Brantley immediately. He only has one year left on his deal, so the compensation the Red Sox are looking for should be somewhat reasonable.
Of course, the Astros' farm system is pretty thin. So that's a concern.
We've also seen articles naming Twins pitcher Sonny Gray and Dodgers infielder Max Muncy (who has a club option for 2024) as players the club should consider. We're not sure about Muncy becoming available, but you can never have enough pitching.
Who's really running things?
Finally, this year the Astros have GM Dana Brown in place to upgrade the roster for 2024. With that being the case, will Jeff Bagwell and Jim Crane allow Brown to run the show this offseason?
Don't miss the video above as we break it all down.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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