The Houston Astros may not have a general manager after parting ways with James Click a couple of weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have capable people recommending additions to the ownership.
Looking to increase their odds to repeat as World Series champions in 2023, the Astros signed first baseman Jose Abreu to a three-year deal worth $60 million.
Their lineup is already elite, with Abreu, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, and Alex Bregman, among others.
That doesn’t mean their offseason is over, though.
The Astros have a couple of key veterans hitting free agency: infielder Yuli Gurriel and reigning American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander.
Both of them have been crucial pieces in the puzzle since 2016 and 2017, respectively, and contributed a lot in 2022.
The team wants them back.
“’We’re active in the market, we’re not finished. Yuli is in the mix, Verlander is in the mix.’ – Jim Crane,” reporter Ari Alexander tweeted.
“We’re active in the market, we’re not finished. Yuli is in the mix, Verlander is in the mix.” – Jim Crane pic.twitter.com/GIYxsD1saU
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) November 29, 2022
The Astros Could Bring Back Verlander And Gurriel
Gurriel is 38 and declined offensively in 2022, with a .647 OPS.
He is looking for his last payday, but the Astros may not be willing to go as far as offering a two or three-year deal.
Verlander did dominate this year, with 18 wins, a 1.75 ERA, and a 0.83 WHIP in 175 innings, plus his first ever World Series victory in Game 5 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
He is 39, but deserves a multi-year pact and is likely to get one.
Will Houston be the team willing to bet on his long-term outlook?
We don’t know if the Astros will secure both, but they are trying and that’s all we need to know about their competitive drive.
NEXT: The Astros Are Still Targeting Several More Elite Bats
Coach Bowen says
I like how you put it: ‘competitive drive.’ Despite winning the WS — which is so awesome — I thought Click didn’t leave it all on the field last year in the off-season. He never really made a big move at all; and it made CF a merry-go-round and left us with little offense at the C position. It did work out with Pena, but we could have signed Correa, too.. Fortunately, when you go 37 deep with pitching you can overcome a lot. It is not to complain, just that I like that Crane is being aggressive. This window only stays open if we are aggressive. At some point, Altuve and Bregman are going to start to decline; but we seem to have a pretty good approach where we can replace them. Right now we’re also preserving out minor leaguers and hopefully can use them to plug some holes in the future as well as offer some immediate depth. Plus, at some point, you may have to trade guys if we don’t have room for them after they’re ready. So far it is really refreshing to see an organization do things the right way!
Coach Bowen says
Okay, my long comment didn’t go through; so, I’ll re-do: I really like how Crane has gone about this off-season already. We’re not complaining, but I think that Click really slow-played last off-season way too much. Fortunately, when you end up going 37 deep in the pitching staff you can overcome a lot — plus we got some luck with Pena and even in the playoffs. As good as we were, Seattle could have ended it early if they hadn’t pitched to Alvarez. But last off-season, Click failed to get us any offense at the catcher — He did not address CF, which made the whole year a merry-go=round trying to figure out who it would be. He let Correa go, which didn’t have to happen, although it worked out. Unless I’m missing something, Click really didn’t plug up any holes with a bona-fide star. So, Crane is thinking, I think: ‘We kind of lucked out a little; but we have some holes we need to fill up. Our offense was very spotty in the playoffs. We can do better next year.’ The window is open now; and the way the Astros are taking care of business, I think they can keep it open for a long time. At some point Altuve and Bregman may decline; but we’re in good position to make the necessary moves when that time comes, just as we are with Gurriel — I imagine both Altuve and Bregman can be good bench players in four or five years if they want to. With the new additions, we can bring along the minor leaguers a little slower — at least for another year — and we will have to trade some when they get ready to play and we don’t have a spot. It’s really nice seeing an organization do things the right way and spend the money as needed while still building from within. Good stuff!