Astros’ brass met with reporters (including Brian McTaggart of MLB.com and Jake Kaplan of the Athletic) in recent days and provided updates on a host of sidelined pitchers. Righty Jake Odorizzi will make his regular-season debut sometime during the team’s initial homestand, which runs from April 8-14. The Astros inked Odorizzi to a two-year, $23MM guarantee in free agency, but he’s behind the 8-ball after sitting on the open market until earlier this month.
The Odorizzi signing came on the heels of Framber Valdez’s fractured finger early in Spring Training. At the time, there had been fear the left-hander would require surgery and miss the entire season. Valdez is attempting to rehab the injury without going under the knife, and it seems the early returns are positive. Pitching coach Brent Strom called the latest reports on Valdez’s health “very, very exciting and very good,” although the Astros have yet to provide word on a potential target date for his return.
Houston is also without a few key relievers due to health situations. Righty Pedro Báez – like Odorizzi, one of Houston’s offseason additions – won’t be ready for major league action for at least the first couple weeks of the season. The team hopes he’ll be back on the mound in late April. Báez, whom the Astros signed to a two-year, $12.5MM guarantee, has been on the COVID-19 injured list for three weeks. Fellow right-hander Andre Scrubb is looking at a mid-April return after leaving a recent Cactus League game with shoulder soreness.
Another righty, Josh James, is targeting late May or early June for a return of his own. The 28-year-old underwent surgery to repair a labral tear in his left hip at the end of last October. The procedure initially came with a six-to-eight month recovery timetable, so it seems James is right on schedule.
I propose any article with the name Astros in it be permanently changed to asterisks until further notice… or the trash can boys. Who’s with me?
No, I don’t want no Scrubb.
Grow up
Are you hard after that little comment?
If that happens, will the White Sox articles be replaced with ‘Black Sox’?
I’m down. “Black Sox” is a badass name.
@CalcetinesBlancos
Now that I think about it, that is a badass name.
Maybe have the team relocate to Boston or Baltimore just for the abbreviation sake.
Nobody. These lame, old, unoriginal posts put people to sleep.
Well the original posts and entertaining posts get taken down for being offensive
Offensive isn’t original or entertaining though. You guys don’t even try to hide it anymore do you?
I like Trashtros better, personally.
Grow up you babies …
Guess you’re all alone. Time to pack it in and head to mom’s basement.
Nobody. Come up with something new b/c the Astros seem to live rent free in your headspace.
Yeah, like the Astros were the only ones cheating.
So clever. What do you want to call the Yankees and the Red Sox? And the Cardinals, Angels and almost everyone else. Clearly you struggle with the history of baseball.
As an Astros fan who personally feels cheated out of the team’s success in recent years, I for one, hope the players and coaches involved don’t stop hearing about it and getting jawed at for a long time. Not just to remind the offenders, but everyone else who plays that this is how you will be thought of.
I just wish some of them hadn’t gotten fat contracts. Reminds me of the roiders way too much.
It’s good to hear that the Astros have quality depth coming back. The bullpen will need it. Also, if they can get Framber back by the May-June range they’re golden. Solid update. Opening day can’t get here fast enough!
The Astros have a pretty easy schedule in April. If there’s a good time for them to deal with this it is now.
hahaahaaa Astro-Risks
Channing, didn’t Houston sweep Minnesota last year in the ALDS?
Nice whataboutism, Steve. No one was talking about the Twins. They have nothing to do with it.
The rest of the division should be scared of a Greinke, Valdez, Odorizzi, McCullers, Urquidy rotation. That is insane.
It’ll be really fun next season when the Astros replace Greinke with Kershaw. The media won’t know what to do with themselves
I’m all for not hating on the Astros anymore, but y’all aren’t gonna steal Kershaw from the Rangers!
Astros have arms coming out of their ears.. Solomon Garcia Ivey Bielak Solis Emanuel Abreu all look like bottom-rotation at worst. Cristian Javier finished 3rd in ROY. Will take the ball on Day 2! People say their bullpen is weak. They literally NEEDED these injuries to get the right guys in! They lose Ace & Closer Verlander and Osuna … no big deal! Nivaldo Rodriguez one of the best curves on the team! Austin Hansen was absolutely filthy this Spring, and still not on the 40-man [should be added]. Dubin Garza had very strong Springs to crack the bullpen this year, then you have Torres, Conine and #1, Hunter Brown ETA next year! Nobody gives a damn about these cheating allegations. HOU got jumped in the 1986 NLCS by Mets headed by Davey Johnson and the Master sign stealer, Ray Knight. Do you hear their fans crying foul? Manfred covering up Yankees Eye in the Sky, etc. etc. Hell, no there’s no crying you narrow-shouldered keyboard warriors. We laugh at those sophomoric teaks.
So you are saying that these new guys don’t need buzzers? AMAZING
It wouldn’t be as big an issue if Astros fans didn’t try to force it to not be an issue anymore. Instead of ignoring the jokes, Astros fans play the “what about…” game.
Fans just need to shut up and accept the fact their team cheated. A lot of teams have cheated, so just stop trying to kill the issue and let it run its course.
nah
All the haters out there will enjoy watching Houston in the ALCS next October for the fifth straight season. We feed off your hate!