https://www.crawfishboxes.com/houston-astros-news/72834/astros-announce-opening-day-roster To finalize the Opening Day roster, the Astros made several roster moves official this morning: RHP Christian Roa and C Christian Vázquez have been added to the 40-man roster. OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow sprain) has been placed on the 10-day IL. RHP Ronel Blanco (recovery from right elbow surgery), RHP Enyel De Los Santos (right knee strain), LHP Josh Hader (left biceps tendinitis), RHP Nate Pearson (recovery from right elbow surgery), LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) and RHP Hayden Wesneski (recovery from right elbow surgery)have been placed on the 15-day IL. LHP Brandon Walter (recovery from left elbow surgery) has been placed on the 60-day IL. C César Salazar has been designated for assignment. OF Zach Cole has been optioned to Triple A Sugar Land.
If some of the TJS return and show promise, I can see us shedding a bullpen arm to improve the lineup. Trade strength for strength move. But... considering the injury history of the roster...
It would not shock me if Crane is preparing to sell the team or transfer leadership to his son. If he does that he will be more open to a sell off before he steps away. Crane has been less visible/vocal this spring than in prior years. Crane is also smart. If Houston doesn’t contend this year (the 2nd year in a row), what would be expected to change to have them contend in 2027 or 2028? The farm isn’t going to fix any problems before 2028-2029. Their best players will all be a year older. If they can’t compete this year it’s clear they need to take fairly drastic measures. It won’t be a full tear down like 2011 because Correa, Altuve, and Yordan aren’t going anywhere. But they’d be foolish not to sell high on Pena and Brown since that is the only way to completely swiftly reverse the trajectory.
It seems like everyone is a SS coming up. Def, at this point they would be ideally be a third SS. I hope we don't hold onto Allen for the entire season.
Actually, historically (and locally), when an owner is planning on selling their team… he starts spending more. Splashier names. Some contract dollars and lengths outside the norm/MO. Anything to get more fans in seats, more viewers on TV, and elevate that perceived franchise value (without being on the hook for the debt). Any progress on the hotel/entertainment district development around Daikin? Figured he’d want to get that part developed which will only further the value of the team. They’re also likely in the running for another all star game here soon (last in 2004).
I don’t think that’s true. That’s not what McLane did before sold to Crane; he had Ed Wade get started on the rebuild prior to selling. My perception (although I haven’t done any actual research) is that potential buyers are more interested in a clean slate and so owners try as much as reasonably possibly to trim payroll and improve the long term outlook prior to putting the team up for sale.
I hope that the Astros do not need to play the 13th aka the last position player more than occasionally.
I think it depends on how good the team is. In the Astros / McLane case, they were going to suck or be mediocre regardless, so why throw away money on payroll? That was also the Twins situation last year when they were trying to dump Correa. On the other hand, if you're in the middle of a great run, you can also maximize value that way - see the recent Lakers and Celtics sales. If the Dodgers were to sell now, their payroll seems scary but the team would command a premium for how good and popular they are. Plus a new owner, if they are huge baseball fan, can win a championship quickly. (granted, Celtics, Lakers, and Dodgers are all uniquely historic franchises so they have other things impacting their valuations)
I’ll try to make it easy for you to understand- I’m implying that Correa likes to make it “all about him” way too much for my liking. I’m a fan of more humble leaders. Nothing to do with family and all that stuff lol.
My 3 bold predictions for the Astros 2026 season: 1) Cam Smith hits 25+ bombs and establishes himself in the middle third of the Astros’ order. 2) Tatsuya Imai wins 15+ games and prices himself out of the Astros range (but is willing to take a discount to stay). 3) The Astros win 90+ games and win the division. Rangers come in second and the Mariners come in 3rd (decimated by SP injuries and Cal Raleigh regression). Altuve breaks the all time postseason HR record. Astros in 6 over the Mets for another WS
I predict: opening day: Paredes DH, Yordan LF, Pena at SS Game 2: yordan DH, Paredes 1B, Walker to the bench, Matthews LF Game 3. Pena sits. Paredes to 3B. Correa at SS. Loperfido LF. Yordan DH
This is correct. They get rid of big contracts and pare the payroll down to make operating costs lower and business profitable when they are selling- and so the new owner has a blank canvas. Generally.
