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After a wild offseason, the Houston Astros are off to a nice start this campaign.
There was no team in baseball that was as busy as the Astros, and after their early elimination from the playoffs for the first time in seven years, the team really shook things up.
While some of the more notable departures were Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, Houston also saw future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander leave in free agency.
It was a down season for the right-hander in 2024. He battled a neck injury for much of the campaign which resulted in poor production.
Due to his age, there was reason to believe that it could have been father time coming for the 42-year-old. However, he looked sharp this spring and had a good start to the season for the San Francisco Giants.
Even though he has had a ton of success and great moments in his two stints with Houston, he was surprisingly never offered a contract.
Justin Verlander said today he spoke with Astros owner Jim Crane “a lot” in the offseason and that there was “mutual interest” in a reunion with the Astros. When the Giants came after Verlander, Crane said the Astros “were not even in a place to make an offer,” Verlander said
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 31, 2025
With the Astros being in what felt like a permanent state of flux this winter, it’s easy to understand why they didn’t prioritize the veteran right-hander coming off the performance he had.
The franchise seemed very focused on decreasing their payroll this winter, especially when looking at the decisions to trade Ryan Pressly and Kyle Tucker.
Even though Verlander had a poor season with Houston, he still received a one-year, $15 million deal from the Giants.
Considering the Astros’ rotation is in pretty good shape with some pitchers hopefully returning later in the year, spending that kind of money on the future Hall of Famer was not something they were willing to do.
But, depending on how well he does in San Francisco, Houston might come to regret that decision.
More must-reads:
- Paul Skenes' recent struggles open door for Phillies aces in NL Cy Young race
- Perhaps Superman Paul Skenes has found his kryptonite
- The 'American League WAR leaders' quiz
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Perhaps Superman Paul Skenes has found his kryptonite
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes may continue to be one of the top contenders for the National League Cy Young Award, but there is one place where he has appeared mortal this season. On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers did to Skenes what they have done to plenty of MLB pitchers in 2025 ... put up big offensive numbers. For the second time this season (Skenes also pitched in Milwaukee on June 25), the Brewers forced him from the game after just 4.0 innings on Tuesday night, logging six hits and four runs during his time on the mound. Both of those performances came at Milwaukee's home stadium (American Family Field) and both are now Skenes' shortest outings of the season. While another NL Central team has put up more runs against Skenes this season (the St. Louis Cardinals nicked him for five runs in 6.0 innings on April 8), no other team has had the same kind of success over multiple starts by Skenes in 2025 as have the Brewers inside their home stadium. In all this season, Skenes has given up 10 hits and eight runs in 8.0 innings in Milwaukee. It was his third career outing on the road against the Brewers, with his lone 2024 start representing arguably the best outing of his rookie season. On July 11, 2024, Skenes struck out 11 and didn't allow a hit over 7.0 innings as the Pirates would eventually post a 1-0 victory. Tuesday's short outing was highlighted by a pair of Milwaukee home runs, including a leadoff solo shot by Sal Frelick that quickly set the tone for the Brewers. While Milwaukee's hit parade helped raise Skenes' ERA on the season to 2.13, it's hardly any reason for concern in a season where the 23-year-old right-hander is still a heavy favorite (-600) to win the NL Cy Young Award, per BetMGM. Skenes struggling in Milwaukee is likely more yet another stamp of approval on the Brewers' potential to be a threat once the postseason arrives. With an 18-4 record since the All-Star break entering Tuesday, Milwaukee has taken over the NL Central race from the Chicago Cubs. So what's the good news for Skenes? This is Pittsburgh's last trip to Milwaukee this season and the next-to-last series for the Pirates against the red-hot Brewers. Milwaukee will visit PNC Park for a three-game series on Sept. 5-7, and if Skenes gets a chance for revenge against Milwaukee, there couldn't be a better place for him to take the mound. This season, in 11 starts covering 68.2 innings, Skenes has a 1.70 ERA in the Steel City.
