Houston general manager Dana Brown spoke with reporters (including the Houston Chronicle’s Matt Kawahara, the Athletic’s Chandler Rome, and MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer) on Friday about several matters related to the Astros’ offseason, and there was naturally plenty of talk about the big three-team, six-player trade between the Astros, Pirates, and Rays. The Astros’ end of the deal saw first-year outfielder Jacob Melton and minor league righty Anderson Brito dealt to Tampa Bay, while Houston’s rotation was bolstered by the addition of right-hander Mike Burrows.
Obtaining a controllable and talented young arm like Burrows is a nice get for the Astros, even at the substantial cost of two notable youngsters from Houston’s farm system. As Brown put it, “it’s not easy to part ways with successful pieces that you have that are high-end prospects. But when there are a lot of teams that need starters, that’s where the market is. A lot of teams need starters, and so you don’t want to lose out. So you have to get creative and pull from your depth and maybe fill that spot.”
Burrows might just be the start of Houston’s work on this front, as Brown said his club “will definitely pursue more pitching.” This pursuit has included at least some discussion with Framber Valdez about a potential reunion, but Brown naturally didn’t divulge any details beyond saying that he’s had “some back and forth” with Valdez’s camp.
This is the first indication of any talks between Valdez and the Astros since Brown’s season wrap-up presser at the end of September, when he stated that the two sides would remain in touch. While Brown’s latest comment doesn’t technically provide any new information on this front, it is somewhat notable that Valdez might still remain on Houston’s radar even in a slight fashion, as it has widely been assumed that he’ll be signing elsewhere.
The Astros are known to be looking to avoid paying the luxury tax for the third consecutive season, and Valdez is likely to command a deal far too pricey for Houston’s liking. MLBTR projected Valdez for a five-year, $150MM contract, and such teams as the Orioles, Mets, and Giants have been linked to the two-time All-Star. That interest hasn’t resulted in a deal yet, however, and some obstacles remain for Valdez with any of those suitors — the Giants and Mets reportedly aren’t keen on long-term contracts for pitchers, and the O’s already made a massive free agent strike by signing Pete Alonso.
As long as Valdez remains unsigned, there’s still a chance a deal could be worked out between the two sides. It costs Brown nothing to check in with Valdez out of just due diligence, just in case some common ground could be found or if Valdez’s asking price drops. That being said, the far likelier scenario is that Valdez will be on another team’s roster in 2026, and the Astros will look to add pitching via lower-cost signings, and/or trades.
Brown said he is open to all possibilities on the trade front, though he again suggested that the Astros weren’t necessarily in a rush to trade either from their crowded infield, or known trade target Jake Meyers. Speaking of Meyers specifically, Brown said “it’s a really good deal, we may consider it. But right now, Meyers is going to be a guy for us that’s going to play center field and it looks like he’s the frontline guy as of today.”
The fact that the Astros moved Melton is notable, as he was thought to be a potential heir apparent in center field if Meyers was dealt. Brown said Houston was ultimately comfortable dealing Melton due to the presence of Meyers and Zach Cole as center field options, plus Lucas Spence and Joseph Sullivan further down the minor league pipeline. Beyond Meyers, Cole is the only member of that group with any MLB experience, and Cole’s resume consists of 15 games with the Astros in 2025.
Beyond the rotation, Brown said the Astros are also looking for relief pitching and a backup catcher. Victor Caratini remains available in free agency, though the expectation is that Caratini will be able to find more of a regular catching job with another team than he would be rejoining the Astros to share time with Yainer Diaz behind the plate.
In other words, Meyers is available.
Why is this linked to the Red Sox?
Clicks
And not the Giants, who are mentioned in the article, and Framber has confirmed had a visit with?
Brian McTaggert, the Astros beat writer, speculated that the organization regrets not trading Chas McCormick after he had a “ceiling” type of year in ’23. So maybe they feel that this is as good as it gets from Myers and it’s a good time to trade him before his career heads the other direction.
