Three Gifts For Astros on Christmas Day

It’s Christmas Day. Congratulations. You made it. Time to open some gifts. Unless you’re one of those families that opens gifts on Christmas Eve.

The Houston Astros haven’t been that busy so far this offseason. A trade here, a signing there. Frankly, they could use some presents.

If Astros general manager Dana Brown woke up on Christmas Day, here are three gifts he’d hope to open.

More Money

The Astros aren’t exactly spending freely in free agency. Understandably, the Astros aren’t looking to pay over the Competitive Balance Tax threshold for next year, which is $237 million. Their local television contact has transitioned from AT&T Sports Net to its own network, Space City, but it’s unclear how much the Astros are getting out of the deal.

Other teams are grappling with the same issue as the regional sports network model implodes.

But what general manager Dana Brown would love to have is some extra money under the tree — enough to extend Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker to his heart’s content.

Relief Help

The Astros have three relievers that are on the market right now. They haven’t re-signed any of them. Aside from some cursory discussions with Hector Neris, it sound like the Astros haven’t had much contact.

Houston is set at closer with Ryan Pressley — for at least one more season. They have a few of experienced arms in Bryan Abreu, Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero. After that, the Astros have a lot of arms and plenty of questions.

There is enough relief help on the free agent market for the Astros to bolster the bullpen just a bit more. What Brown wouldn’t give to have a reliever like Jordan Hicks under the tree, wrapped up in a three- or four-year deal to become the closer-in-waiting once Pressly’s deal is done.

Pitchers Beating The Timeline

In lieu of signing another free agent starting pitcher, the Astros could use getting two of their veterans back just a little bit sooner than expected.

Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. missed most of last season with Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon surgery, respectively. In December, Brown told reporters that the hope was that both would be ready to pitch in mid-Summer. Both were playing catch in December.

Brown said then that they were targeting July for their return. But, what if Brown opened up this present on Christmas Day and found that both would be back in June, just a bit earlier than hoped? That would be a gift worth opening.