The Houston Astros have their man, hiring bench coach Joe Espada to be their manager following the retirement of Dusty Baker. Houston had rumored interest in Craig Counsell before he took his talents to Chicago, thus making Espada the most logical candidate at this point in the offseason.
Now that the managerial vacancy is settled, the Astros need to focus on their future. Frankly, they have a number of tough choices to make, starting in free agency. Houston wasn't all that active at the GM meetings, instead lingering in the background and dealing with their obvious internal need.
Espada was a popular choice among players, who view him as an extension of Baker and previously AJ Hinch. Whatever devil magic has been working for Houston since 2018 ought to continue under Espada.
Houston Astros need to extend Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, and soon
Jose Altuve's contract is up after the 2024 season. While he's getting up there in age, he remains a key cog to this Astros lineup. Houston has made it their top priority to extend Altuve this winter, and have reached out to agent Scott Boras about a new deal, which is a productive star. Houston has the reputation of an organization which takes care of their own. Extending Altuve, who has been around since the beginning, will only add to that perception.
"We're going to look into talking to both of them, particularly this offseason, maybe all the way up until spring training," Dana Brown said. "Once the season starts, we really don't want to get too much into it, unless there's some initiative from them during the season. But I think it's something that we are going to look at closely this offseason."
Bregman's contract also keeps him in Houston through next season. However, the Astros have the payroll to make them both 'Astros for life' which Brown claims is the ultimate goal.
Houston Astros need to add some starting pitching
While Houston fans would prefer the team add a high-end starting pitcher either through free agency or a trade, Brown didn't sound so convinced, suggesting instead the Astros would add a mid-rotation starter for depth reasons.
Considering the injuries Houston faced in its rotation just last season, adding depth makes some sense. However, it is not the answer to all their problems. Justin Verlander is an ace, but he's on the wrong side of 40 years old. With the number of elite starting pitchers available in free agency and via trade, it would be wrong of Brown to rely only on a No. 3-starter type, rather than, say, Sonny Gray or Corbin Burnes.
Climbing Tal's Hill's Eric Cole thinks Brown's comments could be posturing, for what it's worth:
"Again, this could all be posturing. Dana is a smart guy and he knows that you don't want to enter negotiations with anyone in a weak/desperate position. For all of this chatter that the Astros will be getting Garcia and McCullers Jr. back at some point of the season and don't technically "need" another pitcher, the reality is that Houston doesn't know what those guys will look like coming back from injury and then there is the "what happens until they return?" problem," Cole wrote.
If the Astros do chase a frontline starter, they'll be better for it. But do they have enough capital to do so and extend Bregman and Altuve?
It's time for the Astros to move off of Martin Maldonado
I have no doubt that Martin Maldonado will receive some interest in free agency...as a backup catcher. Maldonado has received plenty of praise in Houston for his ability to manage a pitching staff. With the bat in his hands, though, he is one of the worst hitting catchers in the sport.
The Astros had a promising young backstop in Yainer Diaz behind Maldonado last season. Diaz was the far better hitter than his veteran counterpart, and grew into the role defensively. While it's unfair to expect Diaz to have the same command Maldonado does behind home plate just yet, giving him more playing time will only expedite that process. It'll also improve the Astros lineup depth.
Brown admitted that Diaz will be the starting catcher next season. He's affordable and only 24 years old. He needs reps. Maldonado reportedly has 4-5 teams interested in his services, and that's not all that surprising. Maldonado has won World Series behind home plate, and frequently receives compliments from pitchers he has played with. Justin Verlander loves him.
Still, Maldonado's bat cannot keep up with his glove. The time is now to move on.
