
Maliek Collins is heading to San Francisco. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
With free agency in full swing, the Texans caught a lot of people off guard when they opted to trade for Bengals running back Joe Mixon instead of addressing the need in free agency on Tuesday.
Well, it only took one more day for the Texans to be active on the trade market once again. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Texans are trading defensive tackle Maliek Collins to the 49ers for a 7th round pick.
Compensation update: 49ers are trading a 7th-round pick to the Texans for Maliek Collins, per source. https://t.co/XGzb7ktxqI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2024
Houston signed Titans defensive lineman Denico Autrey earlier this week, so perhaps DeMeco Ryans will have him fill the role left with Collins' departure.
Or, the Texans are reportedly interested in signing 49ers defensive tackle Arik Armstead who is expected to be released by the 49ers.
#Texans to trade defensive tackle Maliek Collins to #49ers per a league source. #Texans among teams including #Bengals and #Lions with interest in Arik Armstead who hasn't been released officially yet @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 13, 2024
Another option could be the return of Sheldon Rankins who played well for the Texans in 2023. Either way, it appears there's another move coming, but we can only speculate at this point.
How much cap space will they save?
Not all that much in 2024 according to Texans Cap. He believes this trade should save the Texans a little over 2.5 million this season.
Collins trade will generate $2.55m net cap savings for 2024. https://t.co/9R7jcN9kwV
— TexansCap (@TexansCap) March 13, 2024
It's unfortunate that Collins was traded with the Texans looking like a playoff team on the rise. But if you have to get traded, heading to a perennial Super Bowl contender should soften the blow.
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.