Astros GM Dana Brown made an appearance on MLB Network Radio this afternoon to discuss where the club stands with a matter of weeks left until Opening Day. In doing so, Brown suggested that the club is mostly set in terms of the lineup and starting rotation, and that his primary focus at this point in the spring is looking to solidfy the club’s bullpen. While Brown expressed confidence in the quartet of Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly, Bryan Abreu, and Rafael Montero, he added that the club still needs to “figure out” how to handle the middle innings following the departures of Ryne Stanek, Phil Maton, and Hector Neris this winter. The GM went on to suggest that the club is even looking at external options as it evaluates its bullpen mix.
“We are talking to clubs about trades,” Brown said, “I can’t get into that, but we definitely are having conversations about trades… we’re always looking at ways and avenues that we can get better, and if we can get better we’re going to make moves.”
With the aforementioned four relievers presumably locked into bullpen spots ahead of Opening Day, that leaves four spots in the relief corps available entering the 2024 campaign. One of those jobs appears likely to go to out of options right-hander Brandon Bielak, who posted a solid 3.83 ERA in 80 innings of work last year while swinging between starting and relief and figures to occupy a long relief role with the club this year. Other likely contenders for spots in the club’s bullpen include right-hander Dylan Coleman and southpaw Bennett Sousa, both of whom earned praise from Brown at the start of camp last month.
Looking at other options on the 40-man roster, Ronel Blanco pitched to a 4.50 ERA in 17 appearances with the club last year including seven starts, though it’s fair to wonder whether the Astros would prefer to keep him stretched out as starting pitching depth at the Triple-A level to open the season with Justin Verlander expected to open the season on the injured list. Seth Martinez, Oliver Ortega, and Parker Mushinski are other relief options with big league experience currently on the club’s 40-man, with the likes of Wander Suero and Joel Kuhnel in camp as non-roster invitees.
One potential x-factor who has yet to make his MLB debut is former top prospect Forrest Whitley, who is also already on the club’s 40-man roster. The club’s first-round pick in the 2017 draft was once a consensus top-10 prospect in the sport but has battled injuries and ineffectiveness in recent years, prompting a move to the bullpen. That being said, Whitley has battled finger inflammation this spring and was shut down from throwing in late February, potentially impacting his availability on Opening Day.
While the club certainly has a number of potentially viable options at its disposal, that group of arms vying for spots in the middle of the Houston bullpen offers little in the way of certainty. Given that, it’s easy to see why Brown would look to potentially bolster his relief corps ahead of Opening Day. That said, it’s unclear which teams could look to part with bullpen depth at this late stage in the offseason. While the Red Sox have reportedly shopped Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin this winter, the duo have been slowed by injuries this spring and are veteran, high-leverage arms who would be a significant step up from the type of middle relief relief arm Brown indicated the club is looking for. Jansen, in particular, comes with a whopping $16MM salary for the 2024 season that Houston would be unlikely to be interested in paying given their full late-inning mix.
Even as there aren’t any obvious fits for what the Astros appear to be looking for in the rumor mill at the moment, it’s not difficult to imagine an arm not yet on the radar as a trade candidate becoming available as Opening Day draws near. After all, the majority of clubs have far more bullpen options currently in camp than they can afford to roster entering the season. It’s always possible that an out-of-options reliever squeezed off another club’s roster or a non-roster invitee who isn’t breaking camp with their current organization could catch the club’s attention and prompt Brown to attempt to swing a deal, even if a more significant deal isn’t being worked on behind the scenes.
Do the astros always announce to the world the next moves they are contemplating? We know the dodgers and blue jays operate in this way.
Brown does, it’s a part of his straightforward strategy for some of his moves. But not all (e.g. Hader signing).
I will say this, having leaned how to decipher Dana Brown statements for a while now (“at the end of the day..”) If you listen to the specific audio of his statement about speaking to potential trade partners.. Brown isn’t necessarily only talking about middle relief as this mlbtr article has interpreted.
All teams do, but this site tends to only focus on the competitive teams for the mundane. No one cares if the Pitates or A’s are looking to add to their bullpen. It’s not like it’s going to help either team.
If I recall didn’t they already say earlier this off-season they felt no pressing need for relief additions (right before they made a big one)? Gotta love front office rhetoric.
What’s crazy is they could’ve brought Stanek back for a modest value that Seattle just gave him. Seems weird to talk about adding bullpen after letting him go for cheap.
“Whats crazy is they”…Neris too. Personally I think Houston should have forgotten Haderand kept Neris and signed a second reliever(Wandy Peralta or 1 of several others available)and used the considerable money saved to address other team needs, maybe a LH bat.
I think Neris has too many miles in recent years. I consider him a bit of an injury risk. Not knocking the guy at all, I love him. You just have to be careful about relievers who pitch a boatload for more than a couple seasons, plus playoffs.
