The Houston Astros are reportedly looking to add some youth to their starting rotation, and it sounds like they’ve identified a target.
According to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal, the Astros “have expressed interest” in Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher and Houston native Shane Baz. Some sources reportedly described moving Baz as “unlikely,” while others “indicated the two teams have at least discussed the framework of a potential trade.”
Houston is facing the possibility of losing ace Framber Valdez in free agency, and Rome and Rosenthal noted that team sources said the franchise is “wary of paying exorbitant prices for free-agent starting pitchers and is focused on trades to supplement” its starting rotation. In addition to pursuing Baz, a league source told Rome and Rosenthal that the Astros have “spoken with a wide range of clubs.”
Baz pitched his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022 and went 10-12 with a 4.87 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 166.1 innings of work. The 26-year-old is under club control for three more seasons, which would fulfill Houston’s goal of acquiring young, controllable starters.
Astros general manager Dana Brown made it clear at MLB’s winter meetings on Monday that the team’s focus this offseason will be to revamp its rotation.
“The priority is starting pitching,” Brown said. “That’s been the main thing the whole offseason, so we’re trying to keep the main thing the main thing. We want to make sure that we beef up the rotation and so we’re fired up about that.”