Astros general manager Dana Brown said Tuesday that Meyers will get the bulk of playing time in center field to begin the 2024 season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Meyers slashed just .227/.296/.382 over 112 regular-season games in 2023 and was left off Houston's postseason roster, but Brown offered high praise for his defensive work and expressed optimism about the 27-year-old taking a step forward offensively. Chas McCormick projects to open the 2024 campaign as the Astros' primary left fielder with Meyers installed in center.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Brailyn Marquez: Reaches deal with Astros
Rotowire
Marquez signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Sunday.
Marquez missed two seasons following shoulder surgery and struggled upon his return last year, posting a 4.99 ERA and 44:38 K:BB over 30.2 frames across four levels in the minors. The left-hander will turn just 25 next month, though, so the Astros felt the former top prospect was worth a roll of the dice.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Forrest Whitley: Healthy, will be used in relief
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Whitley is healthy and will report to spring training as a reliever, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley didn't make an appearance at Triple-A Sugar Land after late May because of a right lat strain, but he's been throwing this offseason without issue. While the former top prospect will have a chance to win a bullpen job out of spring training, he could be sent back to Sugar Land after the Astros were awarded a fourth option year.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jairo Solis: Back with Houston
Rotowire
Solis signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Friday, Kenny Van Doren of Astros Future reports.
Solis returned from a four-year absence in 2023 following two Tommy John surgeries to hold an 8.46 ERA and 50:37 K:BB over 61.2 frames at Triple-A Sugar Land. He'll turn just 24 later this month even with all the missed time and the Astros still want to see how he develops.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Dixon Machado: Back with Astros
Rotowire
Machado signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Friday, Kenny Van Doren of Astros Future reports.
Machado, 31, had a .724 OPS with seven homers over 74 games with Triple-A Sugar Land this season. He has a career .577 OPS over parts of five seasons in the majors and will offer the Astros some veteran infield depth.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Kervin Castro: Arrives in Houston
Rotowire
Castro (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Nov. 18.
Castro underwent Tommy John surgery in June and is expected to be sidelined until after next year's All-Star break. He holds a 4.91 ERA and 24:11 K:BB over 25.2 relief innings at the big-league level.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jesus Bastidas: Gets deal from Astros
Rotowire
Bastidas signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Nov. 18.
Bastidas, 25, split the 2023 season between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization, slashing .249/.339/.413 with 15 homers and 12 steals. He'll likely begin 2024 as infield depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Kenedy Corona: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Astros selected Corona to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Corona, 23, slashed .251/.331/.458 with 22 home runs and 32 stolen bases over 117 games this past season between High-A Asheville and Double-A Corpus Christi. He is now protected from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
Astros' Lance McCullers: Likely out until July of '24
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Tuesday that McCullers (forearm) might not be ready to pitch again until early July of 2024, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
McCullers required surgery this past June to repair a torn right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur from his right forearm. The 30-year-old hasn't appeared in a game at any level since the 2022 World Series and can apparently be ruled out for essentially the entire first half of the 2024 campaign.
The Astros outrighted Paredes to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The transaction leaves the Astros with three more spots open on their 40-man roster. A 28-year-old right-handed reliever, Paredes pitched exclusively at the minor-league level in 2023 after previously making 37 appearances out of the Houston bullpen from 2020 through 2022. He struck out 66 over 54.1 innings at Sugar Land this past season but walked 18.6 percent of the batters he faced and posted a 4.80 ERA.
