Chatting with reporters from the Winter Meetings, Astros general manager Dana Brown indicated this evening that the team is planning to give Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick regular outfield run (relayed by Ari Alexander of KPRC 2). Meyers will get the first shot at holding down the center field job, while McCormick is expected to play primarily in left field.
It’s a more notable announcement with regard to Meyers. MLB.com’s Jon Morosi suggested a couple weeks ago that the Astros were discussing the 27-year-old in trade talks. Brown downplayed that possibility, acknowledging that while the club received some calls on Meyers, they have no interest in moving him.
Entering the season with Meyers atop the center field depth chart is a fairly risky play for a team that intends to compete for a division title. The Nebraska product hasn’t provided much offensively over parts of three big league campaigns. He’s a career .235/.296/.379 hitter. Meyers ran a similar .227/.296/.382 batting line in a personal-high 347 plate appearances last season. He hit 10 homers but posted worse than average walk (7.6%) and strikeout (25.8%) rates.
While Meyers hasn’t been much of a factor with the bat, he has played very well on the other side of the ball. Public metrics grade him as a plus defender in center field. In just under 1500 career innings at the outfield’s most demanding position, he has rated 12 to 18 runs better than average by measure of Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast.
The Astros are evidently sufficiently pleased with Meyers’ glove to pass on whatever trade overtures they’ve received. That moves McCormick to left field on most days, although Brown suggested McCormick would still see some work up the middle as needed. While the 28-year-old has yet to tally 500 plate appearances in any MLB season, he has been consistently excellent when plugged into the lineup. McCormick posted a .273/.353/.489 slash with 22 homers over 457 plate appearances a season ago.
Kyle Tucker is entrenched in right field. It seems the Astros are content with a McCormick, Meyers, Tucker outfield alignment on most days, with Yordan Alvarez rotating between left field and designated hitter. Mauricio Dubón is on hand as a utility option who can cover center field off the bench. That aligns with prior comments from Brown, who has consistently suggested he doesn’t view the outfield as a significant offseason priority.
Not planning to trade a player nobody would want… shocking revelation
At least half the teams in MLB would want him. There are just too man id10ts that post here.
Sure Jan
Why because he doesn’t walk much and strikes out a lot?
great
They need another bat in the outfield.
Astros should have traded Myers instead of Siri.
This is a huge relief to the Jake Meyers fan club
Both of them?
And a huge disappointment to the rest of us.
Diaz taking over catcher means Meyers can bat 9th instead of Maldanado.
Not bad considering Meyers hit .294 ninth
Out of how many ABs?
They had a similar profile player in Josh Reddick and liked him for a few years as a primary outfielder for them, so this tracks for the Astros.
Just list all the players the Astros aren’t trading in one post. This piecemeal release of names is slow torture.
They aren’t trading anyone.
They should trade him. He’s not very good.
How many times do we have to go with Meyers/Chas as our outfield. Even playing more won’t change them. They will not be ripping cover off balls or hitting monstrous homeruns, doubles, triples etc.
Meyers has been given chance after chance after chance. They just do not want to change anyone. Think keeping team same year after year to flop
We could do better with both Meyers and Chas gone. Neither has done anything to help
Dusty era with them is over but them playing every day and more still won’t help.
Siri was no better when had him.
We do not have a clear outfield except for Tucker.
I am sorry losing patience and more guess Houston is doing nothing but getting garbage right now.
These two pitchers etc.
Think will switch and watch Yankees or someelse.
Clearly didn’t want to do anything to better this team.
Year after Year same stories. Do nothing even at deadline. Got Verlander and the other pitcher back and the one got hurt. Has not looked good from before and Verlander aging.
Doubt pitching will rebound or anything.
Framber clearly was no ace. Javier no co ace.
Just losing interest with Crane and more and how they just go with stagnant and expect the same people every year to go wild and they flop.
I think any team in MLB would take Chas in a heartbeat.
Fair weather fan.
Chas was a 3.6 WAR player last year…. Are you even paying attention? I’m not even a fan of HOU, come on.
“Expect the same people every year to go wild and they flop”….Poor baby, it must be time for your nap.., I guess 2 World Series wins and 7 straight appearances in the ALCS has spoiled you and if you don’t win the WS every year you incessantly whine and complain like an infant.
I don’t believe anything Dana Brown says publicly.
Astros aiming for an all RHH lineup
Tell that to Yordan and Tucker.
Jake Meyers = Myles Straw
Not even remotely. But he could win a gold glove like Straw.
Straw (outside of 2020) has never walked under 8%, never struck out over 19%, has 6 career HR in nearly 2000 PA, and has averaged 1.6 WAR per 500 PA.
Meyers has never walked 8%, never struck out less than 25%, has 17 career HR in only 664 PA, and has averaged 2.3 WAR per 500 PA.
They are completely different players and Meyers is much better.
= Jose Siri = Jake Marisnick …
Translation: no takers
I’d like to see another outfield bat.