The Astros optioned outfielder Chas McCormick to Triple-A Sugar Land following last night’s game — presumably to clear an active roster spot for the pending arrival of newly signed outfielder Jason Heyward. The team didn’t formally announce the move yet, but McCormick took it upon himself to call the Astros beat over to his locker last night and inform them of the news after he’d been told (X links via Chandler Rome of The Athletic). Houston still needs to clear a 40-man spot for Heyward.
It’s the first time McCormick has been sent to the minors since June 2022 — a trip that only lasted one day, as he was quickly recalled to the big leagues after Michael Brantley landed on the injured list. With the exception of that one-day trip to Sugar Land, this new optional assignment is the first time McCormick has been sent down since initially being called to the majors. (He’s briefly played in the minors in the past two years while on injury rehab assignments but hasn’t actually been optioned.)
The 2024 season has been a nightmare for the 29-year-old McCormick and a noted departure from the productive three-year stretch he enjoyed from 2021-23. McCormick posted a solid .257/.319/.447 slash as a rookie in 2021, enjoyed a more productive year in 2022 and broke out with a career-best .273/.353/.489 slash last year. McCormick enjoyed career-best marks in home runs (22), doubles (17), stolen bases (19), plate appearances (457), strikeout rate (25.6%), wRC+ (134) and wins above replacement (3.3 fWAR, 3.6 bWAR) during that standout 2023 campaign.
Everything has trended in the wrong direction in 2024. The 2017 21st-rounder has posted a disastrous .192/.256/.292 batting line in 243 plate appearances this season. McCormick’s 28.8% strikeout rate isn’t a career-worst but is a significant increase from last year. His 6.6% walk rate is a career-low. McCormick has chased pitches off the plate at the highest rate of his career (33.1%) and made contact on pitches within the strike zone at the lowest rate of his career (76%). The contact he’s made has generally been weak. Statcast pegs him with career-worst marks in average exit velocity (85.2 mph), barrel rate (7.8%) and hard-hit rate (31.4%). McCormick has hit more infield flies (six) in a career-low 243 plate appearances this season than he has in any previous campaign.
Depending on the amount of time McCormick spends in Sugar Land, there could be contractual implications. He entered the 2024 season with exactly three years of service, meaning he’d need 172 days in the majors to hit four years of service. At the moment, he’s accrued 154 days of major league service. McCormick still needs another 18 days to cross four years of service and remain on track for free agency in the 2026-27 offseason. If he’s not recalled on or before Sept. 12, his path to free agency will be pushed back by a year.
For now, the focus will be getting McCormick back on track down in Triple-A, where he can get everyday at-bats that haven’t been available as a contending Astros club looks to stay atop a closely contested AL West race. McCormick did pinch-hit in last night’s game and swat a two-run homer, though that was just his fourth hit in 48 plate appearances since the trade deadline.
At the moment, with Kyle Tucker still on the shelf, the Astros’ outfield mix includes Jake Meyers, Yordan Alvarez, utilityman Mauricio Dubon, journeyman Ben Gamel and (soon) the aforementioned Heyward. With Alvarez working primarily as a designated hitter (81 games there versus 43 in left field) and three lefty-swinging options in the outfield mix (Alvarez, Gamel, Heyward), there should be room for McCormick’s right-handed bat if a brief minor league reset can get him back on track. That’s particularly with rosters set to expand from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1. While he’s struggled against lefties and righties alike this season, McCormick is still a career .286/.358/.508 hitter against southpaws.
Heyward will post a .900 OPS for the rest of the season and releasing him is one of the many reasons the Dodgers still won’t win their first legitimate World Series title since 1988 this season.
Heyward will post a sub .700 OPS for the rest of the season and remind the Dodgers why they released him in the first place.
Small sample sizes may allow it, but you can’t seriously believe they acquired him for his bat, right?
