Come off an incredible start to a new era of Houston Texans football, GM Nick Caserio and Head Coach DeMeco Ryans will look to build off their success and make some important additions in free agency.
Free agency is right around the corner, so the latest update about Texans star rookie receiver Tank Dell couldn't come at a better time.
Aaron Wilson is reporting that Tank Dell is expected to be ready for OTA's in May after suffering a broken fibula that ended his rookie season.
#Texans wide receiver Tank Dell at Travis Scott celebrity softball game at Minute Maid Park. Dell is making sound recovery from broken fibula, previous told @KPRC2 he is expecting to be back for organized team activities @Tankdell4 pic.twitter.com/knH8SX6OuC
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 16, 2024
The timing of this news is critical, because the Texans have some big decisions to make in free agency. The legal tampering period starts on March 11.
According to bookies.com, the Texans are the favorites to sign Buccaneers WR Mike Evans. Evans will be 31 years old when the season starts and could command as much as a 3-year deal for $68 million dollars, according to PFF. Similar to Davante Adams' deal with the Raiders.
The Texans have a lot of money to spend this year, but they also have a ton of wholes to fill, especially on defense. Knowing before free agency that Tank Dell should be good to go in May, could shift their priorities this offseason. With Tank Dell and Nico Collins locked in as their top receivers, they don't need to be desperate and overpay for an aging receiver. One could argue the Texans already have a younger version of Evans with Collins.
Instead of spending big on Evans, the team can go after some top defenders on the market, or look to re-sign Jonathan Greenard, Sheldon Rankins, Steven Nelson, or Dalton Schultz.
Be sure to check out the video above for the full discussion.
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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