Plus, coaching staff updates
The days following the Astros' World Series championship win over the Phillies were certainly eventful, with general manager James Click and assistant GM Scott Powers departing the organization and manager Dusty Baker returning. Houston also promoted Bill Firkus and Charles Cook to assistant GM, joining with Andrew Ball in that role. Astros owner Jim Crane told MLB.com in the days that followed that he would take his time to hire a new GM, saying the search could lead into January. That means Ball, Firkus and Cook, along with Crane, are guiding the front office in the offseason. With the Winter Meetings in San Diego less than two weeks away, here are some free agents who could fit in Houston to keep an eye on: RHP Justin Verlander: The Mets reportedly met with Verlander via Zoom last week, which isn't a surprise considering their need to add starting pitching and Verlander's desire to test his market. Verlander is seeking a deal similar to the three-year, $130 million contract Max Scherzer signed a year ago, but the Astros have terrific starting-pitching depth and wouldn't feel the need to make that kind of commitment on a position that's already a strength. |
1B José Abreu: The slugger is on Houston's radar, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Abreu hit only 15 homers last season while posting an .824 OPS for the White Sox, and at 35 years old, he would likely get a short-term contract. The Astros remain interested in bringing back free-agent first baseman Yuli Gurriel, who could play multiple positions if Abreu is signed. |
LF Andrew Benintendi: With the Astros playing a wait-and-see approach with free-agent veteran left fielder Michael Brantley, who underwent right shoulder surgery in August, Benintendi, 28, could be a potential option in left. An All-Star in 2022, the lefty slashed .304/.373/.399 in 126 games with the Royals and Yankees before a right hand injury ended his season. He's a better defender than Brantley, but he isn't the power bat Houston may prefer. |
C Willson Contreras: The Astros reportedly nearly acquired Contreras from the Cubs in July, so it only stands to reason they would have interest in him this offseason. There's a rub. Houston has starting catcher Martín Maldonado returning and top catching prospect Korey Lee has nothing left to prove at Triple-A Sugar Land, so signing Contreras would alter a stable catching situation. Besides, he was given a qualifying offer, which means the team that signs him would forfeit Draft pick(s) and/or international bonus pool money for signing him. |
Which Astros closer holds the club record for most career saves in the playoffs? A) Ryan Pressly
B) Brad Lidge
C) Luke Gregerson
D) Roberto Osuna |
CINTRÓN, MILLER, SNITKER RETURNING |
The Astros have yet to make any formal announcements regarding their 2023 coaching staff, other than Baker is set to return on a one-year contract after winning his first World Series title in '22. But most of Baker's staff has committed to return next year, including hitting coaches Alex Cintrón and Troy Snitker and pitching coach Josh Miller. Cintrón and Snitker, in text messages to MLB.com, said Monday they had signed contracts to return for another season. Cintrón had interviewed with the Blue Jays in recent weeks to work as their bench coach, but he will instead remain in Houston. Cintrón and Snitker were both hired as hitting coaches in November 2018. A source told MLB.com on Tuesday that Miller was set to return for his third season as pitching coach. He took over for Brent Strom when Strom stepped down following the 2021 season, and Miller helped lead an Astros pitching staff that paced the American League in ERA and had the best bullpen ERA in the Major Leagues. Bench coach Joe Espada and first-base coach Omar López will also return next year, but there's no word yet on third-base coach Gary Pettis and pitching coach Bill Murphy. |
A) Ryan Pressly Pressly is 11-for-11 in career postseason save chances for the Astros, which is nearly twice as many as Lidge, who's in second place with six. In fact, Pressly earned six saves in this year's postseason alone, including the World Series clincher. Gregerson and Osuna both compiled three playoff saves for Houston. |
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