Astros: Assessing the pitcher options ahead of the Winter Meetings

Option 2: Signing a free agent

The list of free agent pitchers is a long one, but dwindling by the day. At last count, there were over forty starting pitchers initially available on the market. At least seven of those have already signed with another team or resigned with their existing team. The advantage of choosing this route? No prospects are lost in the process.

The free agent market also provides the Astros with a much wider range of pitchers to choose from. The current list of pitchers covers the entire spectrum. Anyone from the seemingly eternal 46-year-old Bartolo Colon to the 28-year-old Yusei Kikuchi from Japan. From righties to southpaws or flamethrowers to the finesse pitchers, it’s available.

Two of the starting pitchers on that free agent list are none other than the Astros very own Charlie Morton and Dallas Keuchel. Houston has put a one-year offer on the table to retain Morton, but no deal as of yet. The Tampa Bay Rays are among several teams that have expressed interest in Morton, possibly raising his cost. Teams need to keep in mind he has outwardly indicated he has no interest in pitching more than a couple more years. Keuchel has also drawn interest from several teams recently.

Former Astro J. A. Happ is also still available and has had somewhat of a resurgence of his career. He would also fill the need for a left-handed starter Houston is currently lacking. Another available pitcher that seemed to resurrect his career last season is Anibel Sanchez of the Atlanta Braves. The list goes on, Trevor Cahill, Clay Buchholz etc.

As you can see, there are plenty to choose from, but you can’t wait long. The list will get shorter day by day. It’s just a matter of what you’re willing to pay and for how long.