Writing a plethora of roster projections can be pertinent for some teams. The Houston Astros are not one of them. After Josh Hader’s arrival on Jan. 22, penciling perhaps 24 of the 26 names on Houston’s Opening Day roster felt effortless.
Spring training is a time for surprises, but on this team, there are so few spots for those to impress at the major-league level. Sure, battles for Houston’s final bench spot or last two spots in the bullpen are ongoing, but this is a team built around superstars, not a supporting cast.
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Most of Houston’s last-minute decisions will be on the margins. On Sunday, before reaching the halfway point of Grapefruit League play, the team reassigned its most intriguing pitching prospect, Spencer Arrighetti, to minor-league camp. Forrest Whitley followed, ending another of his maddening stays in major-league spring training in his final option year.
After Justin Verlander arrived at camp behind schedule due to a shoulder “hiccup,” both Arrighetti and Whitley had an opportunity to make the Opening Day roster. Arrighetti acquitted himself well with his demeanor, professionalism and some encouraging outings, but it still would’ve been a surprise if he cracked the club.
At the Winter Meetings, general manager Dana Brown all but begged Whitley — once baseball’s top pitching prospect — to crack the roster as a middle reliever for a team without many of them. A middle finger injury prevented it. Whitley did not appear in a Grapefruit League game and, because he was optioned, isn’t eligible to do so during the remainder of camp.
With those two notable names out of the mix and 17 more days to go, here is the Astros’ projected 25-man Opening Day roster.
Catcher (1): Yainer Diaz
Diaz will be the team’s everyday catcher, forcing an entire fan base to find something else to clamor for on social media.
First base (1): José Abreu
Abreu is battling right knee soreness after sliding into a wall while pursuing a foul ball last week. Manager Joe Espada told reporters in West Palm Beach there are “no concerns” for Abreu, whom the skipper hopes will benefit from more time at designated hitter during the season.
Second base (1): Jose Altuve
Altuve’s hustle this spring turned heads, so the Astros will give him a chance to see if it translates at the major-league level.
Altuve covered in dirt: “I’ve been hustling, trying to make the team”. pic.twitter.com/y8luJm67bU
— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) February 27, 2024
Shortstop (1): Jeremy Peña
Peña has a new batting stance and offensive setup that he hopes will translate into more line drives and power. His swing decisions and overall approach improved dramatically last season, but the muscled-up shortstop hasn’t homered in 351 consecutive plate appearances. Peña still hasn’t connected for a home run in Grapefruit League play, either.
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Third base (1): Alex Bregman
An extension offer should be forthcoming for Bregman, a franchise cornerstone who can enter free agency after this season.
Three springs ago, Carlos Correa handled a similar situation with unflinching candor. He broke the news of his extension offer — and that he turned it down and would test free agency — before authoring one of the most complete seasons of his career.
Bregman isn’t likely to reveal as much as Correa, but clarity should come within the next two and a half weeks. Bregman has deflected almost all contract questions to his agent, Scott Boras, who is known for advising his clients to test the open market.
Outfielders (4): Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers, Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez
Coaches have remarked how comfortable and confident Meyers looks in spring training, perhaps due to the vote of confidence he received this winter. The team will give him runway to establish himself as the everyday center fielder, but he’ll have McCormick and even Mauricio Dubón encroaching on him for more playing time should he struggle.
Bench (4): Mauricio Dubón, Jon Singleton, Grae Kessinger, Victor Caratini
Dubón and Caratini are the only two guarantees for Houston’s Opening Day bench. The team traded for Trey Cabbage in hopes he could compete with Singleton for a spot as the left-handed hitting backup first baseman, but Cabbage has responded with a 3-for-23 showing and 10 strikeouts in Grapefruit League play.
Singleton is out of minor-league options, making him a logical favorite to break camp with the major-league team. Kessinger’s steady defense at three of the four infield positions — along with his growing experience at first base — may give him the edge over Corey Julks, who has flashed offensively this spring, but is defensively limited.
One name to monitor is prospect Joey Loperfido, a left-handed hitting outfielder who continues to impress in spring training. That he is still in major-league camp demonstrates how well he’s positioned himself, but he is more likely ticketed for Triple-A Sugar Land and perhaps a call-up this season.
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Starting pitchers (5): Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Hunter Brown, J.P. France
Verlander’s shoulder inflammation will sideline him until at least April 11. The team plays 14 games in those 15 days, part of a grueling stretch of 20 games in 21 days to open the season.
As a result, team officials have considered starting the season with a six-man rotation, but it’s unclear whether Verlander’s absence will alter the plans. France can’t encounter any setbacks, either, if the team intends to deploy an expanded rotation that also includes Ronel Blanco.
Relief pitchers (7): Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly, Rafael Montero, Ronel Blanco, Brandon Bielak, Seth Martinez, Bennett Sousa
This is an Opening Day roster projection, hence Bryan Abreu’s omission. Abreu will serve a two-game suspension at the beginning of the season for his actions during Game 5 of last year’s American League Championship Series. Houston can’t replace Abreu on the active roster, so the club will play a man short during its first two games against the New York Yankees.
Abreu’s absence may bode well for either Dylan Coleman or Seth Martinez, the two relievers who appear most in peril of beginning the season in Triple A. Both have minor-league options remaining, so Houston could carry both for the first two games of the season before making a more permanent decision about its bullpen construction.
Coleman’s control issues have persisted across 2 1/3 Grapefruit League innings, during which he’s walked six batters and hit another. Both Espada and Dana Brown are bullish on Coleman’s stuff but won’t be able to trust him in leverage situations until he throws more strikes.
Martinez is one of baseball’s most unheralded right-on-right relievers who has proven himself in parts of three major-league seasons and has continued to impress during Grapefruit League play. The Yankees have some of the sport’s most lethal right-handed power bats, perhaps making Martinez a better matchup option for the two games in which Houston’s bullpen will be short-handed.
(Photo of Alex Bregman celebrating after scoring a run on March 9: Jim Rassol / USA Today)