Hello everyone! You may have noticed some posts from Brian McTaggart, our mlb.com beat writer, over the past couple of days. u/brianmctaggart is his (mod-verified) account.
Tags has kindly agreed to do an ask me anything (AMA) session this afternoon, so please drop any questions you have for him in this thread!
38 comments
Is the injury and rehabilitation problem the Astros have as bad as it seems? Does the team actually see a problem or just provides a little lip service here and there.
What’s one move the Astros need to make, and one move they absolutely need to stay away from?
Maybe I missed it, but any info on Hader?
Tags! What’s the overall strategy for the front office this offseason?
Do you think with the Dubón trade the Astros are planning to go for a high end pitcher such as Cease or even try to resign Framber?
* Any sense that Brown or Espada are on the hot seat?
* Any prospects that might surprise in 2026?
* Was any consideration given to bringing in Michael Brantley or Maldanado as assistant coaches (hitting/catching)?
* Are Dana’s comments about not trading Walker just posturing?
* In the Dubon trade, could they have gotten a lower-rated prospect instead of Allen?
Are players usually aware that they are on the trade block or do they find out by seeing tweets from reporters like the fans do?
What do you think is the biggest misconception about the Astros from its fans?
You’ve said that you’re not a fan of the Astros, it’s just your job, etc., but since you know the team so intimately (compared to the fans you create content for), do you feel at least a little bit fulfilled when they succeed? Or do you really have no emotional attachment to their performance, good or bad (and if so, how do you avoid getting emotionally attached to a team in your line of work)?
What was the hardest thing about developing a working relationship with the team when you were starting out as a beat writer?
Any names that the Astros have been looking at in free agency?
Kingston Flemings – 2026 Final Four Most Outstanding Player?
What has been the longest or most interesting story or thread that you’ve been able to follow, report and offer analysis on in your time as the Astros beat writer?
Something that you’ve updated us fans on over the course of multiple seasons, I mean.
What free agent pitchers are we going after this offseason?
do you see Kevin Alvarez pushing his way through the ranks quickly? what does the team expect/hope he’ll be?
162 game schedule, as player it’s a different experience than the staff and everyone that follows them, including the media. As a beat writer there must be moments where it becomes a grind to cover the team and baseball overall. Yet, even in the off-season I see you’re still very active. What the secret to keeping it fresh all year?
Mornin’ Tags. You’re the man. Keep up the great work.
I got three. One, do you expect to be surprised or blown away by any moves this offseason? I don’t see the Astros as having a lot of room to work with, financially.
Two, give it to me straight: does Altuve get to 3k and the Hall?
Three, when are you going to join the discord??
With limited FA money this offseason, do you still expect the team to pursue a Caratini reunion? Is there a possibility if Caratini is re-signed that Diaz could be traded?
Do any other MLB organizations share their fans’ bad feelings for the current Astros organization? Or is it all business in every case?
Who are the Astros top pitching priority’s in free agency, along what’s the plan with altuve’s position in 2026
Hey Brian! What’s the worst hotel/city experience you’ve had while traveling for work? You’ve traveled a lot so I imagine there has to be something wild.
With a modest farm system and directive to stay under the CBT, how in the world does the FO acquire the necessary SP worthy of a postseason contender?
Lots of Astros questions, so I’ll ask one about your career. Who is someone that you met along the way, maybe early on in your career, who inspired you or helped your get to where you are today? Congrats on all the great success.
It’s obvious the Astros are clearing payroll space for more additions, particularly on the pitching side. Are there any pitchers you’re hearing the Astros have particular interest in? Perhaps a reunion with Verlander?
I have noticed recently you have been tweeting more frequently about Zach Cole. Do you expect him to be “the prospect” similar to Cam last year for this up coming season? And is this based off just your intuition or has Dana and the team said things about Cole that leads you to this conclusion?
During the tenure of Snitker/Cintron: Was our batting approach of swing early, swing often more of fan’s interpretation, or was this our legitimate approach? And during those times, especially last 2 years, was there unit cohesion on this approach within the clubhouse? Was this methodology the ultimate reason for moving on from the current hitting coaches and trying someone new?
Is Auburn better than UofH basketball? :))
How involved is Craig Biggio? We’ve been seeing him behind home plate for the last ten years, so I’m assuming he’s doing SOMETHING with the team?
do you expect Houston to make a competitive offer when Jeremy Peña reaches free agency?
If you could share some superlatives like “Funniest”, “Kindest”, of MLB players you’ve gotten to work alongside, what would they be?
What are the feelings in and around the organization about 2017? Is there genuine remorse there, a feeling of having been scapegoated for a league-wide problem, or something else?
Speaking broadly, it seems like the Astros are on the downswing from the “glory days” of the last 10 years or so. This happens in baseball and it’s hard to find sustained success without having an unlimited budget.
Is this sentiment perceived within the organization? That is, is there an acknowledgement that we’re likely entering a rebuild phase as we lose the core pieces that built us to what we were?
Secondly, what are, in your mind, the most pressing holes that need to be filled?
Is anyone on the horizon to help for pitching? Hunter Brown has been great. There was a time many years ago we had good pitchers all brought up around the same time(Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller, Carlos Hernandez)
Howdy Tags. The Astros seem to have (or have had) some secret ability to help pitchers find a next gear when other teams have cast them off. Do we have some secret sauce pitch analytics?
Any insight as to how the front office and clubhouse feels about Framber?
Will you sign my copy of “100 things Astros fans should know before they die”? 🙂
In all seriousness- what are the 3 most pressing things the Astros need to address before the 2026 season kicks off?
Hello Brian long time fan. Am I wrong that Brown and Espada might be on thin ice this yr ? Also I hear a lot of JV noise do you think that is the pitching they plan to add ? 😒 I expect some guys being DFA today because I have zero confidence in Brown as a legit GM.
What is the outlook for the organization this offseason? What positions of need are they prioritizing the most to improve the team for 2026?