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Astros Rumors: Bregman getting traded?, coaching staff shake-up, Jake Meyers
The offseason rumor mill is in full swing and the Astros have some key decisions to make.
The Houston Astros are going to have to navigate this offseason very carefully if they want to set themselves up well for the short-term as well as the long-term. The team is very obviously good going into 2024, but there is a real chance that some regression happens especially with some key departures out of the bullpen and unknowns in the lineup and rotation.
The problem, as it often is, is payroll and the Astros don't have a lot of it to go around at the moment with ownership having a firm grip on the purse strings. Sure, there are players available on both sides of the ball that could help Houston next season and beyond, but it is decidedly unclear as to how aggressive general manager Dana Brown can be especially with the farm system significantly thinner after trading for Justin Verlander.
The end result has been a relatively stale offseason, even in terms of rumors, for the Astros. However, all is not lost as there have been some developments that don't just sound like agents trying to invent "secret teams" to gain leverage this offseason. Here is a look at some of the Astros rumors circulating at the moment.
Astros Rumors: Alex Bregman on the trading block?
This is the big one and whether or not it happens could very easily dictate how Houston conducts themselves the rest of the offseason. Bregman famously is about to enter the last year of his deal with Houston and by all accounts, an extension is unlikely with guys like Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker taking precedence there. While there is a distinct possibility that moving Bregman this offseason could hurt the Astros' chances in 2024, the team does appear to at least be listening to trade offers on him.
On the one hand, trading Bregman would free up a bunch of cash as he is set to make $28.5 million next season. That money could go a long ways to helping beef up the rotation, bullpen, and outfield, but that would leave the Astros without a third baseman and creating another roster headache. Bregman would bring a healthy return even if he is a one year rental, though, and Houston may be looking for ways to bolster their depth and plan for the future a bit.
In the end, a healthy amount of skepticism is justified when it comes to these rumors. This is the same Astros organization that held on to Carlos Correa and George Springer until they left in free agency and they are firmly in their competitive window. Call any Bregman unlikely until they actually pull the trigger on a move like this.
Astros Rumors: Houston's coaching staff and scouting department are undergoing big changes
With the departure of Dusty Baker, a number of changes were bound to be coming to the coaching staff. New manager Joe Espada isn't new to the Astros whatsoever, but it was inevitable that he was going to want to shape the coaching staff around him to fit his needs (with a healthy amount of input from the front office).
Those changes have already begun as the Astros announced that Omar Lopez had been promoted to bench coach under Espada. Lopez has been a fixture in Houston for the better part of 25 years and was most recently the first base coach the last several season and he was a viable candidate to replace Dusty before the job was given to Espada. The move gives the Astros a familiar and trusted face in an elevated role. Dave Clark, who has extensive minor league managing experience and was the Astros first base coach until 2013, is returning to fill Lopez's spot on the coaching staff.
Those are not the only changes that are coming as the Astros' scouting department took a hit when the Mets stole scouting director Kris Gross away. Given the inconsistency in the Astros' recent draft classes, this could end up being a blessing, but represents yet another key change for an Astros' organization that is very much in transition at the moment.
Astros Rumors: Houston is really shopping Jake Meyers
While the Alex Bregman trade chatter should be taken with a grain of salt, it is very certain that the Astros are looking for a trade partner when it comes to Jake Meyers. Meyers is a fantastic outfield defender and had a nice debut season in 2021 at the plate, but the last couple of years have seen his bat getting exposed. His glove is nice to have, but a .678 OPS with limited power and inconsistency in getting on base is a tough sell when Houston has Chas McCormick on the roster.
Teams like the Giants, Diamondbacks, and Twins have all been floated as potential landing spots for Meyers, but don't underestimate the chances that Houston moves him to a team that is further away from contention. Meyers has a ton of team control left and while he isn't good enough to get a big return, targeting a lesser team that has a deep farm system who could use a guy that will provide strong defensive value while they round the rest of roster into form could be the play to get the best price.
Meyers' situation underscores how much Houston would like to overhaul their outfield. Kyle Tucker is a mortal lock for the next couple years anyways and Chas McCormick had a nice 2023 season where he hit 22 homers with an .842 OPS, but Michael Brantley is a free agent who is not likely to return given his injuries and Yordan Alvarez has DH all to himself now that Yainer Diaz is going to finally be Houston's primary catcher. As aggressive as Houston is being to shop Meyers around, don't be surprised if Houston makes an upgrade there even if it is just giving top prospect Joey Loperfido a shot early in 2024.
More Astros News from Climbing Tal's Hill
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