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3 Astros players we'll be glad are gone in 2024 and 2 we will wish stayed
There are definitely some pros and cons to some of the Astros' losses this offseason.
The Houston Astros were pretty fortunate to not lose too many players to free agency after the 2023 season. That picture could soon change, with Alex Bregman set to become a free agent next offseason, and Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez potentially following him the year after, but Houston does at least return most of the team that got them to the seventh game of the ALCS last year.
Unfortunately, not every player is returning, as that in the nature of the beast that is baseball. Some players went in search of more money and/or greener pastures, while others' time with the Astros just came to a natural end. For some, their absence will be noteworthy, and Houston will have their work cut out for them to replace their production. For others, moving on from them could turn into addition by subtraction.
With that in mind, here are a few former Astros players that the team (and their fans) could end up missing in 2024, as well as a couple that they will be glad they moved on from.
Michael Brantley was a fantastic Astros OF, but it was time for a change
Michael Brantley was a tremendous player throughout his career and especially in Houston. From 2019-2022, Brantley averaged a .306/.368/.464 slash line while establishing himself both as a cornerstone of the Astros' lineup and a leader in Houston's clubhouse. Among all of the moves that the Astros have made in the last several years, going out and signing Brantley ranks among their absolute best additions.
Unfortunately, Brantley's body just gave out on him in 2023, and there was a real concern that the organization's affection for him could have led to him hanging around longer than he should have. Luckily, he hit free agency and ultimately decided to retire after 15 seasons in the big leagues.
Brantley calling it a career works out better for everyone in the long run. The Astros get to finally start planning for the future at a key offensive spot while also providing some needed lineup flexibility, fans get to remember Brantley for the player he was and not what he had regressed into, and Brantley gets to enjoy time with his loved ones and leave the game on his own terms. Hats off to a retirement well earned, sir.
The Astros losing Phil Maton could prove to be painful in 2024
The Astros' bullpen has been a hot topic of conversation this offseason, as it is the one section of Houston's roster that did take a beating from free agent departures. Signing Josh Hader took a good bit of the sting out of those departures, but Houston is still really going to miss what Phil Maton gave the Astros during his tenure.
With Maton ultimately signing with the Rays this offseason, Houston is losing a guy that was as steady as they come. He was a lock to give them 65+ appearances a year with around a mid-3.00 ERA while missing bats. His stuff wasn't going to get featured by Pitching Ninja very often, but the guy just did his job very well every single season and gave the Astros valuable and ample innings out of the bullpen. Given that the Astros are now having to figure out how to cover all of the relief innings they lost this offseason down at camp, Maton will be sorely missed.
Martin Maldonado overstayed his welcome in Houston
One of the more polarizing figures in Astros country at the end of his tenure, Martin Maldonado is another guy who was previously a fantastic player whose time had just come. Maldonado could never really hit, as he has averaged a .631 OPS in his career, but he was extremely highly regarded by the Astros for his strong defense behind the plate and his ability to manage a pitching staff. Given his prowess at catcher, the team could live with him being a well below-average hitter.
The problem in 2023 is that he remained a poor hitter, but his defense fell off a cliff as well, as Father Time caught up with him and his actions behind the plate slowed. The end result was one of the worst qualified players in all of baseball, and with Yainer Diaz just sitting right there, Houston needed to make a decision.
Ultimately, it appears that they made the right one as Maldy hit free agency and landed with the White Sox while Diaz has been declared the Astros primary catcher going forward. We wish Maldonado well, but fans should also be glad that he isn't around anymore to tempt the Astros to play him again.
The Astros will miss having Hector Neris in their bullpen
We return to the bullpen, which lost a lot of really valuable arms to the allure of free agency. Houston returns Bryan Abreu and Ryan Pressly, which is a big deal -- and, again, Houston did go out and sign the best reliever on the market in Hader. However, losing Hector Neris from that seventh inning role is still a tough pill to swallow.
Ultimately, this one isn't on the Astros, as Neris is the one that opted out of $8.5 million only to be forced to take $9 million from the Cubs for 2024. However, he is a guy that gave the Astros 70 or more appearances for two straight seasons and struck out 10-11 batters per nine innings. He isn't as good as his ERA from 2023 indicated and probably not worth on the open market what he was hoping for, but Houston will definitely wish he was still around, even with Pressly and Abreu getting pushed to early portions of games.
Ryne Stanek's inconsistency is not what the Astros needed anymore
Ryne Stanek is the one regularly used bullpen option from 2023 that Houston should be glad to move on from. It certainly didn't seem like that was going to be the case when Stanek dropped a 1.12 ERA in 59 appearances in 2022, but times changed and it was a reminder of just how volatile bullpen arms can be.
Stanek's fundamental problem is that he can be wildly inconsistent. One appearance, he will look like he is actually unhittable. The next night, he can't find the strike zone, and when he does, he gets pummeled by opposing hitters. Issues with walks and the long ball have popped up in his career over and over again, and while he is a very talented arm, getting a more steady reliever in his place is going to be a welcome sight in 2024.
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