Two Signings Astros Could Pursue for Next Season

The Houston Astros won’t limit themselves to a smattering of signings in the offseason. Every front office works hard to make sure that their team has everything it needs going into Spring Training.

The Astros, reportedly, aren’t looking to spend a lot of money this offseason. Their focus, to some measure, is on extending two of their stars, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman.

But, the Astros do need help in some areas. They could use some more pop at the plate. They could use some depth in the starting rotation.

Fortunately, ESPN has an answer. The site recently put together two moves each team could make to get better for 2024.

The first move is one that has been written about on this site. The site wrote that the Astros could sign former Rangers catcher and designated hitter Mitch Garver on a three-year, $37.5 million deal.

Garver batted .270 with 19 home runs and 50 RBI in the 2023 regular season. That’s his best season since his breakout 2019 campaign with Minnesota, where he hit .273 with 31 home runs and 67 RBI.

In the postseason he had his best game in the AL Division Series, as he went 2-for-6 with a home run and five RBI in Game 2 against Baltimore. That included a grand slam, his first career postseason home run, and tying the team’s single-game postseason RBI record.

The second moves benefits the starting rotation, as the Astros could sign pitcher Yariel Rodriguez on a four-years, $30 million deal.

ESPN’s logic?:

With Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) and Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) out until at least the second half of 2024 and top setup man Hector Neris a free agent, the Astros will be looking for some pitching depth. Rodriguez is a Cuban righty who last pitched in Japan in 2022. He was a reliever there but has the repertoire to start, and the Astros could use him in either role.

The right-hander is 26 but he’s pitched just about everywhere and for his career he is 48-38 with a 3.07 ERA.

Neither signing would break the Astros’ bank and give them depth at the plate and on the pitching staff in 2024.