I thought Houston did really well in the deal. Especially after seeing the 4 prospect + a draft pick price of Shane Baz, getting a young starter with 5-6 years of control for only 2 non-top 100 prospects was very good. Burrows might not have the “stuff” of Baz, but his actual results are quite a bit better. And Houston can keep him around far longer.
I think Houston got the short stick. Burrows barrel rates, air rates and hard hit rates are all high. PNC was the least friendly to power hitters in ’25 and Daikin Park plays up for power hitters.
Brito has front of the rotation potential and Melton is a good player too. Rays made out. Pirates also did well.
His market is interesting. He was ranked the best starter by nearly everyone and yet there has hardly been any info on his market. Cease and so many others flew off the market quick, but, almost nothing about him. Do we think the incident with the catcher has hurt his market?
I think the speculation about that incident is overblown in many fans minds, because the media overhyped it. It was a nothing burger. A simple miscommunication, nothing more.
Clearly you don’t know what Valdez is like when things don’t go his way. Perhaps the look on the catcher’s face was too subtle for you to pick up or the lack of interest shown by Valdez when he turned his back on him.
In any event, your assessment is so far off the mark as to be laughable.
I have watched Framber for the last 7 years.
He struggles with his emotions and things snowball at his own hand when something goes wrong. You can pretty much count on this once or twice per year
I have no doubt Framber did it intentionally. I also have no doubt he regretted it immediately.
Outside of that he is a great pitcher.
All pitchers have stinkers once in a while. Framber’s just happen to be self inflicted.
It’s not a “nothing burger” but it is certainly overblown by media and fans.
He is still getting a huge contract. I would ecstatic if it was with the Astros but he will get more than they are willing to pay.
Totally agree with you
His immediate reaction indicated indifference rather than regret. I’m not sure how you could come to that conclusion.
He has horrible emotion.
Knowing body language. He reacted in a non confrontational manner.
He controlled it well that day. Some players a miscommunication like that could unravel them.
Are u serious? Totally on purpose he didn’t even look in after he thru the pitch. Framber is a psycho. Should have traded him last offseason.
That’s just body language. Turning away from someone is the opposite of being confrontational. It was the middle of competition, in front of competitors. Not the time to make a scene. Even his catcher said it was just a miscommunication.
Yes, and once the Mets fought so everyone went in the dugout to seperate it and told people there was a rat or whatever.
(The catcher can lie)
Also, do you personally know Framber Valdez
Yes, it hurt his market. Intentionally throwing a fastball into the ribs of your catcher is a manifestation of his documented mental health issues. On a larger scale, prohibiting the infield shift has also hurt him. He played up to shift, and got groundballs/double plays perhaps more than any other pitcher in baseball. The extra groundball outs limited the damage when he’s wild in the zone. Sometimes he has no idea, other than down, on where the ball is going.
So no chat tonight?
Sadly it seems unlikely
Maybe they’ll pull a Dodgers and defer 98% of Framber’s contract
still wouldn’t get out from the luxury tax hit
The only team I know of that Framber Valdez has had a visit with is the Giants. That might partially be because I pay closer attention to Giants moves than other teams. If anyone knows any other team he’s visited with, I’d be happy to know.
Idk but I’d like to see the giants get him
He actually personally went to the GM meetings and met with several teams.
His agent also put together a 20 minute “hype/get to know Framber” video and gave it to all interested teams
Dana Brown has a lot of work to do yet this offseason.
His hands are tied by Crane treating the luxury tax as a cap. But then he himself went over it to add Correa. Hands on ownership is the worst.
I’m hoping that Framber starts losing so many suitors that we can sign him for a 3 or 4 year deal. It’s not likely, but hopefully.
What about sign Ryan O’Hearn (to play outfield)?
I like his bat but hate his glove.
Left field? We have a really short porch. Btw do you read TCB
Short porch doesn’t matter. If you can’t field, you can’t field. See: Jose Altuve