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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Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton drove in three runs each as the Houston Astros jumped on Chris Paddack early and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Paddack (2-6) tied career highs by allowing 12 hits and nine runs — eight earned — in just four innings for his third straight loss.
Houston rookie starter Colton Gordon (2-1) gave up six hits and two runs with five strikeouts in a career-high six innings.
Jeremy Peña tied a season-high with four hits and rookie Cam Smith had two hits and two RBIs as the AL West-leading Astros won their third straight.
Willi Castro, Royce Lewis and Ty France all hit solo homers for the Twins, who were blown out for the third time in four games after losing to Texas 16-4 Tuesday and 16-3 Thursday.
Lewis, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring strain, pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth inning and was replaced by a pinch-runner. There was no immediate word on his injury.
The Astros got to work early in this one. The bases were loaded with two outs in the first when Smith hit a two-run single to center field to make it 2-0. Melton followed with a single to right field to drive in another run.
There were runners on first and third with one out in the second when Altuve’s double scored two to make it 5-0.
The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the third but Carlos Correa grounded out to end the threat.
Melton hit a two-run triple with no outs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 7-0. A sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón made it 8-0.
The Twins got on the board with Castro’s two-out homer in the fourth inning.
Altuve homered to left-center to start the bottom of the inning and make it 9-1.
Key moment
Smith’s two-RBI single in the first that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
The Astros had four doubles to give them 15 in their last three games.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.82 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.96) on Saturday.
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