Houston Texans beef up offensive line by trading with Buccaneers
TEXANS NEWS
14 March 2023
Texans trade for guard Shaq Mason. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.
The Houston Texans needed some help on the offensive line and they addressed it by trading for Tampa Bay guard Shaq Mason on Tuesday.
It's a late-round pick swap, a 6th rounder for a 7th rounder, in the trade of Shaq Mason. https://t.co/MHlxteQhE9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2023
This deal is basically a salary dump for the Buccaneers, as they are receiving a 6th round pick and sending Mason and a 7th rounder to Houston. This trade clears about $5 million in salary cap for Tampa, and the Texans get an upgrade at guard.
Mason will be 30 years old when the season begins and he started all 17 games for the Bucs in 2022.
Texans GM Nick Caserio is very familiar with Mason, as he was with the Patriots when Mason was drafted in 2015.
Houston looks pretty solid at the guard and tackle positions, with Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard, Kenyon Green, and now Mason.
It looks like the Texans are moving on from guard AJ Cann, per Aaron Wilson.
Source: #Texans release A.J. Cann after replacing him with trade for Shaq Mason @KPRC2 https://t.co/94O7dqJ95M https://t.co/QtUD2IflAj
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 14, 2023
Hopefully, the Texans can address center next, either in free agency or the draft. The team re-signed center Scott Quessenberry recently, but his performance last season confirmed his level of play is not suited to be a starter.
The Texans also added free agent safety/slot corner Jimmie Ward on Monday night. Ward should fit right in to the Texans new defense, having played for DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco. The deal is for 2-years, $13 million.
#Texans two-year, $13 million deal for new safety Jimmie Ward has $4 million signing bonus, salaries of $2.5M (fully gtd), $5.5M ($2M fully gtd), up to $500K in per game active roster bonuses annual, total guaranteed money $8.5 million @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 14, 2023
Astros show signs of life in blowout win over Brewers
May 7, 2025, 3:25 pm
Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.
Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.
The Astros led 3-1 before Peña broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.
JP3-run bomb. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/En0XXWdlt0
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros’ March 27 season opener. He threw a season-high 101 pitches.
The Framchise is all business.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/J8EGGDk5gl
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Milwaukee’s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase’s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s double.
RBI double for Zach gets us on the board early! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/AilCY27A9d
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.
Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him in 2022.
Key moment
The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Peña hit a bouncer to third.
Safe all day. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/OVjcvev7cM
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase’s tag.
Key stat
Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.
Up next
The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.
The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.
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