I hope for the best for Neris. He was like a security blanket.
Rish – In that instance the lie was justifiable because they had their eyes set on Hader. It would have been foolish to give him leverage by letting everyone know the BP was a pressing need.
Astros looking to make the game a 4 or 5 inning game. I guess should make the casual fans happy that they only need to be there for 5 innings and can get home to watch their favourite live streamer.
What’s your fave live streamer, OY?
I’m intrigued by these ties. Argyle or a basic 2-tone silk weave? He’s definitely fully embraced the thin possibly 2″ variety. Def no bowties, unless they are the pre-tied kind.
They should resign Roberto Osuna. The fact that hes been forced to pitch in japan all these years while other guys in the league get chance after chance is astonishing. They used Osuna to win a World Series and then decided after that he was a bad guy and that they didn’t need him. Doesn’t make any sense. Hes paid his time already. Give him another chance
Don’t think Osuna was on either WS champ team, but point taken: I do wonder why no other club has overlooked his baggage and taken a flyer on him.
Osuna was on the team that lost the WS to the Nats in 2019, then was injured and missed most of 2020. His contract was up after the 2020 season and the Astros decided not to re-sign him. Every other team also passed. He’s bounced around the Mexican and Japanese leagues ever since. He is still only 28 years old. Surprised no one has decided to give him another chance.
Bad guy is an understatement. Google the details. They are out there on Reddit. It wouldn’t be altogether shocking or unprecedented to learn that other veteran players (especially fathers – but also just men who aren’t sociopaths who hate women) might have gone to management and let them know they’d rather not play with men who do things like throw pregnant women down a flight of stairs. #JustSayin
This is the second time this has happened. Right before they signed Hader, GM came out and said something along the lines of “adding to the bullpen is not a top priority” days later they signed JH.
A couple weeks ago, Astros GM comes out and says, we’re set at bullpen. Now, Astros GM says they are talking about adding.
Moral: the Astros public statements should be analyzed by a licensed before any assumptions or connections are made.
*licensed professional
Brown hasn’t said anything that other GM’s also would or have said. A lot can change in two weeks of spring training. Many of the names listed in this article and others they were counting on have not impressed so far. Whitley has already been send to minor league camp. Martinez and Mushinski are no more than depth options that will be stashed in AAA. Bielak is an option but has always been inconsistent and would not be an option for a post-season roster spot. If they can add some established middle relief it would be a bonus to the team.
Yes but is the conversation “internal” or “serious”?
In danger of turning into chatter.
Good one my friend.
I will be surprised with what Houston does. Myself do not like Bielak as long relief. Could use it if Brown looks like did last season. Or if Framber falters. Is Bielak an automatic if out of options. Blanco they want as a starter as they seem to keep their focus there. But yes do need long relief. I like the Hader signing. I think taking pressure off Pressly and making him more 7 th or 8th. Yes he will still close to not where out Hader will be good. But Stanek, Neris and Maton went elsewhere. Whether real efforts made to keep not sure. We shall see how things go.
That was brutal to read
Show some respect my friend. TXgal’s non sequiturs and discombobulated musings are to be treasured! Epic MLBTR contributions.
Pass.
Astros dealing out that cheddar for ONLY 1 GOOD season of montero. I knew it would bounce back to bite Houston in the caboose. Pressly in 7th, abreu in 8th, and hader in 9th is formidable. But no one else in astros bullpen is gonna scare ya. Seattle may have best overall pitching in entire league.
Remind me where Toro and Snell are now?
That’s a nice thought.
Let’s see which team has a better pitching staff come October- if Seattle manages to get there.
Seattle has 3 #1s and 2 #4s in the rotation with a #5 guy available incase of injury.
If Castillo, Kirby, or Logan get hurt that team is in trouble.
Neither Fangraphs nor Baseball Reference project Miller or Woo for an ERA under 4.
The Astros may only have 1 #1, but have 3 #2s and 2 #4s plus a #2 and #3 set to return for the 2nd half and playoffs.
Either Fangraphs, Baseball Reference, or both project 6 different Astros starters for an ERA under 4.
The bullpen is the opposite. The Mariners have 1 stopper and 5 very good guys while the Astros have 3 stoppers and a pile of mediocre guys.
As one of those fans, please don’t speak for me. His absence is not a punishment for me. I prefer it. I’m sorry for your loss, but speak for yourself.
And they need a SP too!
Are you Trevor’s agent or something?
And wait he shall. Maybe he can cut his teeth on a different hobby.
Be nice to have a reliable lefty. I know we’ve largely gotten by without one for a while, but, ya know, you still want some around.
The Astros have a good set of veterans. Why not look what’s in the system?
Much to like here. Have to respect the Stros and their “can-do” approach to ball