The Astros have already crossed one item off their to-do list this winter, re-signing setup man Rafael Montero to a three-year pact. They reportedly had strong interest in first baseman Anthony Rizzo before he re-signed with the Yankees, and while they still have a hole at first base, they’re also in the market for a left-handed-hitting corner outfielder, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Outfield help is a natural target for the Astros, who saw Michael Brantley go down with a season-ending shoulder injury this summer (which ultimately required surgery). He’s now a free agent, leaving the Astros’ projected outfield mix consisting of right fielder Kyle Tucker, center field options Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers, and designated hitter/occasional left fielder Yordan Alvarez.
The 25-year-old Alvarez did log a career-high 467 innings in left field this season, and if the team were to commit to playing him more regularly there, the search could expand to include lefty-swinging corner outfielders and designated hitters. That said, Alvarez has had multiple knee surgeries in the past, despite his youth, so it’s sensible enough if the team prefers to limit his time on the field to help keep his bat in the lineup.
Brantley himself would ostensibly be an option, of course. He said late in the season that he expects to be ready for Spring Training, and if that’s the case, there aren’t many better bets in the “professional hitter” category than the five-time All-Star. Over the past five seasons, Brantley has batted a combined .307/.367/.465 with 57 home runs, 134 doubles and eight triples in 2240 plate appearances. He’s fanned in just 10.6% of those trips to the plate and walked at an eight percent clip as well.
Generally speaking, it’s not a great free-agent market for outfielders this winter. Aaron Judge, of course, is the top free agent, while center fielder Brandon Nimmo ranks a distant second. Beyond that pair, there are plenty of options to peruse, but the majority come with some degree of red flag.
If Houston prefers to pursue a younger option, any of Andrew Benintendi, Cody Bellinger or Joey Gallo could make sense — although the latter two are particularly dependent on Houston’s appetite for taking on a rebound candidate. Both Gallo and Bellinger have seen their once prodigious offensive profiles tank in recent seasons. Bellinger is likely available on a one-year deal as he looks to rebuild some stock. Benintendi, meanwhile, saw his season end on Sept. 2 due to a broken hamate bone. Masataka Yoshida, star outfielder for Japan’s Orix Buffaloes, will reportedly be posted for MLB clubs, but whether his outstanding production in NPB will carry over to MLB is a total unknown at this point.
Alternatives include longtime D-backs outfielder David Peralta, now-former Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar and well-traveled Corey Dickerson. Peralta is 35 and coming off a tepid finish to the 2022 season with the Rays. Profar’s age, bat-to-ball skills and former prospect status could all be appealing, but a .237/.331/.364 slash over the past two seasons isn’t especially eye-catching. Dickerson has had similar production but in a part-time role and is three years older.
The trade market, of course, presents myriad opportunities. The division-rival Mariners were known to be exploring trades involving Jesse Winker earlier this month. Minnesota’s Max Kepler is an oft-speculated trade candidate this winter, and switch-hitters Ian Happ (Cubs) and Anthony Santander (Orioles) were both discussed by their respective clubs in the weeks leading up to this past summer’s trade deadline.
Whatever path the ’Stros take, some degree of outfield addition feels like a foregone conclusion. The 26-year-old Meyers hit just .227/.269/.313 in his return from last offseason’s shoulder surgery. McCormick, 27, posted solid overall numbers, but the overwhelming majority of his production came against left-handed pitchers; he hit .340/.409/.563 against southpaws but only .207/.301/.344 against fellow righties. Tucker, Meyers, McCormick, Alvarez and utilityman Mauricio Dubon are the only outfielders on the 40-man roster at present. Tucker and Alvarez are the only left-handed hitters who are locked into lineup spots.
Sign Benintendi, please Edit: although, Brantley with no shift would be dangerous.
Would be funny. I remember some baseball writer (maybe Law) say the Astros screwed up drafting Tucker over Benintendi. Said his ceiling was Benintendi and 5 years away. Laughed then and laughing now.
