The Astros have had internal conversations about the possibility of trading Ryan Pressly, reports Chandler Rome of the Athletic. While that’d be a logical way to clear payroll space, a deal is complicated by the reliever’s full no-trade rights.
Pressly has a decade of MLB service and has spent five-plus seasons in Houston. Players who meet that criteria have full no-trade protection under the collective bargaining agreement. Pressly could quickly halt trade consideration if he has no desire to leave. (Rome notes that the pitcher’s wife Kat is a Houston native.)
If Pressly is amenable to moving, that would go a long way to opening spending room for the team. The Astros are trying to re-sign Alex Bregman. They could look for help at first base and in the outfield. RosterResource already projects next season’s luxury tax number around $234MM. That’s $7MM shy of the lowest threshold. They’d need to go well into tax territory to retain Bregman. Even if they let the star third baseman walk, they’re likely to push above the tax line for what’d be a second straight year. They’d be subject to higher penalties for exceeding the threshold in back-to-back seasons.
General manager Dana Brown admitted last month that the situation could require the Astros to be “creative” with their payroll. The most straightforward solution — subject to the no-trade complications — is a Pressly deal. The righty triggered a $14MM vesting option for his age-36 season. That’s a pricey sum for a pitcher who lost his spot in the ninth inning when the Astros signed Josh Hader last winter. Pressly featured prominently on MLBTR’s list of the top offseason trade candidates as a result.
While the Astros may not be keen on a $14MM salary, another team could assume that to plug Pressly into the ninth inning. He closed in Houston between 2020-23, locking down 30+ saves in each of the latter two seasons. Pressly hasn’t posted a season with an ERA above 4.00 during his six-plus years with the Astros, though his results have trended slightly downward over the last two seasons.
After turning in consecutive sub-3.00 showings in 2021-22, Pressly has allowed an ERA around 3.50 for the past couple years. He allowed 3.49 earned runs per nine over 56 2/3 innings this past season. His 23.3% strikeout percentage and 48.8% grounder rate, while solid, were each below typical levels. Pressly’s strikeout and whiff rates have dropped in consecutive years. His 93.8 MPH average fastball velocity was down a tick compared to last season.
Pressly appears to be on a slight decline, though he remains a quality late-game arm. A $14MM salary is about the range he’d expect as a free agent. The Orioles committed $13MM to Craig Kimbrel last winter, while the Pirates signed Aroldis Chapman for $10.5MM. The Rangers added David Robertson on a deferred $11.5MM deal. Pressly falls into that bucket of one-time star closers who are still effective but not as dominant as they were at their peak. The Astros could probably find a taker for the majority or all of the money, but teams aren’t going to part with significant prospect capital to acquire what is essentially a market value contract.
Hader will be back in the ninth inning. Bryan Abreu remains an excellent setup option. A Pressly trade would put more pressure on the likes of Tayler Scott and potentially Bryan King to prove themselves capable of pitching meaningful innings.
Ranger Danger19
I’ll give you two trash cans and a hundred bucks cash
Dumpster Divin Theo
I see what you did there
coupofthecentury
He meant to say two championships and like a hundred straight LCS appearances.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Just because some dude banged on a garbage can to alert the batter what pitch was coming doesn’t mean they cheated.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Exactly! Just a down home yeehaw way of bellowing “grubs ready, come n git it”
Blackpink in the area
I think he’s worth 8 to 10 million in 2025 not the 14 he’s making. That still might be worth the Astros trading him but he could bounce back a bit who knows.
hiflew
Am I the only one absolutely stunned that Ryan Pressly has over a decade in the majors? I don’t follow either team he has played for that closely, but I would have said maybe half that time if asked. I guess that comes with the anonymity of being a non-save reliever on a small market club (Minnesota) in the majors..
Samuel
hiflew;
Couldn’t believe it when the Twins traded Pressly. Was easily their best relief pitcher and had done some closing.
His success in Houston was no surprise to me or many fans that followed the Twins at that time.
Maybe if he were more animated or said provocative things to the media…..
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
He’s got a lot of gray whiskers, he more looks like he’s been here for a century
El Kabong
Realistically, how much would a 36-year-old reliever bring in a trade?
seamaholic 2
The article answers that for you: Nothing, as he makes a market salary. Just a money dump.
El Kabong
I get that, but it seems like tightening the purse strings too much.
twozero6ix
That’s the point of the Astros offseason
El Kabong
To not try to win? I find it hard to believe that they’re that cash-strapped.
ckc12537
Their estimated payroll is $217 million, the 1st luxury tax threshold is $241 million.
Edit: I did some more looking at this site, and their payroll for luxury tax purposes is currently $233 million for 2025.
Captainmike1
They would take a restaurant gift card for him just to get rid of his excessive salary
thickiedon
Hopefully, Pappadeaux’s
Hawkeye75
I don’t really care at this point….shedding his 14 million that can be spread between Bregman, Tucker and Framber to up those numbers a little is a good thing. I’d take a RP from anyone’s AA squad and call it a day.
609Collectibles
I called this one when I read he triggered 14mil. Astros have too many holes to fill. Post season tested and throws RH, exactly what the Phillies need and not crazy about the FA options. The Astros need a corner INF, particularly 1B. How about this deal – Weston Wilson, Kody Clemens plus McGarry & Mercado for Pressly, Chas McCormick.
