The last time the baseball world saw the Astros, they were being swept at home in the first round of the playoffs by none other than the… checks notes… Tigers?! Wait, what? That doesn’t sound like the dominant Astros we’re used to. And based on recent events, it seems things might get worse before they get better. Case in point: they were practically invisible at the Winter Meetings.
This offseason, the Astros have signed… checks notes again… no one! Not a single major league deal. That’s fewer moves than the A’s, and far behind the Angels and Rangers. At least Astros fans can take some comfort knowing the Mariners are standing still, too—you’re not entirely alone.
The Astros’ “all-in” strategy is coming back to bite them. With one of the weakest farm systems in baseball—some even ranked it below the Angels’—they pushed all their chips in to rent Yusei Kikuchi, who has since moved on. Now, it looks like Alex Bregman might be next. The 2x All-Star and World Series champ has a strong market, with the Red Sox, Yankees, and Tigers all making serious bids for his services.
The Astros’ stock is trending down post-Winter Meetings
The Astros are in a tough spot with a bloated payroll, a weak farm system, and several key players leaving in free agency. One way to address this? Sell high on current stars to restock the farm and ease financial pressure.
Case in point: the Astros just traded Kyle Tucker to the Cubs. They’re also exploring trade options for Framber Valdez and Ryan Pressly. Despite playing only 78 games last season, Tucker had the second-highest fWAR among Astros position players and led the team in fWAR in 2023. Yet, the Astros sent him packing, bringing in Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and Cam Smith instead. Tucker is a star worth hundreds of millions on the open market, but Houston traded him for pieces that hardly seem equal in value.
It’s unclear if they’re seriously shopping Valdez, but dealing Pressly feels inevitable at this point. Could Josh Hader also be on the block? It wouldn’t be surprising. Meanwhile, the Astros appear inactive in both the trade and free-agent markets. Other than an effort to retain Alex Bregman (which may have ended now that Paredes is onboard), the team isn’t linked to many moves. If Tucker’s trade marks the start of a teardown, and Bregman leaves as expected, Houston may be entering a full-blown fire sale.
The Astros’ official social media page tried to reassure fans, but it didn’t go well. Posting photos of players like Pedro Léon, Zach Dezenzo, César Salazar, and Chas McCormick didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Maybe they’ll try again with a Cam Smith highlight reel. Fans are frustrated, and understandably so—especially since the front office hinted at rebuilding even before trading Tucker or losing Bregman. Replacing Tucker with Chas McCormick, who posted a -10.9 offensive fWAR, feels like a cruel joke.
While the Angels had a relatively quiet Winter Meetings, they’ve at least made notable additions and sparked speculation about future moves. By contrast, the Astros seem directionless, grasping at straws as they transition into a less dominant phase.
Be the first to comment