BIG MOVES COMING?
How team strategies will dictate Houston Astros free agency, trade market options
Oct 31, 2023, 5:03 pm
How team strategies will dictate Houston Astros free agency, trade market options
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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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.