AL West 2023 Preview: Houston Astros

Major League Baseball is set for opening weekend. Inside the Rangers has updates on each of the Texas Rangers’ American League West rivals entering 2023.

Houston Astros

2022 Record: 106-56, first place, AL West; beat Seattle Mariners in ALDS; beat New York Yankees in ALCS; beat Philadelphia Phillies in World Series

Manager: Dusty Baker (2,093-1,790, three seasons with Astros, 25 seasons overall)

Free Agency Losses: P Justin Verlander (New York Mets), C Christian Vazquez (Minnesota Twins), SS Aledmys Diaz (Oakland Athletics), 1B Trey Mancini (signed with Chicago Cubs), P Will Smith (Texas Rangers), 1B Yuli Gurriel (Miami Marlins), P Nick Hernandez (minor-league deal with San Diego Padres), SS Franklin Barretto (minor league deal with Washington Nationals).

Free agency gains: 1B Jose Abreu (three-year contract worth reported $58.5 million), P Rafael Montero (three-year contract worth reported $34.5 million), OF Michael Brantley (returning on one-year contract); RP Bryan Garcia, RP Ty Buttery, 2B Dixon Machado (signed minor-league deals).

Projected Lineup in Field: 1B José Abreu, 2B David Hensley, SS Jeremy Peña, 3B Alex Bregman, C Martín Maldonado, DH Yordan Alvarez, OF Jake Meyers, OF Chas McCormick, OF Kyle Tucker.

Projected Starting Rotation: Framber Valdez, Jose Uquirdy, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Hunter Brown

Outlook: It’s hard not to imagine the Astros winning the AL West again in 2023, but the path is a little bit more treacherous.

Jose Altuve’s thumb injury in the World Baseball Classic means he’ll probably miss the first two months of the season. Hensley or Mauricio Dubón will likely take his place, with the lean towards Hensley.

Even without Altuve, the lineup is potent. Abreu gives the Astros a former Rookie of the Year and MVP and made it easier to allow Gurriel to walk in free agency.

Brantley will start the season on the injured list, but the Astros knew that was likely when they re-signed him so he’s more of an insurance policy. His bat will be welcomed back in the lineup when healthy.

McCullers will start 2023 on the injured list, but he may not be there long, depending upon how he recovers from a strained forearm muscle. He hopes to be back sometime in April. Hunter Brown, a top 100 MLB prospect, joins the rotation out of Spring Training, but Valdez and Javier remain the anchors. The Astros has the depth to absorb losing Justin Verlander — the reigning AL Cy Young winner — to the Mets. Four returning starters won at least 11 games last year.

The Astros re-signed Montero, giving them the head of their bullpen for 2023. Houston let Smith walk and he eventually signed with Texas. But there is overall consistency in the bullpen.

What to watch? The recoveries of Altuve, Brantley and McCullers. How Brown reacts to being a starter. And how new general manager Dana Brown handles player acquisition at the deadline. The Astros are likely to be in contention and to be buyers as they seek a third World Series title.

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