HOUSTON – Winter meetings are almost here and Major League Baseball’s free agency is about to heat up.
This is a running blog of everything going on in the league and with the Astros during free agency from me and my reporting. At the bottom are the Astros free agency needs, which will be updated once/if they fill them. Also at the bottom are Houston’s current free agents and where they will eventually sign.
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NOV. 29
On the Astros front: Pretty quiet. All I’ve gotten so far is that they are NOT in on RHP Seth Lugo. I would also say based on many people I’ve talked to in the industry, some closer to the situation than others - the Alex Bregman trade rumor stuff is overblown. More smoke than fire. Also, he has a 10-team no-trade clause, making a trade slightly more difficult. But again, most people I’m talking to just don’t see it happening.
Around the league: The Dodgers are seriously going after Shohei Ohtani and Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Their interest in those guys is real and serious, per sources. They are also interested in the above-mentioned Seth Lugo, multiple sources tell me. Lugo’s market has at least 20 of the 30 MLB teams involved, a league source tells me.
Those guys are also a big reason why the market is so slow. Many teams are interested and waiting for those two guys to come off the board before they pivot to other players.
DEC. 4
On the Astros front: Houston is still looking at backup catchers and is interested in former Reds/Tigers/Cubs catcher Tucker Barnhart. Barnhart is sort of similar to Maldonado - defense first with a light bat. He has won two Gold Gloves and should be affordable. The Diamondbacks are also interested in Barnhart, a league source tells KPRC 2.
Around the league: The Brewers announced an interesting contract with prospect Jackson Chourio, who will get more than $80 million guaranteed without playing a single game in the majors yet. The contract has options that could take up in the $140 million range. The framework of the deal was largely done a few days ago but just got announced at Winter Meetings.
Shohei Ohtani has at least one offer of $500 million+ on the table, a league source tells KPRC 2. It’s been reported widely that he may have more than one offer like that. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up signing for an astronomical number never previously seen in baseball.
Joe Espada will speak with the media this afternoon in Nashville, and Dana Brown will likely answer some questions on the Astros’ offseason plans over the next couple of days.
DEC. 4 UPDATE - DANA BROWN & JOE ESPADA MEDIA SESSIONS
Relevant notes:
- “We are not interested in trading Alex Bregman.” - Dana Brown. There, that’s over.
- Forrest Whitley will move into the bullpen, and will get a 4th year option, Brown says.
- There will be competition in the outfield for playing time, at least at center and left field. Yordan Alvarez will play some left field, and a decent amount of DH per both Brown and manager Joe Espada.
- The Astros’ targets are backup catchers and bullpen relievers.
- The Astros could look at starting pitching, which Brown says would solve a bullpen problem by moving a different starter into the pen, but it’s less of a priority than the above mentioned positions.
- Joe Espada largely believes the team is strong as is, but obviously would welcome additional help as Dana Brown works on those moves.
- Brown told me he would not categorize the market as “slow,” saying he’s been busy and involved all offseason.
- Brown says the relief pitching market is currently expensive and the Astros are not interested in overpaying for a reliever.
DEC. 5
On the Astros front: The Astros are showing continued interest in flamethrowing reliever Jordan Hicks, per league sources. Hicks is from the Houston area, graduating from Cypress Creek high school. There are about a half-dozen teams in on Hicks, including the Orioles, Rangers, Angels, and Red Sox.
The Astros continue to prioritize backup catching and relief pitching.
Around the league: The Cleveland Guardians are open to trading starting pitcher Shane Bieber, with the Reds, Cubs and Padres making calls on the right-hander.
Everything continues to be on hold until Shohei Ohtani makes a decision.
Teams are working on figuring out what they want to do in the Rule 5 draft. Astros GM Dana Brown mentioned he thinks, if any player gets taken from Houston, it might be RHP Misael Tamarez. Other league sources have projected IF Shay Whitcomb to have a chance to be drafted within Rule 5 based on his power output.
DEC 5. DANA BROWN MEDIA AVAILABILITY NOTES
- The Astros are “making progress” on deals on both the backup catcher market and relief pitcher market
- They are closer on free agent deals than they would be on trade talks
- Houston has received trade calls on Jake Meyers, but Brown says the Astros are planning to give him the majority of playing time in center field in 2024.
- Where does that leave Chas McCormick? Chas is an every day player according to Dana Brown, but will play most of his time in left field. That would put Yordan Alvarez mostly at DH, with Chas mixing in, in center field when Yordan plays left field.
DEC. 6
The Astros are showing interest in bringing back RHP reliever Phil Maton, who is coming off a strong year in Houston. Maton has a strong market, with the St. Louis Cardinals showing interest, as well as 8 other teams, sources tell me.
Houston signed backup catcher Victor Caratini from the Brewers late Tuesday night, according to AP. Caratini means that Martin Maldonado will not return to the Astros in 2024, but has some suitors in the market.
Houston continues to be engaged with relievers, and have checked in on Hector Neris (as Dana Brown has mentioned several times), plus the above mentioned conversations with representatives for Maton and Jordan Hicks. I’m also hearing they’ve checked in on another veteran reliever - one who won’t cost all that much.
DEC. 14
The Mets are showing interest in the reliever market, checking in with Phil Maton. As many as 10 teams have roughly similar targets when it comes to multi-year relievers. The prevailing idea within the industry is that multi-year reliever deals will start to pick up once Josh Hader signs with a team. Pitchers like Hector Neris, Jordan Hicks and Maton are essentially waiting. The Astros have checked in on all three, but it’s unlikely at this point they will meet their prices, I’m told.
ASTROS NEEDS
- Backup catcher - CHECK
- Bullpen (up to three relievers)
- Starting pitching depth
- A bat, preferably left-handed
ASTROS FREE AGENTS
OF Michael Brantley
C Martin Maldonado
RHP RP Ryne Stanek
RHP RP Hector Neris
RHP RP Phil Maton