Houston Astros 2025-2026 Offseason Wish List

Replace Framber Valdez with Substance

They could always retain the veteran southpaw, but it seemed he fell out of favor during “cross up-gate” last summer.

Even between that and a mediocre second half, he finished with a 3.66 ERA, 3.37 FIP, and 4.0 fWAR. The latter two both placed top six in the American League. Those two statistics also placed top six among all qualified left-handed starters.

That needs to be replaced, and it’s not exactly easy to do with the in-house options, especially left-handers.

Colton Gordon had a 5.34 ERA at the major-league level last season, with a more flyball-centric profile. Brandon Walter was very good, but he suffered an elbow injury and underwent Tommy John surgery in September.

That leaves them with a right-handed heavy rotation rife with red flags and question marks. They don’t have to replace Valdez with another lefty, but it’d be nice.

Potential Free Agent Options: RHP Michael King, LHP Steven Matz, LHP Martin Perez, LHP Patrick Corbin

King is easily the best option here and given his injury history will probably be more in Houston’s budget than retaining Valdez.

With this a weak class for free-agent lefties, the options consist of three veterans. Matz had the best 2025, but it was mostly as a reliever. He fits the profile of Valdez the best, seeing as he became very groundball dominant, similar to his New York Mets days, especially with Boston.

Perez is a wild card. He dealt with injuries all of 2025 but is historically very good at generating ground balls and eating innings. He’d certainly come on the cheap end of the market. His All-Star days are likely gone, especially as his fastball velocity trickles into the 80s, but he can still be productive.

Corbin was solid in 2025 for the Texas Rangers, making 31 appearances with a 4.25 FIP in 155.1 innings. The southpaw brings with him a World Series title with the 2019 Nationals, with an opportunity to endear himself to the Astros faithful he helped break the hearts of in 2019.

Potential Trade Options: LHPs Andrew Abbott, LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Brayan Bello

Two 26-year-olds; One already an All-Star, and one still sort of fighting his way into an identity at the MLB level.

Abbott is definitely the better of the two options entering the 2026 season but comes with concerns regarding fit in the Astros ballpark. Seeing as he’s a heavy fly-ball pitcher, the opportunity to give up home runs at Daikin looms large.

However, he pitched predominantly at Great American Ball Park, which is No. 2 since 2023 in ballpark factor for home runs. What helps him prevent the long ball is he’s elite at limiting hard contact — he was in the 93rd percentile in 2025.

The Reds are looking to bolster its lineup, with an especially glaring need for outfield help. The Astros have depth at the position, could they be willing to trade someone like Jake Meyers or Jacob Melton in a package for Abbott? Would that even be enough?

As for Harrison, he’s sort of on the bubble of the Red Sox’s starting pitching depth, especially with lefty Patrick Sandoval and righty Kutter Crawford each set to return from season-ending injuries. It’s just hard to see a pathway to MLB opportunity as a starter, though.

He comes with command concerns, but his fastball had a run value of +6 despite being rather average in velocity.

As for Bello, he seems like a longshot to be moved, but there’s been growing speculation he could be had at the right price given Boston’s current positioning. He showed a lot of growth in 2025, particularly on the mental side, but his strikeout stuff diminished.

He is a heavy ground-ball pitcher, however. And with Boston reluctant to go too far over the second collective bargaining threshold of $264 million, they’ll likely need to shed salary to make a significant upgrade on its 2025 lineup.

Offload Christian Walker

This isn’t indicative of belief Walker can’t bounce back, but the Astros need to get creative to bolster the lineup.

Between Walker’s struggles and Yainer Diaz remaining a bottom-tier defensive backstop, increasing first base opportunities for Diaz helps keep his bat in the lineup.

There are many teams out there hungry for first base help: the Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, even Walker’s former team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Obviously, paying him down to is necessary to move him, but moving him should be a priority.

Victor Caratini is one of the game’s better blockers and had success with Houston the past two seasons. Another option on the free-agent market is Danny Jansen, who is a pull air demigod, making him a prime candidate to crush the ball.

The Astros re-ignited Paredes in 2025. Perhaps they can get an even better version of Jansen in 2026.

With the rotation seemingly likely to worsen on paper, the lineup needs to be that much better to offset it. With the options for bats being a bit top-heavy, they’ll need to get creative.

One More Outfielder

Whether it’s a platoon bat or an everyday starter, the Astros need to get Alvarez permanently out of the outfield. He’s too important to the offense, while not being a defensive butcher, to risk injury by playing in the field.