No one is perfect. That said, Keith Law really knows his stuff.
I agree. Although now thinking about it was probably Verduci (or one of the other fox commentators), as it was during the 2018 ALCS that this was brought up.
Benintendi doesn’t have the power to be Tucker and thats what messed him up in Boston. Too much time in the weight room and tinkering with his stance. The Sox would have been happy with a Mike Greenwell-esq .290-.300 BA and 14 HR’s while banging doubles off the monster
Damn bro Mike Greenwell ??? That’s a blast from the past. I had a bunch of his baseball cards. I thought by this time in my life I would rich by cashing them in.
22 GW RBIs in ‘88 Greenwell?
That’s the one!
I read a list written post 2017, I think it was made by MLB, of the rookies with the most future value, and they had benintendi over judge.
Conforto. left handed. probably available for practically nothing now.
Conforto wants a multiple year contract but probably would take one with an opt-out after one year so he could test the market again if he proves to be underpaid. Not a bad left-handed bat and a decent outfielder. I would go that route.
Very specific.
More life a Left handed corner outfield with low character, slick hands, and an ability to hide devices. The vetting process of the Astros makes a landscaping company of ex cons seem legit.
You, and this comment, are stupid.
Tissue?
Astros don’t need Bellinger.
Don’t want
I would love to see a good trade for Ian Happ. I am not sure what the Astros would have to give to make that happen but a switch hitter that can play LF, 2nd, and 3rd. This would be a fantastic pickup if the trade was equal in value.
Astros living rent free in your tiny brain
These jokes are getting so tiresome, and I’m not even an Astros fan.
Most of the players on that team have moved on. I think it’s time we move on too.
Nope. It’s a sinister organization complete with a corrupt front office, a tax evading manager, scumbag players, derelict fans, and ugly uniforms. Add that to a disastrous airport, extreme poverty and unemployment, and a black tar epidemic and you have yourself the arm pit of America.
lol whatever you say, buddy
zorocoaster;
Internet chatrooms are good for keeping people like that off the streets.
I just got of the Dombrowski article with some kid demeaning the man’s accomplishments by citing the most inconsequential statistics.
This is what MLBTR had the Mute button programmed.
@sliderwithcheeze, how appropriate your id is because you are so full of it …
Careful he might tell his mom to write up a lawsuit against you. He’s a complete joke
Man!!! Why would you trash LA like that
I would love for them to sign Benintendi and Abreu.
I second that!
Bobby Abreu is a left handed corner outfielder but he’s getting up there.
And Bryan hasn’t played the outfield for over 13 years when he was in Little League in Santo Domingo. I doubt the Astros will convert him.
HHJJ he has a few good years left..
or Benintendi and trade for Christian Walker….
Anthony Santander and one of our semi-blocked top 100ish IF prospects Jordan Westburg, Joey Ortiz, or Connor Norby for Luis Garcia. I’ll draw up the paperwork!
It’s gonna take more than that
A MOO switch hitter with 2 years of control and a top 100 MIF prospect should get you pretty close, but sure, a decent third piece could be added to get it across the finish line.
The Astros really don’t need a middle infielder who is ready for the big leagues. you could argue that they have the best 2B-3B-SS in the big leagues.
Nice to dream on but not realistic.
It’s all about that depth, baby. Plus MIFs can generally handle other, less demanding positions.
For example, Westburg could be their long-term answer at 1B. He’s definitely big enough at 6’3 and his power+discipline combo would profile well there, and he would likely be very good defensively at 1B thanks to his MIF athleticism. In fact, if Mountcastle were to be traded for pitching this offseason or injured during the 2023 season, I’d be fine with giving Westburg first crack at the job.
Middle of the order on the orioles doesn’t equate to middle of the order on the Astros. We’re talking about a middle of rotation starter with frontline potential, with 4 years of control. Switch Garcia for urquidy, and then we have a starting point.
