The Houston Astros experienced a turbulent offseason. Early in the winter, they appeared fully committed to contending in 2025, aggressively pursuing a new deal with veteran third baseman Alex Bregman. A reunion seemed likely, but negotiations ultimately fell through, shifting the team’s direction.
In response, Houston made a bold move by trading star outfielder Kyle Tucker—arguably their best player—for two young infielders: Isaac Paredes and top prospect Cam Smith. At the time, it seemed like a forward-thinking move to strengthen their long-term outlook.
Surprisingly, the Astros have performed better than expected. Paredes and Smith have been contributing recently, and the team still boasts a strong roster.
They remain contenders in a competitive AL West, though securing the division title will be tough—especially if Yordan Alvarez doesn’t bounce back from his current slump. To stay competitive, Houston needs to optimize its roster.
One potential move on the horizon could involve parting ways with a veteran reliever to better position themselves for a playoff run.
The Astros need to pull the plug on veteran pitcher Kaleb Ort
The Astros’ roster is largely solid, but reliever Kaleb Ort stands out as a significant weakness in the bullpen. At 33, Ort has yet to log more than 30 Major League innings in a single season, and so far this year, he’s only pitched two innings for Houston—clearly making him the most vulnerable spot in an otherwise strong relief corps.
Rather than continuing to rely on Ort, the Astros could give his roster spot to a promising pitching prospect or explore trade options to strengthen the bullpen.
One intriguing target could be Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, who’s reportedly available and would form a dominant late-inning duo with Josh Hader—provided Houston is willing to pay the price.
There may also be viable in-house alternatives the Astros can turn to, but regardless of the route they choose, it’s hard to justify keeping Ort on the roster much longer.
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