Beyond Brantley: What Do Houston Astros Do When McCormick, Altuve and McCullers Return?
Michael Brantley is due back with the Houston Astros any day now.
That's great news for the Astros, but it also means coming changes to the team's current active roster.
Many speculate that either rookie Corey Julks or backup catcher Caesar Salazar will be the odd man out once Brantley returns.
But let's look beyond Brantley.
First, let's say the Houston brass takes the most reasonable route once Brantley does return to the Astros lineup and they send Salazar down to the minors.
Who's next when Chas McCormick returns?
And once McCormick does return, who are the two players to be demoted once Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr. return in June?
One thing is certain: skipper Dusty Baker and company will have some difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks.
Looking at Houston's current active roster, there are maybe seven players who could be sent down as Brantley, McCormick, Altuve and McCullers return from the disabled list.
Pitching-wise, the only two players I could see possibly being sent down are right-handed relievers Ronel Blanco or Seth Martinez.
Blanco, 29, has appeared in six games for Houston this season (8.0 innings) with a 5.63 ERA, 12 strikeouts and a 1.75 WHIP.
Martinez, 28, has appeared in seven games for the Astros in 2023 (8.0 innings) with a 6.75 ERA, six strikeouts and a 1.75 WHIP.
In the catching department, we already discussed sending Salazar down and sticking with just two catchers.
This season, the 27-year-old third-string catcher is slashing .286/.375/.286 (seven at-bats) with a .661 OPS.
In the infield, the only two likely to be sent down would be utility players David Hensley or Rylan Bannon.
Hensley, 27, is slashing .156/.269/.337 this year (45 at-bats) with two RBI, one stolen base and a .425 OPS.
Bannon, 27, is slashing .143/.200/.143 this season (14 at-bats) with a .343 OPS.
In the outfield, the only two to possibly be sent down are likely Julks (who is having a phenomenal rookie campaign and will likely stay with the Astros if he can continue to get quality at-bats) or Jake Meyers.
Julks, 27, is slashing .327/.333/.491 this season (55 at-bats) with two home runs, seven RBI and a .824 OPS -- and he's been a major spark for the Astros, both while in the lineup and coming off the bench.
Meyers, 26, is slashing .277/.346/.376 in 2023 (47 at-bats) with one home run, six RBI and a .729 OPS.
Brantley and McCormick will be the first two back in the Houston lineup, likely at the beginning of May.
Who are the first two to be sent down?
Let's go with Salazar and Hensley first.
The next two could be more difficult to decide once June rolls around, but let's roll the dice and say the Houston brass sends down Bannon and Meyers next.
However, if Meyers proves himself in the coming weeks, it could very well be Martinez being sent to Sugar Land instead once the summer rolls around.
Regardless of who's sent down, Baker and the Astros management will have some truly trying choices to make in the coming weeks.
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