Analyst’s bold take warns Commanders may have made huge offseason blunder
The Washington Commanders are currently dealing with some wide receiver issues heading into the season. An NFL analyst poured more fuel on the fire by proclaiming that Adam Peters will regret a huge call earlier this offseason. Terry McLaurin is not practicing and hasn't for months as his contract battle with the Commanders goes on. Others lower down the depth chart are coming in for increasing criticism, which leaves general manager Adam Peters with a potential problem on his hands if they cannot turn the tide before Week 1. The Commanders' wideout regeneration began by letting Dyami Brown walk in free agency. Although the former third-round pick displayed much-improved performances down the stretch and into the playoffs, it wasn't enough for Peters to give him an extended stay. NFL analyst believes Commanders could regret letting Dyami Brown walk Brown ended up signing a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars that includes $9.5 million guaranteed. He's made his presence felt over the summer, drawing praise from quarterback Trevor Lawrence and head coach Liam Coen. This is the time of year he always flourished in Washington, but putting it together in a competitive setting was far more challenging. That didn't stop Brock Vereen of CBS Sports from labeling Brown as a sleeping giant ready to take over in 2025. The analyst thought his stock was low right now, but the Commanders could be kicking themselves for letting him go when it's all said and done. Stock right now is low on him because, 'Oh, Washington got rid of him. They replaced him with Deebo Samuel. He only landed a one-year deal.' This is a sleeping giant. Liam Coen knew exactly what he was doing. Dyami Brown is a versatile weapon. He can take handoffs, he can catch the ball, he can line up anywhere on the field. He even has pass attempts over his career. He can do everything and will be probably the most forgotten offensive weapon coming off of the Travis Hunter hype.Brock Vereen via SI Brown always flattered to deceive in Washington. He had every physical tool imaginable to be successful, but consistency never got close to the required standard. Peters takes sentiment out of every equation. The front-office leader didn't think the North Carolina product was worth what Jacksonville was willing to pay. And he pivoted accordingly. There probably won't be much regret around Brown's departure, regardless of whether he performs well with the Jaguars or not. He had countless chances to establish himself as a long-term option and almost always failed to deliver. If he'd done so, the Commanders would have rewarded him with a new deal. That wasn't the case. And there are still more questions than answers around Brown despite his promising start in the Florida sunshine. More Commanders news and analysis
Steelers Insider Reveals Timeline for WR Move
The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a wide receiver move on the horizon. On the latest episode of the "Kaboly + Mack" podcast, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly stated that he wouldn't be surprised if the team were to add a receiver to their roster in the near future. "I don't think any time within the next week, but something might be coming down the pike here," Kaboly said. "I'll put it this way: I would not be shocked within the next 10 to 12 days that they add a receiver. I was under the impression that they're just gonna play it out like they are right now. 'We have [Roman] Wilson, [Calvin] Austin, we're going with that'. I was pretty much sure of that. I don't know if I'm as sure of that anymore." Adding depth at receiver has remained a focus for Pittsburgh throughout the entire offseason. It landed its new No. 1 option in DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks just ahead of free agency and later traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, but the organization has done little outside of that to address the position. While signing Robert Woods to a one-year deal brings a veteran presence to the room, he's also 33-years-old and recorded just 203 yards over 15 games with the Houston Texans last season. The Steelers are hoping for a bounce-back sophomore campaign from Wilson after playing just five snaps during his rookie season, and while he performed well in the team's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend, he still has more to prove moving forward. Austin was a key piece of Pittsburgh's offense last year and is slated to remain the team's primary slot receiver, but he's also currently dealing with a minor abdominal muscle injury and missed significant time towards the end of training camp. Tight end Jonnu Smith could essentially operate as a receiver for the Steelers due to his versatility and receiving prowess, but they could certainly use depth beyond him. With the deadline for final rosters cut set for 4 p.m. EST on August 26, Pittsburgh should have some enticing receiver options come available over the next two weeks or so alongside the veterans already residing on the free agent market.
Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Makes Revealing Confession About Playing In Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bunch of aggressive moves in the 2025 offseason. One of those moves was General Manager Omar Khan’s decision to trade away former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to acquire tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers clearly viewed Ramsey as a cornerstone piece to elevate their defense to an elite level in 2025. As training camp has come and gone, Ramsey has quickly reminded those in Latrobe, PA, just how dominant he can still be. Following a practice session, Ramsey sat down with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder for an episode of The Pivot podcast to share his early impressions of life in the Steel City. During the conversation, Ramsey spoke about the culture he has experienced since joining the Steelers, expressing admiration for the way the organization operates. He pointed to the smooth handling of TJ Watt’s contract negotiations as an example of how the Steelers take care of their own. "Probably so," Ramsey said on The Pivot podcast when asked if his career would have been different if the Steelers would have drafted him. "Yeah, 100 percent... If I would've started my career here, it probably would've been different. My focus may have been a little bit different at times. I may have been here my whole career. This is like a place where I feel like, one, they take care of they own. I truly believe that they take care of their own. Two, guys really want to be here." Ramsey explained that such mutual commitment between player and team is not common across the league, making Pittsburgh stand out. He also noted how much players genuinely want to be part of the organization, praising the coaching staff, fan base, and the team’s tradition of winning. To him, it is a football environment built for long-term success and player happiness. "I've heard them say it when they were going through TJ [Watt's] contract, I was watching Mike [Tomlin's] interviews," Ramsey said. "He's like, 'Both sides want to get it done, so it's gonna get done. That's not always the case where you at everywhere. But here, it is like, 'I want to be here. Let's figure it out. Let's do it the right way!' They handle business the right way. Fans are amazing here. Coaching staff is amazing here. They're always winning here. It's not much to not be happy about if you truly love football." Ramsey went further by admitting that if he had been drafted by the Steelers earlier in his career, things might have turned out much differently. He suggested that his mindset and focus could have been even sharper and that he might have spent his entire career in Pittsburgh. Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Really Loving His Time In Pittsburgh For Ramsey, the Steelers represent the kind of stability, respect, and winning culture that players strive for. His comments not only highlight his high regard for the organization, but also serve as a reminder of the unique culture that has made Pittsburgh one of the most respected franchises in the NFL. Ramsey was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He arrives in Pittsburgh at the age of 30, aiming to help the team build the best defense in the league. His career has included stops in Jacksonville, with the Los Angeles Rams where he won a Super Bowl, and with the Dolphins. Now he is enjoying his time in the Steel City. Do you believe Ramsey's career would have been a lot different had Pittsburgh originally drafted him in that 2016 NFL Draft?
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