Safe to say the Houston Astros' season was a roller coaster. After a bumpy start fueled by injuries, the team kicked into high gear at the right time and made it all the way to the championship series as the first place team in the AL West.
In a truly backwards ALCS, the Astros went up 3-2 with three straight road wins over the Texas Rangers, only to lose Game 6 and 7 at home. The nail in the coffin was an 11-4 blowout in the final game, with Rangers star Adolis Garcia silencing the crowd after a contentious and hard-fought series.
Houston Astros offseason outlook
Now, Dusty Baker's time with the franchise is finished. With Houston forced to reckon with a managerial change, on top of an important free agent period, the future could get dicey. Championship windows are preciously few and far between. The Astros will need to work diligently to maintain the current competitive core while supplementing it with the right talent this winter.
With several notable free agents set to test the waters, Houston's roster will look different in 2024. That much is certain. How different — and how much better or worse — is still yet to be determined.
Here are a few names the Houston front office should consider.
5. Brent Suter
Brent Suter enters free agency after a successful season for the Colorado Rockies. With multiple relievers set to enter free agency — not to mention the team's pitching woes in the ALCS — this could be a priority focus for Astros' the front office.
Suter posted a 3.38 ERA and 1.298 WHIP for the Rockies last season, allowing 65 hits and fanning 55 batters in 69.1 innings pitched. He appeared in 57 games with two starts, doing the majority of his damage as a middle reliever
Houston will have to contend with a fervent market for relievers this winter, but Suter should be relatively affordable for a player who posted respectable stats in a hitter's ballpark. He could relish the opportunity to transition from a bottom-dweller to a contender, too.
4. Matt Moore
Another potential source of bullpen help for the Astros is Matt Moore. He split the 2023 campaign between three teams — Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Miami. The Angels, and then the Guardians, waived him for reasons related to the standings. He finished the season in Miami, but was ineligible for the postseason since he joined the team after Sept. 1.
Despite circumstances stacked against him, Moore performed admirably. He finished the season with a 2.56 ERA and 1.158 WHIP. In 63 games (74.0 innings pitched), Moore gave up 46 hits compared to 60 strikeouts. He did, however, walk 38 batters.
At 34 years old, Moore has transitioned out of the prime of his career. A former starter who finished top-10 in the Cy Young race all the way back in 2013, Moore has since charted his course as a reliever. With the bullpen market so hot this winter, one has to imagine he will prioritize stability and contention after bouncing around so frequently in 2023.
Houston shouldn't expect Moore to completely reinvigorate the team, but he profiles as affordable pitching help with a long track record of success. The Astros could use some southpaws in the bullpen, too. This feels like a strong fit for all involved.
3. Charlie Morton
The top of the Astros' rotation faltered in the ALCS. Justin Verlander wasn't his usual sharp self, but even worse were the struggles of Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez. Now, with confidence in the young aces waning and Verlander approaching his age-41 season, the Astros could target help on the starting pitching front.
Charlie Morton awaits the Braves' decision on a $20 million team option. At 39 years old, Morton has been the focus of retirement rumors and free agent speculation all season. He was good-not-great by his usual standards last season. Once the playoffs arrived, he was sidelined with a finger injury during the Braves' depressingly short run.
Morton finished the 2023 regular season with a 3.64 ERA and 1.427 WHIP. His strikeout rate dropped, his walk rate increased a concerning amount, and his command wavered more than expected. At the same time, he was still a solid innings-eater for a very competitive Braves squad. Morton spent two seasons with the Astros from 2017-18, which included a World Series victory in 2017 and an All-Star appearance in 2018. So, members of the organization are familiar with him. He also has a long history of postseason success. That is where the Astros' aspirations lie.
If the Braves decide to part ways with Morton, the Astros could swoop in with a lucrative short-term offer to allow Morton once last stab at glory. He would profile as the third or fourth option behind Verlander and Valdez, but he was occupying a similar spot for the Braves last season. He's not a Cy Young candidate anymore, but Morton still has the veteran savvy to get the job done.
2. Yasmani Grandal
The Houston Astros face a debacle at catcher... sort of. There is deep love within the organization for veteran Martin Maldonado. His work with the pitching staff is frequently lauded, often to the chagrin of Houston fans tormented by his shoddy offensive production.
If the Astros bring back Maldy, citing his defensive acumen and telekinetic powers behind the plate, nary a person would bat an eye. It's almost expected. But, to be frank, the Astros can ill-afford another complete zero at the catcher position. It's time for Yainer Diaz to take the reins, and there's a chance Malonado chases more money and starts elsewhere as Diaz ascends.
A move away from Maldonado becomes more likely with the announcement of Dusty Baker's retirement. Baker was a relentless advocate for Maldy. There's no guarantee the next coach will feel the same.
That said, if the Astros still desire a veteran catcher to backup or split work with Diaz behind the plate, Yasmani Grandal profiles as an intriguing free agent candidate. Coming off a thoroughly disappointing four-season stretch with the White Sox, Grandal is a two-time All-Star who could be available for a bargain-bin price. He offers a higher offensive ceiling than Maldonado and he has been around the block a couple times, with 12 MLB seasons under his belt.
Chicago was ready to waive the white flag on Grandal at the trade deadline, so the odds of a return appear slim. He slashed .234/.309/.339 last season with eight home runs and 33 RBIs in 405 plate appearances (118 games). The production of late has been poor, but Grandal received MVP votes in 2019. There is undeniable talent there, and maybe a change of scenery does him some good.
1. Cody Bellinger
The great white whale of free agency for teams not interested in the Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes is Cody Bllinger. Houston isn't going to break the bank for Ohtani or a proper ace, so the biggest name within the realm of possibility — even if it's on the very very edge of that realm — is Bellinger.
The Cubs' bounce-back superstar is expected to command well over $100 million on his next contract. After a couple dreadful seasons in Los Angeles, the Cubs signed Bellinger to a one-year contract with muted expectations. He exceeded them in every category, slashing .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs, 97 RBIs, and 40 walks in 556 plate appearances.
A big concern with Bellinger is his ability to maintain last season's production. He batted .210 in 2022 and .165 in 2021. He was cooked, by all indications, before his resurgent campaign with Chicago. On the other hand, he is a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, a Silver Slugger, and an MVP. It's not like his production came out of nowhere. When he's right, Bellinger is one of the best in the business. It's simply a matter of how reliably "right" he will be over the course of his next contract.
The Astros have one of the most potent lineups in the MLB. The ceiling of Bellinger, Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Alex Bregman is atmospheric. Houston also has a potential need in left field with Michael Brantley set to hit the open market.
If the Astros' front office and ownership group is willing to get bold, Bellinger could make quite the splash as Houston looks to return to the World Series in 2024.