Astros: Does Jim Crane want a Keuchel and Gonzalez reunion?

Astros’ owner Jim Crane made some statements last night hinting at his hope that free agents Dallas Keuchel and Marwin Gonzalez could return to Houston.

The Astros hosted the fourth annual Diamond Dream Gala in Minute Maid Park Friday evening. It’s a posh charity event held to raise funds for the Astros Foundation, and it was quite the celebration with Earth, Wind and Fire performing their oldies. But Jim Crane’s statement concerning Keuchel and Gonzalez seemed to garner the most attention.

Many of the Astros from past and present were in attendance, including Craig Biggio, Nolan Ryan and Jeff Bagwell. But there was also another player at the occasion, none other than Marwin Gonzalez. When someone asked Crane about any free agency news, his response was rather interesting.

“We’ve got a couple guys that were here last year that are a possibility to be back here [this] year,” Crane said. “We hope that happens.”

Even though he appeared to be skirting the issue of naming players, he continued the conversation later mentioning Keuchel and Gonzalez. “Dallas is still out there — I don’t think he’s signed yet, and Marwin either,” Crane said. “Both great players and great for the franchise. They did a lot of work here and we appreciate what they did. They’re always welcome. Maybe something will work out there. Who knows?”

Jim Crane wasn’t the only top brass that discussed the topic last night. Astros’ GM Jeff Luhnow touched upon it in a round-about way. “We’ve had interest in both of the players and they know it,” Luhnow said. “Obviously they both were critical parts of our success the last six years. We’d love to keep them in the family. But that’s something I can’t talk about.”

How actively they are pursuing both free agents is still an unknown at the moment. But Dallas Keuchel and Marwin Gonzalez would be welcomed faces back in the clubhouse by the players and fans alike.