“Marlins Fan” has thoughts on the integrity of the game as if they aren’t the only organization to ever get slapped with a RICO Act charge
Who knows what HEYWARD will do. I was not sure on Gamel either but he has helped immensely. Wish he would have gotten possibly the HR last night but the Philly fan so wanted the ball. Wish people would learn not to interfere. But guess the fan helped as they scored the two anyways and more. I would love for Heyward to help out. Possibly could if makes it for this last month and maybe the playoffs.
I feel for McCormick and season has had. He will most likely still be with Houston next season and Meyers for our outfield. Due to their contracts till at least 27 for both. Chas if does not return by mid September or such will be till 28. Unless he and Meyers get used for trade or such for a strong starting pitcher. Wonder on that one that was mentioned. If Astros dabble in international market. If posted. But I do hope Chas finds things. Yes playing everyday gets you more use to get a start and maybe he can return and help in playoffs. But he and Meyers have been our outfield for a few years. So will up and down seasons keep them here or will other teams take an interest. Not sure on Tucker for sure remainder of season. I am sure will be with Houston next season to perhaps rebuild as will be a free agent.
Good luck Chas. Hope to see you back this season. And can help in playoffs.
Fellow Millersville University alum. I always pull for Chas (and Tim Mayza), even though I can’t stand the Astros. Hope you rediscover that stroke!
Go Marauders!
I would’ve been class of 2000, but transferred to University of Delaware after my second of three knee replacements and ended up not playing college ball after that. Coaching is much more rewarding for me anyway. I think Tim was class of 2014 and Chas was class of 2017. Two guys that are easy to pull for.
Go Blue Hens!
“Go banana!” -Ralph Wiggum
Right now I would say McCormick’s biggest challenge isn’t how to line up for free agency. The demand for a .192/.256/.292 slash line is pretty low. Could he even be a non-tender candidate as a 30 year old outfielder early next season given his $2.85 mill. salary? Just keeping his job and fixing his slash line are more important than free agency.
Yeah – I was thinking a couple weeks ago that the Astros may non tender him this offseason. Last year I thought it was Dusty that didn’t like Chas, but this year makes me think it’s Espada who doesn’t like him for whatever reason.
That aside – McCormick’s been a tremendous let down this year. I expected that Meyers and Dubon would continue to be worse than league average. I didn’t expect Chas to fall off as much as he has – and to be nearly as bad as Jose Abreu is remarkable.
He’s a clear non tender candidate unless he’s able to right the ship. I know people will find this hard to believe, but he has the highest fWAR of any Astros rookie OF since the rebuild a decade ago.
The fact that the Astros have had to bring in guys like Heyward and Ben Gamel along with giving Trey Cabbage almost 100 AB’s says that they may keep McCormick, at least thru spring training as depth has been an issue this season
True. In addition to that, Tucker is a free agent after 2025 I believe. If Chas is in the minors through Sept 12, it sounds like he could be cheap depth through the 2027 season.
Insurance policy in case Tucker doesn’t sign an extension here (which seems like a given).
I think this is the correct take. For Chas, right now, FA isn’t a question of when, it’s a question of if? He needs to rediscover his swing or else he’ll be out of the game. I hope he plays well.
The Astros have made some great trade deadline and free agency moves throughout this run, but also flubbed on a few opportunities to buy low sell high. Chas McCormick is one of those examples where he was very valuable last year having a great season by his standards, and could’ve easily traded him for someone good at the deadline, but held him too long and now he’s worthless from a return value perspective. The Astros have always been sentimental and kept players longer than they should’ve because the city loves them so much.
I don’t believe a guy who has established himself as a big leaguer like McCormick has should be allowed to be sent to the minors like this. Plus is Jason Heyward really any better?
Depends on how you determine that someone has “established himself as a big leaguer.” Under the current rules, that is someone with at least five years of service time; after a player has accrued five years, he can’t be optioned without his consent. McCormick has less than five years, therefore he is not an “established big leaguer” as the industry defines that.
I think the number should be lower than 5 years for sure.
It says the assignment was optional, but is that accurate?
Chas is this years Maldy
Optioned Chas but still need to clear roster space. So release Singleton and bring up a reliever?
The big question is, when is Kyle Tucker’s shin contusion over?!