The Houston Astros recently made a significant addition to their pitching staff by signing Josh Hader, but it seems they are not finished yet. According to manager Dana Brown, the bullpen is solid, but they may still need one more pitcher. Brown is always looking to improve the pitching staff, as he knows injuries can happen throughout the season. He believes their rotation is good enough to reach the World Series, but adding another starter could solve some problems.
For the 2024 season, the Astros plan to have the same rotation as the second half of the 2023 campaign. Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, and Cristian Javier will fill the first three slots. Luis García, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year, could return in the second half. The remaining spots will likely be taken by Hunter Brown, José Urquidy, J.P. France, or Brandon Bielak.
The bullpen has seen some changes since last year. Héctor Neris, Phil Maton, and Ryne Stanek all reached free agency. Neris signed with the Cubs, Maton with the Rays, and Stanek is still a free agent. The Astros signed Hader to compensate for these losses. With Hader, Ryan Pressly, and Bryan Abreu, the Astros have a strong trio to close out games. However, the bullpen becomes less intimidating after that. Rafael Montero struggled last year, and the other options on the 40-man roster lack experience.
Adding another pitcher to the mix would be a sensible move. Brown mentioned the possibility of adding a starter and moving someone from the rotation to the bullpen. Brown had a solid year but struggled towards the end. He is still young and could improve with more experience. Urquidy also had regression last year, and France and Bielak have concerning peripherals. Having more pitching options is always beneficial, especially considering potential injuries.
The Astros’ ability to pursue external additions will be interesting. They have been cautious about paying the competitive balance tax but exceeded it when they signed Hader. Adding another significant pitcher would likely push them over the threshold and result in higher taxes. The free agent market offers several notable names, including Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Michael Lorenzen, and Hyun Jin Ryu.
In other news, new manager Joe Espada discussed the possibility of Yordan Álvarez playing in the outfield. Espada believes Álvarez could handle left field, which would open up the designated hitter spot for other players. Álvarez is a talented hitter but has dealt with injuries in the past. Moving him to the outfield more often carries the risk of further injuries. Additionally, the defensive metrics are divided on Álvarez’s abilities. Diaz, the catcher, would benefit from having the DH spot available on days when he is not catching.
If Álvarez plays left field more frequently, it could impact the playing time of Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers. Kyle Tucker is expected to start in right field, leaving only one spot for McCormick and Meyers if Álvarez is in left. Both players have their strengths, but Meyers has struggled offensively, while McCormick has been more consistent at the plate. Brown also mentioned the possibility of adding a left-handed hitting outfielder to the roster.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com