TigersLoveCinnamon
He’ll go for a ptbnl, maybe a low A lottery ticket
thickiedon
In all fairness, your proposal is heavily weighted in favor of Houston.
Captainmike1
Love those long term bad contracts
Astros_fan_in_Aus
Two years with a third year option is not a long term contract.
ClevelandSteelEngines
I’m loving watching those guys pull it down.
OfficerCarlWinslow
I bet that isn’t the first time you said this.
🙂
Dumpster Divin Theo
Tee hee
WaterfallEconomics
By pull it down you mean you believe they’ll keep Pressly.
sergefunction
No.
He meant something entirely different
texgal01
I know letting Pressly go for nothing. Maybe someone as a low level for minors or such. But he triggered his option for how much he pitched last season. But would Pressly go elsewhere to close for a season or two. 36 is up there age wise. But he was not great last season in earlier innings. I know we needed a closer and if he took exception and things well down for him. He would be done after this season ahead if stayed. I assume elsewhere too. 14 mill is a lot that could be used elsewhere. But am sure wants to go out in a better fashion, If was happy enough to go elsewhere. Not sure if would really get another ring with Houston. Even if keep a lot of team players we have minus Breggy I think hurts us but we need offense too. Breggy has been lacking strong offense lately. But really do not have anyone I think that can replace his D. But guess time will tell
BigBallsLongBat
Lots of teams would want him……………….at their price.
OfficerCarlWinslow
Mid tier prospects if they’re lucky!
– Carl Winslow
Hawkeye75
Doesn’t matter. Anything to get him off the Astros’ payroll.
thickiedon
So who does the author presume Houston could swap with? This is a rumors site, I’d expect such introspect
cwsOverhaul
Cubs perhaps since they like short-term closers. They could swap a pricey OF to free up spot for farm system promotion.
ckc12537
I had the same thought.
Acoss1331
14 million is a lot for Hoyer, not sure the Cubs would be interested in that deal.
ckc12537
I was replying to thickiedon. MLBTR seriously needs to fix how threads are organized.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
You put your comment on here it’s free play, anybody can respond to you whether you were talking to them or not. Kinda like what I’m doing right now.
ckc12537
Congrats you missed the point.
rememberthecoop
I don’t know. But if it were me, I’d prefer to discuss trades with other teams. Sure, trading a player to yourself is lower risk. But the upside just isn’t there.
OfficerCarlWinslow
Well it doesn’t look like Bregman is coming back so if they’re trying to lower payroll that’s a good start. If Precious Pressly is on his way out that’s more cap space.
– Carl Winslow
Hawkeye75
No the Astros WILL NOT have to go well into tax threshold area to retain Bregman because they were already paying him $30.5 Million. Rumors abound that Bregman’s next contract won’t be for that much a year. IF the Astros let Bregman walk, payroll would go from 234 million to 204 million. Does this author not understand payroll economics??
realist101
Cots estimates that the Astros 2025 payroll for CBT purposes is already at $231 million including arb amounts. docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1diURgMcFIRi10yKQhY…
The 2025 CBT threshold is $241 million.
So yes, the Astros would have to go well into the tax threshold to sign Bregman, unless they make other moves to clear salary.
realist101
More generally: have to look at the whole roster, not just 1 player, when estimating how things change to year-to-year. Arb eligible players can add up to meaningful $ increases year-to-year.
And Bregman only counted $20 million (his contract’s AAV) for the CBT calculation during 2024. Not his $30.5 million salary for the 2024 season.
cadagan
Hawkeye75,
Doh!
mrperkins
As a Cardinals fan, trade Arenado for Pressley to get out from under the contract of Nolan and you can move Donovan/Gorman around more and make room for cheap Saggese. Now you can trade Helsey for the best prospect return and still have a serviceable closer to not blow every lead for a rebuilding club. Finally, drop Pressley at the deadline for decent prospects since his contract had been over halfway paid. A lot depends on what the Astros plan to do with Bregman.
ckc12537
I think the obvious solution is to trade Framber Valdez, not Pressly.
Texas Outlaw
The Astros won’t get more than a low rated or lottery ticket prospect for him. A team like the Phills make sense. The Dodgers might bite cause they are the Dodgers.
Diggerydoo
Those who pay attention to news storys outside of the normal baseball focused pieces, that reference players, will have..MAYBE..seen the spring Houston Living article where Pressley sold his house and he and his wife signed a ONE YEAR lease on a condo. his reason was they were goign to take their time looking for a new house and a 1 year lease made the most sense.
So, IMO, reading too much into it of course, he was expecting this to come up in the winter and I think he and his wife are ready for the right deal.
MLB players being heralded as dieties…only to be demoted…is hard on some 🙂
nosake
Yes, trade him – to any team I don’t like
Patrick Tracey
Perfect fit for the A’s
jbigz12
Pressly isn’t quite as dominant as he once was. Given the salary it probably makes sense to ship him out.
Of course if crane didn’t listen to Bagwell he would’ve had another $30MM in his budget this year.
gaa1313
Christian Walker. for Pressley
Bob M.
You could argue that trying to trade Press and Hader, Is the way to retain Kyle Tucker (the one that cannot get away) and Framber Valdez. Try and clear space. Sign and trade for upside middle relievers, and platoon based corner infielders and you may have also have to punt 2025. Hader may be mid season deal.
Bob M.
Need to build around Tucker, Alvarez, Valdez, Abreu in the pen and the final years of Altuve.