
GM Nick Caserio is trading for Bengals running back Joe Mixon. Composite Getty Image.
After the Houston Texans missed out on signing one of the top running backs in free agency on Monday, GM Nick Caserio has made a trade.
According to Ian Rapoport, the Texans are acquiring 2021 Pro Bowler Joe Mixon from the Bengals.
The #Texans have been in the RB market, but patiently waiting. Now, they land Mixon in a surprise trade. https://t.co/3UN0pUZqWr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2024
Mixon will play this year at 28-years old after spending 7 seasons with the Bengals. Mixon rushed for 1,034 yards in 2023, with 9 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 52 passes for 376 yards and 3 TDs last year.
Mixon has rushed for over 1,000 yards four times in his career.
After losing Devin Singletary to the Giants on Monday, the Texans knew they add to add another running back to the roster. Mixon will now join Dameon Pierce in Houston's backfield.
Many believed the Texans would make a big splash by signing Saquon Barkely or Josh Jacobs in free agency. But both backs agreed to huge deals on Monday. Jacobs signed a 4-year, $48 million deal with the Packers, and Barkley agreed to a 3-year, $37,750 million contract with the Eagles.
Instead, the Texans will pay Mixon, who is in the final year of his contract, $5.75 million in 2024.
Joe Mixon is due $5.75 million in 2024 -- including a $3,000,028 roster bonus due Sunday -- in the last year of his contract.
Instead of being cut by the #Bengals, Mixon now lands in a great spot with the #Texans, who just lost leading rusher Devin Singletary to the #Giants.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2024
The graphic below indicates Mixon will give the Texans a boost in the passing game.
Joe Mixon gained 376 receiving yards in 2023, including +131 receiving yards over expected, 4th-most among running backs.
Texans running backs gained +28 YAC over expected last season, 4th-fewest in the NFL.#WeAreTexans https://t.co/VtbqJ741eB pic.twitter.com/9lmR51MkUY
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 12, 2024
Early reports indicate the Texans will be sending the Bengals a conditional 7th round pick for Mixon.
Sounds like the Texans are sending a conditional 7th round pick to Cincinnati in exchange for Mixon. (NFLN) https://t.co/PvPjWZ8t6N
— Patrick Storm (@PatrickStormHTX) March 12, 2024
Astros carved up 2 of the NL’s best, but that’s just part of the story
Jun 30, 2025, 4:53 pm
The Houston Astros closed out a powerful homestand with a statement series win over the Cubs, led by the continued emergence of Cam Smith and the lockdown stuff of Bryan Abreu. Smith, who seems to live for high-leverage moments, went toe-to-toe with Kyle Tucker and delivered again and again, further cementing his place in Houston’s growing offensive core. Meanwhile, Abreu was simply untouchable—striking out all four batters he faced in a lights-out appearance on Thursday and returning Sunday to toss two scoreless innings in front of Josh Hader’s 23rd straight save. The bullpen continues to impress.
As Houston heads west for a six-game road trip, starting with the Rockies and ending with the Dodgers, the rotation will remain under the microscope. On paper, the Rockies series should be a tune-up—Colorado owns the worst record in baseball. But even in a small three-game set, anything can happen. The Dodgers are a different animal entirely. They’ve been the class of the National League and pose a challenge that may mirror what the Astros saw from the Phillies and Cubs—but this time, Houston won’t have the advantage of home field. Considering the team’s elite pitching and recent play, the Astros should still feel confident, but they’ll need to prove they can sustain this level on the road.
Trade speculation is beginning to swirl, particularly around Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins. Mullins hasn’t lit it up this season—he’s hitting just .213—but his 12 home runs suggest some underlying pop. Houston may believe there's untapped potential in his swing that can be unlocked. It's a move that would fit the Astros’ track record: buying low on a talented player and letting their system do the rest.
Speaking of roster decisions, Christian Walker's bat is officially on watch. Despite showing flashes of life earlier this season, Walker hit just .221 in June and has been dropped to seventh in the lineup. Meanwhile, Jon Singleton has been crushing home runs in Sugar Land and waiting patiently for another big-league shot. The organization has to be thinking about giving Singleton a chance if Walker’s struggles continue.
But not every question has an immediate answer. Lance McCullers Jr.’s return from the injured list was rocky at best, surrendering eight runs in a short outing. Still, the reaction from fans calling for his release is premature at best and delusional at worst. Joe Espada left him in too long, and everyone knew it. It's still June, and McCullers is a proven postseason arm. He’s not going anywhere, not with that contract—and frankly, not with the upside he still offers.
More to the story
Then there's Jeremy Peña. The hope was that his sore ribs were nothing serious. That changed after the homestand, when further imaging revealed a small fracture and landed Peña on the 10-day IL. It’s a frustrating development, but credit the Astros’ medical staff for pushing for clarity—learning from the Yordan Alvarez situation this year. With superagent Scott Boras now representing him, it appeared negotiations were over. But Astros GM Dana Brown revealed on the pregame show this weekend that he’s already reached back out to Boras to reopen the conversation. Whether both sides can agree to new terms is a different story.
So while the Astros leave home riding a wave of momentum, the road ahead holds tougher matchups, key roster questions, and new injury concerns. They’ve shown they’re built to weather all of it. Now they’ll have to prove it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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