Houston Astros: Grading the 25-Man Roster

The Houston Astros Get Their Preseason Report Card by CTH

Opening Day is now two days away, and there is a buzz surrounding the Houston Astros across the nation, not just in the Houston area. We haven’t felt this much anticipation since the 2005 season with Roy Oswalt, Roger Clemens, and Andy Pettite in the rotation. People across baseball are predicting that the Astros could go all the way this year, but we have to play game one before we can worry about games past the 162nd.

Despite the success last year, the Astros didn’t feel like they needed to make too many splashy trades or signing to continue the success of 2015 into 2016. They brought back Tony Sipp and Colby Rasmus while trading for potential closer Ken Giles. Doug Fister was a late signing to sure up the rotation, especially with Lance McCullers starting the season on the disabled list. Where are the Astros strengths and weaknesses as the begin a new season in which they will get their revenge on the Royals.

Let’s take a look at how the writers at CTH and a few others would grade specific segments of the Astros final 25-roster. Will the Astros make the grade in 2016, certain players are the keys to the season.

Next: Grading Catcher and Designated Hitter

Grading Catcher and Designated Hitter

Catcher/Designated Hitter

Jason Castro

Erik Kratz

Preston Tucker

This seems to be the weak spot on the team entering the season, especially with the team leader in homers and runs batted in from the 2015 season, Evan Gattis, on the DL. Castro will be the starting catcher for the year, and he will play a lot if Kratz doesn’t perform well. The Astros traded Dan Straily to the Padres, who have since released him, for Kratz until Max Stassi is ready to return.

Until Gattis returns, Tucker will get the majority of the starts versus right-handed pitchers while Tyler White or Matt Duffy will get some turns at DH. Gattis could be a big factor for the 2016 season if he can revert back to a premium power bat that they traded for.

Fan Quote: “I love what Castro offer defensively, but he has been a zero offensively the last two years. Stassi is a JAG, who probably never holds a regular job. I think Luhnow will find a long-term solution sometime this year. My preference is for the DH to be a fluid position, so Hinch can cycle through positional regulars. Gattis HAS to DH, and wasn’t overwhelming in 2015.” @SteveinLC

Grade: (C)

Next: Grading The Infield

Grading The Infield

Infield

Marwin Gonzalez

Tyler White

Jose Altuve

Carlos Correa

Luis Valbuena

Matt Duffy

While the infield has two of the best in the games in Altuve and Correa, but it appears to me a semi-platoon at first base to begin the season, with Valbuena possibly losing some playing time versus left-handed pitchers. There are some whispers out there that Correa could win the AL MVP, and you know what to expect with Altuve with a little-added home run power with his performance last year. You can’t get a better up the middle combination in baseball with those two potential perennial All-Stars.

As I wrote yesterday, Gonzalez and White will mostly man first base with Valbuena and Duffy covering third base, depending on the matchups. Until someone takes over those two positions, there will be several players covering them until A.J. Reed and/or Collin Moran are ready. White could be darkhorse to win the AL ROY in 2016, with Reed also contributing with the Astros at some point.

Fan Quote: “Correa and Altuve are dynamic, but I’d prefer at least one of 1B or 3B be an everyday starter.” @SteveinLC

Grade: (A-)

Next: Grading The Outfield

Grading The Outfield

Outfield

George Springer

Carlos Gomez

Colby Rasmus

Jake Marisnick

This could be a strength of this team in 2016 as the starting three outfielders could be among the top three in baseball. Four of the outfielders, not including Tucker, are former center fielders playing left and right field, their defensive abilities should help the pitchers save runs. Springer is due for a breakout season as he enters his prime following two injury-shortened seasons. Springer has grown into a better overall hitter with his progress in 2015 and not the all-or-nothing guy he was in 2014. He is the heart of the team, and the Astros will win as long as he is a big part of the lineup.

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Gomez was acquired last year which helped strengthen the batting order if he can return to his All-Star form of 2014. If he can shake his struggles from 2015, he should be a key factor in the field and lineup as the Astros push to the playoffs. He is also entering his contract year, so expect him to perform better to try to seek a higher contract next season. Rasmus is the guy who could surprise the most if he reverts back to the playoff version versus the player who was benched for a time for Tucker. Rasmus will hit cleanup as long as he performs, but he is in a walk season as well as the first person to accept the qualifying offer.

The elite defensive wiz and the offensive powerhouse Tucker will also spend some roaming the outfield with occasional cameos by Gonzalez when needed. Overall they outfield is better defensively than offensively, but the difference is minuscule with the talent they possess. Look for many highlight reels as well as plenty of Springer Dingers.

Fan Quote: “More of my grade is about the defense than what they offer at the plate. Springer really needs to stay healthy.” @SteveinLC

Grade (A-)

Next: Grading the Astros Rotation

Grading the Astros Rotation

Starting Pitchers

Dallas Keuchel

Collin McHugh

Mike Fiers

Doug Fister

Scott Feldman

The rotation was supposed to be a strong point of the Houston Astros team, but the shoulder injury to McCullers has allowed Fiers, Feldman, and Fister all begin the season in the Astros rotation. Over the next few days, I will a bold prediction piece that not only will Michael Feliz join the rotation at some point this year, but he will also stay there for the next five years. With the talent up and coming, that seems hard to believe, but the current rotation is good but not great without McCullers.

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• Always faithful Astros World Series champion Josh Reddick defends the title
• Michael Conforto declines Astros’ 2-year, $30 million offer

What else can we say about Keuchel, how many runs has he given up all preseason? That’s right, the answer is zero, your prize is that you get to watch or follow this special pitcher. McHugh has turned into a value claim as a player who fell out of the picture with the Mets, but has become a star with the Astros. He should be the best pitcher behind Keuchel until McCullers returns.

Fiers could be the most important guy in the bullpen because he knows how to pitch without throwing hard, similar to Keuchel. Fiers threw a no-hitter in 2015 against the Dodgers as part of the tide changing series where the Astros swept them. I’m not entirely sold on Fister at this moment, and I know what to expect from Feldman, so it will be interesting to see who goes down when McCullers is ready. Reid Ryan is a huge fan of what Feldman can do which is eat innings even when he is struggling.

The success of the bullpen overall will depend on the ability of the rotation to go deep into games. With the veteran presence in the back of the rotations, this could lead to less reliance on the bullpen. The silver lining to the McCullers injury is that he will be more likely to pitch in October now versus if he would have started the season healthy.

Fan Quote: “Keuchel and McHugh are the rocks, but everything (in my opinion) rests on Fiers offering quality innings and McCullers’ health. Fister should be serviceable as a 4-5 starter. Luhnow could add a starter midseason.” @SteveinLC

Grade: (B+)

Next: Grading the Bullpen