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4 under the radar free agent targets for the Astros
From veteran bats to slept-on relievers, the Astros should be all over these four under the radar free agents.
As more and more free agent power rankings are released, it seems like fewer and fewer players are linked to the Houston Astros. Houston has never been a big spender, and Jim Crane doesn't exactly love exceeding the CBT, but can a team with seven straight ALCS trips under their belt really be that inactive in free agency?
Here are 4 under the radar free agent targets for the Astros
Aside from the José Abreu signing last off-season, which wasn't exactly a home run, Houston rarely makes a splash in free agency. With a bullpen to rebuild, a backup catcher to find, and a left-handed bat to land, Houston does have some areas of need.
If the Astros are going to improve this off-season, there is a very real chance it is done via under the radar moves that add depth and make marginal improvements. They were sorely lacking in depth both on their bench and in their rotation last year, so small moves could go a long way. Let's look at moves they could make.
#1 Brent Suter
The Astros have to rebuild their bullpen offseason. Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek are all free agents. They need some mid-leverage arms, and Brent Suter is as good as it gets on the free agent market. We were in on the Astros trading for Suter at the deadline, and are in on him as a free agent signing this offseason.
His Statcast metrics are a thing of beauty. The lefty junkballer (first percentile fastball velocity) blows up bats and limits hard contact. He won't rack up strikeouts, but he keeps the ball on the ground and limits the damage.
He'd be similar to a Phil Maton in that he's not going to be your "break glass in case of emergency" leverage arm, but he is dependable in the fifth, sixth, and even seventh innings.
He actually had reverse splits this season, limiting righties to a .585 OPS and allowing lefties to hit .284 with a .792 OPS.
Over eight years, Suter has a 3.49 career ERA and 3.91 FIP. He just finished a year in the notoriously hitter friendly Coors Field and posted a 3.38 ERA. If you can get outs there, you can get outs anywhere.
Suter would be a huge asset in the Astros bullpen.
#2 Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham would fit into a similar category as many of the Astros signings in recent years--a proven veteran on a short-team, high AAV deal. Pham just hit .256 with a .774 OPS this season, and while age is always a risk, his new contact lenses restored both his walk and strikeout rates.
His Baseball Savant page is filled with red, as Pham hits the ball often and he hits the ball hard. Like many Astros, he doesn't expand the zone and works quality at-bats. And he was one of Arizona's lone bright spots in the World Series, hitting .421 with a 1.165 OPS in the Fall Classic.
Pham is a beloved teammate that works his tail off, and would fit in seamlessly in Houston's clubhouse. While he isn't left-handed, he'd fill a similar role to that of Michael Brantley, platooning in left field and at DH with Yordan Alvarez.
If the Astros piece together some short-term deals to try and get back over the hump and prolong their window without ponying up for those decade long mega deals Jim Crane has so vehemently avoided, a signing like Pham makes a lot of sense.
#3 Michael A. Taylor
Michael A. Taylor flew under the radar in Minnesota this season. After coming up with the Nationals before spending two seasons in Kansas City, Taylor hit 21 home runs with a .720 OPS in Minnesota.
Taylor especially did damage against lefties, hitting .252 with a .914 OPS. Taylor is still in the 85th percentile in sprint speed, and he's a proven defender, and was worth 5 DRS in center field this season. He finished in the 95th percentile in outs above average with 9.
If Chas McCormick plays more left field on days Yordan is the DH, Taylor is an upgrade over Dubón at the plate, particularly against lefties. Signing Taylor would allow Dubón to be a true utility player, and would also make Jake Meyers expendable while he still has trade value. And Taylor does have previous experience in the outfield corners.
Taylor would be an upgrade over Meyers, and while he isn't a franchise altering talent, he'd be a veteran bench piece that would massively upgrade their shallow depth from 2023.
#4 Austin Hedges
Austin Hedges went semi-viral during the World Series, after putting together one of the worst at-bats imaginable. But he'd actually be a very shrewd signing for the Astros this offseason, providing everything Martín Maldonado was rumored to have brought.
The Astros are finally committing to Yainer Diaz, and only a year too late. He needs a backup. Look no further than Hedges.
Yes, Austin Hedges is a dreadful hitter, this is true. He hit .184 with a .461 OPS this season. Those numbers are almost impossibly bad. But he's a backup catcher. You don't need him for his offense.
What he does bring is genuinely elite defense.
Hedges was worth 11 DRS in 2023. In eight seasons behind the plate, he's worth 86 DRS. He finished fourth in the MLB across all position with a fielding run value of 15 this season, an astoundingly high total for only playing 567 innings.
The Astros could go from the worst team defensively behind the plate this season to one of the best by giving Yainer Diaz the primary share of innings at catcher in 2024 and giving Austin Hedges the backup innings.
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