Also, a team that has their ace on the free agent market, too many mediocre outfielders, Christian Walker in trade rumors, a litany of players with injury history, and a declining franchise favorite.
With large contracts on the books for Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Correa, Walker, Josh Hader, and Cristian Javier money could be tight. Not to mention each of those names (excluding Hader) comes with a red flag and level of concern for 2026 and beyond.
Considering where they currently stand with an aging core and weak farm system, one might consider a retool of sorts, but I doubt they head in that direction right now. Not after going out and adding Correa. But, in order to compete in the AL West, the Astros are going to have to get creative.
What Choice Do They Have?
The Astros letting homegrown stars walk is nothing new. Framber Valdez is just another one on a list of World Series Champions to leave in free agency. How the Astros have been able to maneuver and remain competitive despite their departures is impressive, but it’s starting to catch up to them.
Moving Kyle Tucker before he walked in free agency has helped extend Houston’s window, but the current state of the farm system is not keeping up with the demands of the major league club. Ranked in the bottom five, Houston simply does not have the prospect power to back fill holes on their roster resulting in a need for more money to be spent in free agency.
Which is fine, if money is not an issue. Well, money might be a slight issue in Houston. The Astros have already moved Mauricio Dubón, an important defensive utility piece for a number of years, to avoid his arbitration money. Walker, their second attempt at adding an older first baseman that soured quickly, is also publicly available as a salary dump.