Astros: latest roster shuffle leaves one seat open

After a sweep in Cleveland, the Houston Astros optioned a few Triple-A usuals back to Sugar Land. These Skeeters helped the short-handed Astros sweep an average team in the Indians.

With Yordan Alvarez returning from the paternity list and Martin Maldonado from the bereavement list, the organization optioned Garret Stubbs, Peter Solomon and Ralph Garza Jr. At first glance, yes, there are three players being optioned for only two to return.

The front office aren’t always the best team to report what roster moves they are making, but as a professional sports team, they can move at whatever speed they want.

With a roster spot open, who returns for the Astros?

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Out of the five pitchers that were on rehab assignments in Sugar Land, Enoli Paredes was activated from the 10-day IL and optioned to Triple-A. This made sense in the long run for a pitcher struggling with command, and with Francis Martes clearing waiver and being outrighted to Triple-A, these two wouldn’t be taking the roster spot.

If you thought Martes was returning for Houston at another point even before his DFA, I admire your faith. With the bench back at four, the traditional route would be adding a pitcher to a bullpen housing seven currently, while there also not being another position player to add.

From the pitchers rehabbing in Triple-A, Bryan Abreu makes the most sense to return over Joe Smith, Josh James and Austin Pruitt. Abreu has now thrown in four minor-league appearances, last one on July 3.  This seems like the common speculation, especially with James and Pruitt coming back from the 60-day IL and Smith pitching on Sunday, July 4.