Last year, the 28-year-old played just 48 games. While only 15 were in the outfield, he’s hit at least 40 games out there each of the previous four seasons. He’s not making so much money that reducing him to bat-only makes him a bad investment, so why put him in danger of injury?

Coinciding with increasing first base opportunities for Diaz, they should do the same for Paredes — who has MLB experience at the position. Rotating the first base position, with Alvarez logging 140 games at designated hitter, can do wonders lengthening the Astros’ lineup.

Potential Free Agent Options: Mike Yastrzemski, MJ Melendez, JJ Bleday, Cedric Mullins

Yastrzemski has the highest floor of the bunch and makes a lot of sense for the Astros on a short-term deal. The veteran hammered the baseball after a midseason trade to Kansas City, slashing .237/.339/.500 with a .392 xwOBA in 50 games. He also hit nine homers and drove in 18 runs.

His defense is always solid, too, especially in right field. Last season, he was +7 in defensive runs saved. Historically, he’s +3 in outs above average at the position as well but was -2 in 2025.

Bleday is the most fun option, just a year removed from 3.2 fWAR and 20 homers for the Athletics. It’s growing clear he’s not a center fielder, posting -27 DRS and -8 OAA since 2024. But the Astros don’t need a center fielder to get Alvarez out of the field.

Mullins can play center field, but his offensive upside is that of a league-average bat. He has some power and remains a gifted baserunner, but defense is where he remains of most value — depending on which metric you value.

Melendez is a former second-round pick, but he never quite put it together in Kansas City. He’s a strong guy, but it bottomed out in 2025 for him. Likely a minor-league deal or league-minimum signing, he’s a great buy-low candidate for the Astros.

In-House Options: Jacob Melton, Taylor Trammell, Zach Dezenzo, and Shay Whitcomb

The Astros may not need to look externally to add to their outfield. As mentioned, it’s one of reasonable depth for the team despite Alvarez projected to be their left fielder.

Melton hit very well in Triple-A but struggled in 32 big-league games, albeit just 78 plate appearances.

Trammell’s had trouble sticking in MLB but did have a 116 wRC+ in his first 75 plate appearances last year. After the deadline, he fell off mightily, but he’s a guy without any minor-league options. So, he’ll have to make the team in Spring Training or get designated for assignment.

Dezenzo and Whitcomb have struggled to find success at the MLB level, but each have success in the minor leagues. Whitcomb slashed .267/.360/.509 in Triple-A last year and has a 35-homer season under his belt as a professional.

Of the in-house options, Whitcomb seems the likeliest to make an impact, as he has the versatility needed to be available at several positions.

Potential Trade Options: Jarren Duran, Byron Buxton, and Steven Kwan

Duran appears the likeliest to move this winter, with Buxton a somewhat distant second. Boston is coming from a position of serious depth in the outfield, with Duran the oldest and least controlled.

With Boston looking for pitching and impact in the lineup, it’s difficult to see a precise package Houston can piece together. If they’re paying down Walker, that could be an option. If they’re willing to part with someone like Cristian Javier, perhaps that’s an option.

Granted, Javier hasn’t had much success since his breakout 2022 campaign, and projections have him around a 5.00 ERA.

Buxton makes more sense logistically, as he’s a higher-end bat and Minnesota is rebuilding; at least would be wise to rebuild. The cost, of course, would be heftier for Buxton, but you’ve got to give to get in this league.

Kwan is the happy medium of cost and production. He’s a four-time Gold Glove winner in left field and a high-floor bat who doesn’t strike out. There were rumors of Kwan’s availability at the deadline this past summer, but it’s been radio silence so far this offseason. Perhaps the Guardians are preparing to keep him around long term, or perhaps they’re in “wait and see” mode with their positioning in the AL Central.

Regardless, he’s a solid option for Houston if the Guardians are motivated to move him.

Final Thoughts

It’ll be a fascinating offseason for the Astros no matter what they do. Without a history of high-end spending — in fact, it’s prevented them from retaining high-end contributors to their postseason success — it’s hard to envision them making a play for the elite talent on the market.

They’ll need to get creative. In all likelihood, that’ll need to be on the trade market.

Given Altuve will be 36 in May, it’s hard to imagine Houston committing to a rebuild before he retires. They have the talent to return to greatness, and just missed the playoffs in 2025, but the pathway won’t get any easier.