But unless we resign verlander, or at least another quality rotation piece, we’re probably not gonna trade a starter anyway.
Please don’t take Max. Take one of the younger guys. Twins will need Maxs D in the OF while Buxton is a dh
Sign Verlander and Abreu. Then take a flyer on Heyward.
Andrew Benintendi: come on down! 4/$68
No mention of Conforto?
Good catch. Stros were thought to be interested in Conforto last year. More upside than Benintendi but question is the shoulder healthy?
The multimillion dollar question. I know teams will have their doctors look at guys, but I think it is interesting he hasn’t had an open workout.
I’d think if my client was fully healthy and ready to play, I’d like to show that off to the people with checkbooks.
Agreed, surprised to see that, especially given their past interest and that he’s better than most that were listed here (assuming he’s fully recovered)
As an Astro fan, I would definitely prefer Brantley from any of those. Benintendi would be a distant second.
Actually Brantley and Benintendi are a lot alike with Brantley being more the pure hitter and Benintendi being a better fielder. Both are above average LF. I would actually love to see Brantley become a part of the Astros organization when he retires. I would like to see Benintendi to become an Astro on a 3-4 yr. Brantley-esk contract. He might not know how much he would enjoy the Astros.
Trade with the Braves for Rosario.
Conforto?
Name a team not looking for left handed corner outfielders
The Tigers. They’re looking for right handed corner outfielders.
Arizona has a ton of LH outfielders. They’re actually probably a good match to trade with for help there.
No Conforto, and using Chas and Meyers as center is not great either. Doubt they are any better than last year. Granted Chas came through at times but that was it. Maybe something at trade deadline. This one they signed to a minor league deal not great. If Diaz is gone then use Hensley or Dubon. Still wonder on first. I do not see Yuli as regular there. May depend if Verlander stays or goes.
Chas is a lot better than most people give him credit cut. He was a top 10 cf
He had a good year but I think Crane and company feel he played above his normal.
Red Sox would probably trade Verdugo. He’s a lefty hitting corner outfielder.
Could we interest you in a lightly-used Christian Yelich?
It would be a good move if the Brewer’s could make that work. It would free up a lot of money to help trying to keep Burnes and Woodruff for the future. But I can’t imagine Houston would do this but we can always hope it would work.
That would be very interesting.
I truly wonder what happened to him. He went from a very good to suddenly great player then down to a not so good player. I know they test now but it makes you wonder…just like Bellinger. Only Yelich hadn’t been as bad as Belli.
Common theme with both of those players. MVP candidates when sign stealing was going on. very bad once the league put a stop to it.
Coop, to make a long complicated story short, he became too big a fan of hitting home runs. Now that is what he tries to do 95% of the time.
too much emphasis is placed on which way a player hits.
notnamed, Yeah there is. Soon lefty T-Ballers are going to be told they gotta be pinch hit for.
Will Benson of the Guardians is high on the Astros list. Look for a trade to come together with Christian Javier being flipped to the Guardians
I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you’re being funny here.
The Astros didn’t win the WS being that ignorant
Trade for Max Kepler
I like Peralta on a one or two year deal for the Astros
The suggestion that Houston would even consider Joey Gallo is just too good to be true.
Joey Gallo is NEVER an answer.
If the question is “Which batter has the most strikeouts since 2017?” Joey Gallo is the answer.
I think I’ve posted this recently. Houston will give Corey Julks and then Justin Dirden a crack. Julks has nothing more to prove in AAA and should be traded to a rebuilding team if he doesn’t make the Houston squad. Dirden will eventually take over CF I’m certain.
Benintendi seems more like the Astros speed to replace someone like Brantley. Not quite the hitter, but a better defender with more speed and good contact skills.
Conforto?
I would love to see a good trade for Ian Happ. I am not sure what the Astros would have to give to make that happen but a switch hitter that can play LF, 2nd, and 3rd. This would be a fantastic pickup if the trade was equal in value.