All articles tagged with #houston astros
After a disastrous homestand that doomed their playoff hopes, the Astros announced a mutual parting with GM Dana Brown. Owner Jim Crane will oversee operations with Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell’s input while the team searches for a full-time GM in the offseason; Espada’s future remains uncertain as Houston aims to rebound and return to the postseason.
The Houston Astros announced a mutual parting with GM Dana Brown after four seasons, with assistant GMs Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey and Connor Huff and senior advisor Jeff Bagwell taking over duties as owner Jim Crane oversees baseball operations during the transition. Brown thanked the organization; his tenure included high-priced signings like Jose Abreu and Rafael Montero that underperformed and a lack of extensions for core players Jeremy Peña, Kyle Tucker, Hunter Brown, Alex Bregman and Framber Valdez, though Cristian Javier did receive a five-year extension.
Astros outfielder Taylor Trammell thought he’d slugged a long home run against the Blue Jays, rounding the bases only to watch the ball be caught at the wall while his teammates were missing from the dugout; the moment underscored a brutal misplay in a 3-0 loss, though he later rebounded with a three-run homer the following night.
Houston acquired Daulton Varsho from Toronto for left-hander Spencer Arrighetti, giving the Astros a premier center fielder with a left-handed bat and Gold Glove defense to complement Yordan Alvarez; Arrighetti, 26, is on the injured list with a 4.66 ERA in parts of three MLB seasons and is under team control through 2029, while Toronto adds pitching depth with multi-year control in the deal as part of its deadline retooling; CBS Sports grades the swap B for both clubs, noting Varsho's offensive inconsistency but high defensive floor and the potential to boost Houston's lineup and defensive efficiency.
With Spencer Arrighetti traded for Daulton Varsho and rotation depth thinning, the Astros are pursuing pitching upgrades before the MLB trade deadline. Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin is among the players Houston is weighing, though they haven’t zeroed in on him specifically; other options like Casey Mize and Shane Bieber remain on the board. Griffin, on a $5.5M contract with a 3.06 ERA over 22 starts and a 22.1% strikeout rate, is expected to be traded unless an extension is reached.
The Texas Rangers sit 0.5 games back in the AL wild-card race and 1.5 out in the AL West with about 45% playoff odds as they head into a decisive series finale with the Astros. A win could keep the roster intact (and possibly add), while a loss might trigger a sizable sell‑off, potentially targeting expiring contracts like Joc Pederson and Jakob Junis. Core players such as Corey Seager and Jacob deGrom carry no-trade protections, Langford is viewed as untouchable, and injuries to Montgomery, Bradford, and Leiter along with payroll-cutting by owner Ray Davis shape the deadline approach.
With the MLB trade deadline looming, Luis Arraez is among the most likely to be dealt but buyers remain wary; the Astros are pursuing Lars Nootbaar despite a high asking price; the Yankees are seeking right-handed catching and offensive help while upgrading the bullpen; the Royals aren’t eager to move their rotation and Lane Thomas is a frequent rental target; Tarik Skubal’s market hasn’t heated up yet for Detroit; Washington is open to trading farm depth for relief help; and the Phillies are prioritizing starting pitching in their talks.
To bolster pitching depth, the Royals acquired right-hander Nate Pearson from the Astros in exchange for minor league pitcher Max Martin, and designated Kameron Misner for assignment to clear roster space. Pearson, 29, has MLB experience with the Blue Jays, Cubs and Astros, featuring a 98 mph four-seam fastball with a slider, curve and sinker; he appeared in 16 relief appearances in 2024 with a 3.60 ERA, 16 strikeouts and 12 walks in 20 innings. Martin, a 22-year-old right-hander, posted a 2.01 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 40.1 innings across Low-A/High-A. Misner, who had been with Kansas City, hit .220/.256/.244 in 18 games this season.
The Houston Astros placed Jeremy Peña on the 10-day injured list with a mild left calf strain, expecting a minimal absence and roughly a week-to-10-day rehab; Nick Allen will start at shortstop as Peña heads to the IL, Raynel Delgado was optioned, and Houston braces for a big series against the division-leading Rangers ahead of the All-Star break.
Houston routed Texas 9-0 as the Rangers’ offense and pitching stagnated, prompting tongue-in-cheek speculation about the Rangers no-hitting the Astros only to lose. The piece highlights a “combination no-hitter” by Imai, Okert and Santa, contrasts it with Rangers’ injuries and lineup churn, and notes the season-long grind and the AL West’s uneven play, while hopeful that the next game may improve.
Christian Walker went 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBIs and a walk to power the Astros to a 3-0 win over the Cubs at Wrigley, clinching the series. The piece notes Walker’s resurgence this season and highlights other notable hitters from that day’s games, underscoring his fantasy value as he helps Houston rebound.
Houston activates Tatsuya Imai from the injured list for the second game against Seattle, likely restoring a six-man rotation as Arrighetti and Lambert fill depth roles; Nate Pearson shifts to a reliever role after elbow surgery rehab, and Jeremy Peña and Jake Meyers are set to begin rehab assignments soon. The injuries have left Houston at 16-26, among the AL’s worst records, with Hader nearing a return and more bullpen notes in play.
Houston plans to reinstate Tatsuya Imai from the injured list to bolster a thinning rotation ahead of a 13-game stretch, but his rehab outings have been uneven and control issues linger. With Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier sidelined and Lance McCullers Jr. uncertain for his next start, the Astros will lean on Mike Burrows, Spencer Arrighetti, Cody Bolton and Peter Lambert while evaluating Imai’s role for upcoming starts.
Carlos Correa will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left ankle, sidelining him for 6–8 months. With Correa out, the Astros will rely on Nick Allen and Braden Shewmake at shortstop while Jeremy Peña recovers from a hamstring strain. Houston also contends with a string of injuries and a poor 15–22 record, highlighted by pitching woes that have contributed to their struggles this season.
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa suffered a significant left ankle injury during batting practice and will visit a foot specialist, with an indefinite absence that could last weeks or months; Houston shuffled infield duties with Nick Allen at short and Braden Shewmake at third as catcher Yainer Diaz also went on the injured list with an oblique strain, leaving Correa’s return date and the team’s injury-plagued depth as a major question mark given his past ankle issues.