Houston Astros Boss Reveals New Offseason Priority
This offseason had been pretty quiet for the Houston Astros, who were coming off a division title and their seventh straight ALCS appearance. They didn't have much to add, so they weren't really expected to be major players in free agency this winter.
That all changed last week, however, when the Astros learned that reliever Kendall Graveman needed season-ending shoulder surgery.
With a sudden hole in their bullpen, Houston got aggressive.
Within a few days, GM Dana Brown had reeled in Josh Hader -- the best reliever on the market.
While Hader cost a pretty penny (five years, $95 million), the Astros may not stop there. There are still several other high-profile free agents available, and Houston may not be done spending based on GM Dana Brown's latest comments.
At Hader's introductory press conference on Monday, Brown expressed his desire to add a left-handed bat, "preferably an outfielder with some speed."
That would be a perfect replacement for Michael Brantley, who retired this offseason after spending the last five years of his 15-year career with the Astros.
There aren't a ton of speedy outfielders left on the market, but one who fits Brown's description is Cody Bellinger. The former MVP is seeking a contract in the $200 million range, however, which might be too much for ownership to stomach after shelling out nearly $100 million for Hader.
Regardless, it's encouraging that Brown still has an aggressive mindset and is looking for ways to improve the team. With less than a month until Spring Training starts, it's not too late to keep adding to the roster.
