What to know as MLB winter games approach

Heading into baseball’s winter games, the Astros’ roster needs remain the same as when general manager Dana Brown outlined them early in the offseason. Relief pitchers, a backup catcher and, perhaps, a starting pitcher are the priorities, Brown said. Everyone is still unstable.

Houston’s offseason activity so far includes the selection of Joe Espada as manager and a reported restocking of its scouting department following the departure of former scouting director Kris Gross for a role with the Mets. With these areas addressed, Brown could now be freer to focus more on the roster.

League-wide, the first month of the offseason passed with relative calm on the transaction front. Unresolved situations with several star players — including Shohei Ohtani’s free agency and whether the Padres will trade Juan Soto — likely played a role, and a flurry of activity could follow their eventual resolution.

It’s unclear if that will happen in Nashville, where team executives will gather for meetings that begin Sunday. But for the Astros, whose operations at least appear to be low-key, it provides an opportunity to further define how to strengthen needed areas on the field this winter.

Here are several topics to keep in mind as Astros brass head to Nashville:

Houston saw three of its six most-used relievers in 2023 hit free agency: Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek, who combined for 185 innings last season. While the Astros could look internally for a bullpen fortification, Brown indicated in general managers’ meetings that they would explore adding at least a seventh or sixth inning swing arm to help fill the gap with pitcher Bryan Abreu and closer Ryan Pressly. .

The Astros are also looking for a replacement for Yainer Diaz, who will assume primary catching duties next season. And Brown said last month that he would be open-minded to the idea of ​​acquiring a starting pitcher if such a player “falls into our laps and we can fit him financially.”

It’s unclear whether Houston will have the financial room to address all of these areas through free agency. As the roster currently stands, Cot’s Contracts and FanGraphs both project that the Astros’ payroll next season will already be within $5 million of the first competitive balance tax threshold of $237 million for 2024.

Although owner Jim Crane has not declared his intention to remain subject to the luxury tax, the Astros have only exceeded the tax threshold once during Crane’s tenure.

A few early signings offer a partial preview of this offseason’s pitching market. Reliever Joe Jiménez, who posted a 3.04 ERA in 59 outings for Atlanta in 2023, signed a three-year, $26 million contract to remain with the Braves before hitting free agency. Reliever Emilio Pagán, who had a 2.99 ERA with the Twins last season, signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Reds with an $8 million player option for 2025.

Atlanta also signed Reynaldo López, who had a strong 2023 season as a reliever, to a three-year deal with $30 million guaranteed. López will earn $4 million in 2024, the Braves said in their announcement, on the type of deferred deal the Astros could explore given their financial situation this winter.

Launching the project is also expected to be expensive due to demand. The Astros, returning rotation depth, shouldn’t aim for the top of the market, but even the least coveted names come at a cost. Luis Severino and Lance Lynn are veterans who want to bounce back with new teams; Severino signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Mets and Lynn signed a one-year, $11 million deal, with a club option through 2025, with the Cardinals.

A veteran backup catcher should be less expensive. Still, if Houston’s room to increase payroll is limited, it will be Brown’s task to put the pieces together.

One way to address needs and potentially mitigate the impact on payroll is to explore commercial options. The Astros have rotation depth that can increase if starters Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia return midseason in 2024 from injuries, as expected. That depth and demand for starting pitchers could have the Astros considering dealing this group to fortify other areas of the roster.

As a counterattack, Brown has repeatedly spoken about the importance of having rotation depth to navigate the season and, ideally, the playoffs. And moving one or two pitchers from that group to the bullpen could be another cost-effective way to get help.

Houston finished last season with an outfield logjam that left Jake Meyers the odd man out in center field. Meyers’ name has popped up in trade deadline rumors in recent years. Still, Brown recently mentioned Meyers as part of the projected outfield mix for next season. And if salary reduction is a goal, the effect of trading Meyers, who is not yet arbitration eligible, would be minimal.

In recent days, several national analysts have suggested that the Astros might listen to trade requests for third baseman Alex Bregman. The idea of ​​Houston trading Bregman, a franchise cornerstone with no obvious replacement waiting, seems highly unlikely. However, the fact that the Astros are at least gauging interest is not without reason.

Bregman is entering the final season of his current contract. He and Jose Altuve are both expected to become free agents after the 2024 season. Brown, during general managers’ meetings, said the Astros would “consider talking to both” players about possible extensions this winter. Agent Scott Boras, who represents both players and has a history of clients testing the open market, said during the general manager’s meetings that talks had not yet begun.

If the Astros aren’t sure whether to extend or re-sign Bregman, who is set to make $30.5 million in 2024, it makes sense to listen to see if teams inquire about him. In a hypothetical trade, the Astros could create payroll space, address roster needs and improve their farm system. However, the Astros are built and expect to compete in 2024. And trading their star third baseman seems to be in conflict with that goal.

Brown has yet to publicly address the Bregman speculation, but it will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion in meetings.

The Astros may not be too focused on this annual event — they last selected a player in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft in 2017. But several Astros prospects could be of interest to others teams.

Houston added just one player to its 40-man roster, outfielder Kenedy Coronabefore the deadline to protect players from Rule 5 eligibility. Among those who were not protected were shortstop Shay Whitcomb, who hit 35 homers between Double and Triple-A in 2023, tied for most in the minor leagues.

Whitcomb was one of three Astros minor league players Baseball America named as a potential selection in next week’s Rule 5 draft. Outfielder Justin Dirden, who struggled in Triple-A last season after a breakout in 2022, and outfielder Colin Barber, who played in 2023 in Double-A, were also named by the outlet.

Rule 5 eligibility, of course, indicates a certain question about each prospect by his current organization. A player selected in the Major League Rule 5 Draft must remain on his new team’s active roster for the entire following season or be re-offered to his former team. This year’s draft will take place on Wednesday.

The Astros had two vacancies on their 40-man roster Friday, spots they might prefer to keep for other potential acquisitions.