Houston Astros: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Three Realistic Landing Spots for Astros’ Free Agent Ace

Framber Valdez enters free agency as one of the most coveted pitchers on the market: a durable, ground-ball machine with elite playoff experience and top-of-the-rotation presence.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Help Could Be Incoming for Astros Pitching Staff By Acquiring Reds Starter

The Houston Astros are getting themselves back on track during this offseason with plans to reach the postseason in 2026. Of course, major adjustments need to continue happening within the franchise if they want their hopes to become a reality.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / December 1

Astros Have Multiple Candidates for Worst Contract in Baseball

The Houston Astros have done their best to avoid handing out bad contracts in recent years, consistently letting their top players leave in free agency rather than re-sign or extend them to long-term deals.

Cal Raleigh News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Most home runs by a switch hitter' quiz

A Major League switch hitter has hit at least 35 home runs on 35 occasions in MLB history. How many of the switch hitters to reach that milestone can you name in five minutes?

The 'MLB home run leaders since 1997' quiz

The 'Multiple MLB 30/30 seasons' quiz

The 'MLB home run record by position' quiz

Houston Astros News / MLB Trade Rumors / December 1

Astros open to moving Jake Meyers in search for rotation help

The Astros don’t have a ton of breathing room between their current payroll figures and the first tier of the luxury tax threshold — a line owner Jim Crane is once again reportedly loath to cross.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 MLB players on the brink of stardom in 2026

The stars were out in full force during the 2025 World Series. From Max Scherzer in Toronto to Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and of course, Shohei Ohtani, in Los Angeles, there was no shortage of the game's best under the brightest lights.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / December 1

MLB Insider Lists Astros As Top Landing Spot for Free Agent All-Star Pitcher

The Houston Astros melted down late in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The missed postseason can be looked at as a blessing in disguise, though.

Lucas Giolito News / Houston Astros on SI / November 30

Why Astros Should Consider Lucas Giolito as Middle-Rotation Option

The Houston Astros have quite a few holes to fill prior to the 2026 season, and one of the biggest issues to overcome for them is going to be their current payroll books.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 30

Astros Have Promising Pitching Prospect in 2024 Fourth Round Pick

The Houston Astros farm is developing some very notable young names in their minor league system. With names like Brice Matthews, Xavier Neyens, and Kevin Alvarez, the young talent the farm has offensively can make it easier to overlook the pitching prospects within their system.

Framber Valdez News / Houston Astros on SI / November 29

If Framber Valdez Leaves Who Do Astros Pursue to Replace Him in 2026?

There is plenty of speculation floating around this free agency. Who is going where and how much are they going to be paid. One of the players that many are wondering about as he is one of the best available arms is Framber Valdez who has spent his entire Major League career with the Houston Astros.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 29

Astros Insider Suggest Franchise Could Address Catching Multiple Ways

The Houston Astros had a solid catching combo in 2025 with Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini. That is unlikely to continue in 2026. Caratini is a free agent and in a market that doesn’t feature much top-of-the-line catching beyond J.T.

Framber Valdez News / MLB on ClutchPoints / November 29

Perfect $200 million contract Mets must offer Framber Valdez to steal him from Astros

The New York Mets stand at a critical crossroads this offseason, and the path forward leads directly to one of baseball’s most reliable left-handed aces.

MLB News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest pitching seasons from the modern MLB era

America's favorite pastime has more memorable performances than any sport. As such, figuring out which pitchers had the best seasons ever is no easy task.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 29

Astros Veteran's Contract Among Worst in Majors Entering 2026 Season

The Houston Astros have some decisions to make this offseason when it comes to the starting rotation and the bullpen. Framber Valdez is likely gone in free agency, and the other top target, Dylan Cease, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this week.

