MLB
Houston Astros lose eight players to free agency
Joe Espada’s team aim to make important changes to their roster to regain prominence in Major League Baseball.
The 2024 Major League Baseball season reached its conclusion a few weeks ago with the Los Angeles Dodgers winning their eighth World Series title.
Free agency officially began on 31 October with players who are at the end of their contracts able to sign for a new team from 4 November. So movement has already started as the 30 MLB teams look to strengthen their rosters in the best way possible.
The Astros finished the 2024 season top of the AL West (88-73) but didn’t get far in the playoffs. The team was eliminated in the Wild Card series round, swept 0-2 by the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park.
With that disappointment, Houston ended their streak of always being present in the American League Championship Series - a run that they had maintained since 2017.
The start of the campaign was peculiar for the team. In the first 36 games, they had a disastrous record of 12-24 but they managed to recover and finished with a record of 88-73.
Which players could the Astros lose in free agency?
The Astros will be without eight players when they become free agents this offseason.
The Astros' free agents
- Alex Bregman | 3B
- Justin Verlander | Starting pitcher
- Yusei Kikuchi | Starting pitcher
- Hector Neris | Relief pitcher
- Jason Heyward | Outfielder
- Caleb Ferguson | Relief Pitcher
- Kendall Graveman | Relief pitcher
- Ben Gamel | Outfielder
The Astros confirmed that they have made a qualifying offer for a contract extension to third baseman Alex Bregman, now that he is a free agent. The deadline to accept or reject the offer was November 19, but it was not accepted.
The moves the Astros made in free agency
The ‘star team’ announced the moves it has made since the start of free agency in the MLB:
- They signed Taylor Trammell (OF) from the New York Yankees
- Two players were removed from the 40-man roster: Oliver Ortega (RHP) and José Urquidy (RHP)
- Additionally, Trey Cabbage (OF), Seth Martinez (RHP) and Penn Murfee (RHP) were claimed off waivers by other teams. Cabbage went to Pittsburgh, Martinez to Arizona and Murfee to Chicago
- Five players who were on the 60-day injured list at the end of the season returned to the 40-man roster: JP France (RHP), Luis García (RHP), Cristian Javier (RHP), Lance McCullers Jr. (RHP) and Bennett Sousa (LHP)
In recent hours, the franchise’s intentions to trade outfielder Kyle Tucker and even pitcher Framber Valdez have emerged.
“We will listen to any offer,” said general manager Dana Brown. “We’re not trying to aggressively move anybody out the door, but if someone wants to talk, that’s part of being at the Winter Meetings”.
“Sometimes guys will think outside the box and say, ‘Hey would you guys do this guy or that guy.’ If it doesn’t make sense, we wouldn’t do it. It would really have to make sense. We’re a good team and we’re not motivated to move any of these guys,” Brown concluded.