The Houston Astros are much more set in terms of infielders than outfielders heading into spring training, but that didn’t stop them from adding one more infielder this week.
Jack Winkler, who made his major league debut for 14 games with the Miami Marlins last season, was an interesting addition to the free-agent pool after the Marlins outrighted him off the 40-man roster in November.
According to the official transactions log on his roster page, Winkler signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Monday. The log first updated to reflect that signing on Thursday.
Winkler was drafted in the 10th round by the Oakland Athletics in 2021 out of the University of San Francisco. He went to the Marlins in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft in December 2024. The 27-year-old didn’t necessarily force his way to the majors with his performance at the upper levels of the minors, but he has some interesting roster utility.
Winkler played multiple games at all four infield positions in his brief time with the Marlins, and in 404 minor-league games, he logged over 300 innings at all four spots. His “natural” position is probably third base, but because he’s never provided much production at the plate, his pathway to major league playing time would be as a bench/utility player.
The Astros traded Mauricio Dubón to the Atlanta Braves earlier this offseason, so they don’t have that Swiss Army knife player on their bench they’ve become accustomed to having. Winkler is by no means the favorite to take over a spot on the big-league roster, but if he earns his way there, he could fill the Dubón role.
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