Houston Astros News / Last Word On Sports / November 29

Astros Could See Another Reunion with Future HOFer in 2026

The Houston Astros clearly struggled in a number of key categories as they missed the postseason for the first time since 2016, and one of them was starting pitching. While ace Hunter Brown was terrific and one of the top nominees for the 2025 American League Cy Young Award, the rest of the rotation struggled throughout the year.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The '1,500-receiving-yard NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Five game-winning-drives in a season' quiz

The 'Turkey Leg/Galloping Gobbler winners' quiz

The 'Three-TD, Three-INT NFL games' quiz

Framber Valdez News / Crawfish Boxes / November 28

Rumor Mill: Framber Heading to Flushing?

While almost every Astros fan expects the team not to re-sign homegrown star SP Framber Valdez, we may have an idea on where he is going, and for how much.

Jake Meyers News / Houston Astros on SI / November 28

Why Trading Jake Meyers Might Be the Astros’ Smartest Move Right Now

Outfielders are in a bit of an abundance, especially for the Houston Astros. It's getting to the point where keeping their outfielders provides an imbalance in overall playing time for players who need it.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 28

Should Astros Attempt to Trade Slugging First Baseman?

The Houston Astros have some difficult decisions ahead of them this offseason. They currently have five players making over $20 million, so it will be challenging to pursue quality free agents.

Houston Astros News / Crawfish Boxes / November 28

Astros Close to Signing American KBO Pitcher?

Astros GM Dana Brown has made no bones about the fact he would be creative about finding ways to improve the roster. Could Brown be expanding his search into the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO)?

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 28

Mock Trade Has Astros Acquiring Rotation Depth in a Three-Team Deal

The Houston Astros are going to need some arms for their starting rotation, with Framber Valdez likely leaving in free agency. They are going to need to fill out their rotation behind Hunter Brown, who is coming off a big 2025 season for the Astros.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 27

Astros Relief Duo Projected to Put Together an Outstanding 2026 Campaign

The Houston Astros have an immensely impressive group of arms on their pitching staff heading into 2026, and their bullpen is one of the core elements that could make or break their roster next year.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 27

Saturated Infield Could Force Astros To Trade Top Prospect Down the Line

With the MLB winter meetings right around the corner, talk is heating up regarding trades and next moves for teams. The Houston Astros are, as expected, involved in several rumors, but some may be more likely to occur than others.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 27

Astros Release Finalized Version of 2026 Major League Coaching Staff

The Houston Astros have been working on adding some new faces to their franchise, and fortunately, some of the rumors have come to fruition. This has been a bustling offseason thus far, and the Astros are among several clubhouses that have been caught up with roster changes and coaching staff adjustments.

MLB News / MLB Trade Rumors / November 26

Astros hire Ethan Katz as assistant pitching coach

The Houston Astros finalized their 2026 coaching staff. Ethan Katz has been hired as an assistant pitching coach, which was first reported by Chandler Rome of The Athletic.

Houston Astros News / Houston Astros on SI / November 26

Astros Reportedly Replacing Bill Murphy With Former White Sox Pitching Coach

The Houston Astros have been taking advantage of their offseason opportunities, living up to hot stove season expectations. This is notably a busy year for MLB teams across the nation, and this stands true for the Astros.

Houston Astros News / Last Word On Sports / November 24

Surprise Trade: Why the Astros Moved On from Mauricio Dubón

The Houston Astros have not been afraid to make moves this offseason, and that continued last week. In a move that caught Astros fans off guard, the team

Houston Astros News / MLB Trade Rumors / November 20

Astros aiming to stay below luxury tax threshold

For a second straight offseason, Astros owner Jim Crane is “wary” of exceeding the luxury tax threshold.

The offseason needs for every MLB team

The '2017 Houston Astros World Series roster' quiz

Mauricio Dubon News / Larry Brown Sports / November 19

Astros trade away a standout from their World Series team

The Houston Astros are sending one notable member of their 2022 championship team packing. Houston announced on Wednesday that they have traded utilityman Mauricio Dubon to the Atlanta Braves.