MLB · 3 weeks ago

Playing GM: 3 Key Moves to Finish the Astros’ 2026 Roster

SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball

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Astros 2025: A Season to Forget
The 2025 season was a new kind of frustration for the Houston Astros. For the first time since 2016, their campaign ended with Game 162, leaving them to watch the postseason from the couch. The departures of Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker marked a significant shift, turning a team accustomed to finding ways to win into one that struggled to find its footing.

As Houston heads into 2026, the offseason promises intrigue. All-Star lefty Framber Valdez hit free agency, leaving a rotation now entirely right-handed. New additions Tatsuya Imai from Japan and former Pirates starter Mike Burrows bolster the staff, but questions remain.

The offense retains talent, with young players like Cam Smith and Zach Cole poised for bigger roles, yet there’s still room to strengthen the roster.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.
Trade Four Players for MacKenzie Gore
With Valdez likely departing, the Astros will be without a left-handed starter, a critical void in the rotation. Fortunately, the Washington Nationals may be open to moving ace southpaw MacKenzie Gore.

Gore’s 2025 season was a study in contrasts. By the All-Star break, the 26-year-old posted a 3.02 ERA, 2.96 FIP, and 30.6% strikeout rate across 110.1 innings, earning his first All-Star selection. After the break, however, he struggled, posting a 6.75 ERA in 11 starts and finishing with a 4.17 ERA and 2.9 fWAR. Even so, his four-pitch arsenal remains elite, with a slider that limited opponents to a .195 average and a 40.5% whiff rate.

Acquiring Gore would come at a high cost: in this scenario, the Astros would send Brice Matthews (No. 2 Astros prospect), Xavier Neyens (No. 1), AJ Blubaugh (No. 9), and Kevin Alvarez (No. 10). Matthews impressed in Triple-A, hitting .371 with 17 homers and 41 stolen bases. Blubaugh posted a 1.69 ERA in 32 MLB innings. Alvarez and Neyens are high-upside, long-term bets — Alvarez shone in the Dominican Summer League, while Neyens was a first-round pick last year.

Despite the price, Gore’s elite strikeout ability and upside make him a game-changing rotation piece for Houston.

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Sign Right-Hander Evan Phillips
Evan Phillips’s 2025 season was cut short after just seven appearances due to an elbow injury, ultimately requiring Tommy John surgery. His recovery timeline likely keeps him out until late 2026.

Despite the setback, Phillips has proven to be one of the most effective relievers in baseball over the past five years. Since his first full season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he ranks sixth among qualified relievers with a 2.14 ERA, a performance level that typically commands $16+ million per season. For the Astros, a $4 million investment would only need to pay off for a short window, making it a low-risk, high-reward move.

Houston already boasts elite bullpen arms in lefty Josh Hader and right-hander Bryan Abreu, yet adding Phillips would strengthen depth and provide flexibility over the long season.

Even if he’s only available for part of 2026, the upside is clear. At worst, it’s a $4 million benching of an injured pitcher; at best, Phillips gives Houston a shutdown arm for a critical stretch. For a team known for savvy roster moves, he’s precisely the kind of acquisition that fits their philosophy.
Trade Jesus Sanchez to the Tigers for Prospects
The Astros acquired Jesus Sanchez at the 2025 trade deadline, but it didn’t click. In 48 games, he slashed just .199/.269/.342 with four home runs, creating a logjam in the outfield that limited playing time for young talents like Cam Smith and Zach Cole.

Despite the struggles, Sanchez is cost-controlled for two more seasons and still offers left-handed power, making him an attractive target for teams like the Detroit Tigers, who are seeking more offense.

Trading Sanchez opens opportunities for Houston’s younger players while bringing back assets:
- Eduardo Valencia (C/1B, No. 16 Tigers prospect): Not a flashy pick, but he mashed in Triple-A last year, ranking in the 94th percentile for expected wOBA and 91st percentile for barrel rate. Valencia provides short-term depth at catcher and first base while the Astros evaluate Christian Walker.
- Blake Dickerson (LHP, 12th-round pick 2023): He has only 10 professional outings but offers upside for Houston’s pitching prospect pool.
Moving Sanchez is as much about roster flexibility as it is about talent return. By freeing up playing time and acquiring a mix of position and pitching prospects, the Astros can develop their younger players while shoring up future depth.

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Download the SportsGrid App
Stay Ahead of the Game and Elevate Your Sports Betting Experience with SportsGrid. Download the SportsGrid App from the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
Astros 2025: A Season to Forget
The 2025 season was a new kind of frustration for the Houston Astros. For the first time since 2016, their campaign ended with Game 162, leaving them to watch the postseason from the couch. The departures of Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker marked a significant shift, turning a team accustomed to finding ways to win into one that struggled to find its footing.

As Houston heads into 2026, the offseason promises intrigue. All-Star lefty Framber Valdez hit free agency, leaving a rotation now entirely right-handed. New additions Tatsuya Imai from Japan and former Pirates starter Mike Burrows bolster the staff, but questions remain.

The offense retains talent, with young players like Cam Smith and Zach Cole poised for bigger roles, yet there’s still room to strengthen the roster.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.

Playing GM: 3 Key Moves to Finish the Astros’ 2026 Roster

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