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Astros Rumors: Would Brian McCann be an Option?
By Eric Huysman
Should the Houston Astros trade for Brian McCann?
As the playoffs continue and the center field section at Minute Maid Parks gets a makeover, the Houston Astros are watching from home. Some fans will miss Tal’s Hill in center field, and others are okay with the Astros not being ready for the playoffs in 2016. How will fans feel if one of their most tenured players is no longer on our team anymore?
Wrote in the column today: Brian McCann would be a great fit for Angels, Nats, Astros. Angels have $ to spend, need middle-of-order thump
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 13, 2016
Of course, I am speaking of catcher Jason Castro. While he has not been consistent in the big leagues recently, considering that he was drafted in the first round, he has played well enough. As he enters his first offseason as a free-agent, the Astros have to decide whether to bring him back.
At the beginning of the 2016 season, it was pretty much a guarantee that Jeff Luhnow was bringing Castro back. They traded Hank Conger in the offseason, so they were counting on Evan Gattis to be maybe able to catch a game a week. Following an injury to start the season, Gattis returned as designated hitter, before going back to Double-A to focus on catching.
Focus on catching he did, Gattis came back and became more than just a once a week guy. He showed that he was able to be the everyday guy for the Astros. He tended to hit better as a catcher than he did as a designated hitter. With Yulieski Gurriel in the fold, the designated hitter slot may be needed to get all the players in.