The Astros have put five players on outright waivers, reports Chandler Rome of The Athletic. They are outfielders Chas McCormick, Kenedy Corona and Pedro León, left-hander John Rooney and right-hander Luis Garcia. Michael Schwab of The Ice Box reported on McCormick earlier today.
Some roster maintenance was inevitable for the Astros. They had a large number of injuries in 2025, leading to several players ending up on the 60-day injured list. The IL goes away five days after the World Series and doesn’t return until spring training, so the club would need to open some spots.
Garcia, 29 in December, was an easy cut. 2026 was slated to be his final arbitration season before he qualified for free agency. He underwent Tommy John surgery last month and is going to miss that entire campaign. The Astros weren’t going to tender him a contract, so he’s been bumped off the roster now.
For the same reasons, he should pass through waivers unclaimed, unless some club wants to work out a two-year deal covering his recovery and theoretical return to the mound in 2027. But it’s more likely that clubs wait for him to clear and become a free agent before discussing such deals with him.
McCormick, 31 in April, is the other guy in this batch with notable major league experience. He was a solid contributor for the Astros from 2021 to 2023. He struck out a lot but hit at least 14 home runs in each of those campaigns. He slashed a combined .259/.336/.449 for a 120 wRC+ in that span with 27 stolen bases and strong defensive grades, with contributions in the postseason as well.
Unfortunately, he’s been nowhere near that productive in the past two years. He has slashed .211/.273/.301 since the start of 2024, production that translates to a 64 wRC+. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected him for a $3.4MM arbitration salary next year. After two years of struggles, the Astros were probably going to non-tender him.
He is controllable through the 2027 season, so perhaps he gets claimed by some club who views him as a change-of-scenery candidate. However, it’s also possible that clubs wait for him to clear and then reach free agency, at which point they could try to sign him at a lower price point than the projected salary.
León, 28 in May, was once a high-profile signing out of Cuba but he hasn’t yet been able to deliver on the hype. He has only played in seven big league games so far. His minor league numbers have been more decent than amazing. A sprained MCL in his left knee put him on the shelf for most of 2025, limiting him to just 25 games.
It’s possible León garners interest from other clubs based on his past prospect pedigree. He still has options and could be stashed in the minors next year. While his 2025 was mostly a lost year, he slashed .299/.372/.514 in Triple-A last year for a 130 wRC+.
Corona, 26 in March, was an international signing of the Mets. He came to the Astros in the December 2019 trade which sent Jake Marisnick to Queens. Houston put Corona on their 40-man roster in November 2023, to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft.
His numbers have backed up since then. He has only played in three big league games. He has a .217/.311/.309 batting line and 74 wRC+ in the minors dating back to the start of 2024. That was a big drop from his 2022 and 2023 production, as he slashed .264/.346/.475 for a 116 wRC+ over those seasons. Like León, he still has options, which could increase the chances some other club grabs him as a depth option.
Rooney, 29 in January, was just acquired from the Marlins in an August cash deal. He has one big league appearance under his belt, having allowed one earned run over 1 1/3 innings for the Astros on August 24th. He tossed 38 2/3 Triple-A innings this year with a 2.56 earned run average, 34.2% strikeout rate, 14.9% walk rate and 42.5% ground ball rate. The lefty underwent surgery late in the year remove bone spurs and address tennis elbow. Per Rome, he’s expected to miss the entire 2026 season.
Garcia and McCormick each have enough service time to reject outright assignments and elect free agency if they clear waivers. Rooney and Corona have been in the minors for at least seven years, meaning they would be eligible for minor league free agency five days after the World Series, if they are off the roster by then. León doesn’t have seven years in the minors, nor does he have three years of service or a previous career outright. If he clears waivers, the Astros should be able to keep him as non-roster depth.
Photo courtesy of Troy Taormina, Imagn Images
They didn’t waive that guy named Tres Kahn
chas helped get the chip for them, respect but it was time
He had a great year in 2023 but the last 2 years he’s been injured and has hardly played. But since 23 is the last season he actually played you have to think if he was healthy he could repeat something close to that. Not a Stros fan so maybe I’m missing something here.
He’s more of a short side platoon guy who went on a Linsanity run. Injuries were a big part of his downfall but the holes in his swing got exposed. He’d be a good 4th OF on a team with a heavy platoon split lefty if he can get right.
Wasn’t Luis Garcia their young ace like a couple years ago? What happened?
He’s become Mr. Glass
Multiple arm injuries & hasn’t been able to recover unfortunately. Couldn’t bounce back from his initial Tommy John, which is obviously rare nowadays…which prompted him to get a SECOND immediate Tommy John.
He had TJS, and numerous setbacks, and missed over two years. Finally made it back late in this season and… blew his elbow out again.
The ligaments that hold his arm together have all failed.
Never their ace. 3-4 guy. And I highly doubt he’s as young as listed.
Pedro the Lion
That sucks for Luis Garcia. Hope he’s able to make a comeback in a couple years
Nationals should sign him, so they have two
If we do get a lockout in 2027, Garcia could miss pretty much miss five straight years of action. Just brutal for him.
Lockout, almost certainly. Strike/work stoppage, unlikely.
YBC – I wish I had your optimism.
You would think, or at least hope, the way the last CBA went down neither side would want to travel that road again. Unfortunately, if anything I think it has them both even more eager for a fight as crazy as that seems.
YankeesBleacherCreature: A lockout is a work stoppage.
I should clarify. They’re both work stoppages. One is owner-intiated. The other by players.
Totally makes sense. The Astros need room on the major league roster and they need to free up some money. I would expect Sanchez, Urias to be non-tendered or possibly traded. It would also makes sense for Walker to be traded.
Chas was a stud just a couple of years ago. If you told me after 2023 he’d be cut loose like this I would have bet against it.
If the cards trade nootbar or any other outfielders wouldn’t mind them taking a flier on McCormick and hope for a bounce back.
Smoking that Luis Garcia pack. He was always a fake gimmick pitcher with that stupid cradle windup