Houston Astros News

The San Francisco Giants are trading starting pitcher Kai-Wei Teng to the Houston Astros. In exchange, the Giants will receive catching prospect Jancel Villareal. The assumption is that the Giants made this move to free up a 40-man roster spot for newly signed Harrison Bader. Last season, Teng posted a 6.37 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and a 39/17 K/BB ratio in eight games (seven starts) with the Giants. He posted much better numbers in the minors and could operate in a swingman-type role for the Astros. As for Villareal, he's a 21-year-old catcher who will still need more seasoning in the minor leagues. In a corresponding move, J.P. France has been designated for assignment by Houston to make room for Teng on the roster.

Houston Astros outfielder Zach Cole will have a chance to compete for a starting role in the team's Opening Day lineup, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros have reportedly made it clear they "want to see more" of him, and he "will arrive [at spring training] with every chance to crack the club." Cole slashed .255/.327/.553 across a small sample size (15 games) in the majors as a rookie last year. He struck out at a 38.5% clip, but that number should settle down as he accumulates at-bats. There's a lot to like about his four home runs, .303 xwOBA, and 142 wRC+ during that span. He also flashed upside defensively and is certainly capable of an everyday role in either corner outfield spot. Rome projects that Cole, Jake Meyers, and Cam Smith will occupy the Astros' Opening Day outfield from left to right.

Houston Astros corner infielder Isaac Paredes may not appear in the Opening Day lineup if he ends up in a platoon role with Christian Walker. "Walker and Paredes seem primed to begin the season [at first base] as a $29 million timeshare," writes Chandler Rome of The Athletic. There has been plenty of buzz about a potential Paredes trade, but as spring training approaches, he remains on the Astros' roster. The vast majority of his MLB experience comes at the hot corner (including all 89 of his defensive appearances last year), but he's starting to be viewed as more of a first baseman or designated hitter after the Astros re-acquired Carlos Correa last summer. While Paredes finished the 2025 campaign with -3 OAA and -2 FRV at third base, he was markedly better with the bat in his hands. He slashed .254/.352/.458 with 20 homers, 53 RBI, and 128 wRC+ to go along with his 11.4% walk rate and 17.4% strikeout rate. Paredes currently ranks 14th among third basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings, but a trade or reshuffling of the Astros' lineup could drastically impact his stock.

Houston Astros third baseman/outfielder Cam Smith is not guaranteed a spot on the major league roster to begin the 2026 season. Chandler Rome of The Athletic notes that the team's general manager, Dana Brown, has made it clear that Smith will have to "prove himself" in camp to make the Opening Day roster. The Astors acquired Smith from the Chicago Cubs last offseason in exchange for Kyle Tucker. Smith was selected by the Cubs in the opening round of the 2024 MLB Draft with the 14th overall pick out of Florida State. Smith was given a lead role in the Houston offense in all of 2025 but posted an underwhelming .236/.312/.358 line with 21 doubles, nine home runs, and eight stolen bases across 134 games. If Smith were to miss out on a roster spot, top prospect Brice Matthews would likely see more opportunities in the outfield.

Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (shoulder) was among the most dominant closers in baseball again in 2025, but he will carry more risk into 2026 after his season was cut short by a left-shoulder strain. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw said recently that he feels back to normal, but until we see that he's at full strength during spring training, Hader will carry extra risk in fantasy baseball. When he was on the mound last year, Hader was still dominant as ever, ranking fifth with a 29.1 K-BB percentage. Hader leaned heavily on his wipeout slider and produced an absurd 55.2% whiff rate with the pitch. The six-time All-Star had a nice 2.05 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 28 saves, 76 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings. Hader's price tag on draft day might be a little deflated due to his shoulder injury, but if it proves to be a thing of the past, he could wind up being a massive value.

Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown broke out as an All-Star in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues, going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA (3.14 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 206:57 K:BB in 31 starts over 185 1/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old was essentially Houston's ace. The former fifth-round selection out of Wayne State has come a long way since he had a 5.09 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 155 2/3 innings in 2023 in his first year in the big leagues. Brown reached the illustrious 200-strikeout mark for the first time in his career, and opposing hitters batted a tick over .200 against him. Brown has the arsenal (six pitches) to keep batters off balance and continue to be successful in 2026, but fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily expect another ERA under 3.00. Keeping the ball in the yard was a big reason for his success last year, as he allowed just 0.8 home runs per nine innings. RotoBaller has Brown ranked as the No. 8 starting pitcher.

Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa will not participate in the World Baseball Classic, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Puerto Rico native made the decision due to a lack of insurance coverage and a conversation with owner Jim Crane. Crane informed Correa of his uninsured status on Tuesday. "Jim called me and told me that he wants me to focus on the team and spring training," Correa said. "Obviously, he traded for me to win a championship here, and we had too many injuries as a team [in 2025]." Without insurance coverage on his contract, Correa would lose his $31 million salary if he were to suffer an injury during the WBC and miss the 2026 MLB season. The veteran infielder expressed frustration and noted that he had already begun facing live pitching in preparation to play for Team Puerto Rico. "I also understand the business side of things, and that's too big of a risk to take, to play with no insurance," Correa said. According to Rome, second baseman Jose Altuve also lacks insurance coverage on his contract, which is why he opted out of playing for Venezuela in the WBC earlier this week. Both Correa and Altuve, along with all WBC players on 40-man rosters, were evaluated by an independent insurer who was jointly appointed by MLB and the MLBPA. Correa is coming off a 2.6-WAR season split between the Twins and Astros. He slashed .276/.332/.402 with 13 home runs and 106 wRC+ across 144 games.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve won't participate in the World Baseball Classic, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Altuve said on Saturday that he would like to play for Venezuela, but McTaggart reports that the Astros would prefer for him to remain with the club throughout spring training, and he plans to honor that request. The former MVP would have played second base and hit third in the lineup if he had participated in the WBC, according to Venezuela manager Omar Lopez, who is also Houston's bench coach. A team asking its player to skip the WBC is rare but not completely unheard of, and it's largely precautionary in an effort to avoid injury ahead of a long MLB regular season. During his last WBC appearance in 2023, Altuve suffered a fractured right thumb after being hit by a pitch. The injury required surgery, and he missed the first 43 games of the regular season. Obviously, Houston wants to avoid a repeat scenario of 2023. Altuve is one of the best hitters in baseball, and he's coming off a .265/.329/.442 campaign that would be classified as above-average for most players, but was a down year by his standards. He added 26 home runs, an 8.4% walk rate, a 16.7% strikeout rate, and 113 wRC+. He posted 2.1 fWAR, which was his lowest mark since 2020. Last season also required Altuve to adjust to a new defensive position; he made 47 appearances in left field, as well as 66 at second base and 49 as the Astros' designated hitter. As it stands, Altuve ranks as the #6 second baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

Houston Astros second baseman/third baseman Isaac Paredes remains a top trade candidate for the Boston Red Sox. Houston currently has a logjam in the infield and may not be able to provide Paredes with everyday at-bats. Additionally, the Red Sox have a glaring need at third base and have attempted to fill this role throughout the offseason. They were linked to top free agents Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette, but were unable to reach an agreement. The Red Sox have also been linked to free agent Eugenio Suarez. Paredes missed significant time during his first campaign in Houston but was very productive when on the field, posting a .254/.352/.458 line across 102 games. The infielder went deep 20 times and showed a strong eye at the plate, posting a 17.4% K% with an 11.4% BB%. If Paredes were to move to Boston, managers should expect him to operate as their everyday third baseman, potentially limiting Marcelo Mayer's at-bats.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (elbow) doesn't appear to be dealing with any lingering problems from his elbow issues from last season. Arrighetti was sidelined in September due to elbow inflammation, but it didn't require surgery. The right-hander said he's had a fairly normal offseason and feels good right now. Arrighetti believes he'll have no problem being ready for the beginning of Spring Training. This is good news for the Astros, who only got seven starts from Arrighetti last season. The organization is hopeful they can get a full season from the 26-year-old in 2026.

Houston Astros pitcher Hayden Wesneski (elbow) is reportedly feeling good heading into Spring Training. Wesneski reportedly threw from 90 feet as he continues to work his way back from injury. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in May of last year. He's aiming to throw off the mound in April. Given the long road ahead of him, Wesneski is hopeful to make his return to the big league mound after the All-Star break. He'll hopefully serve as a nice second-half boost for this Astros pitching staff. Before going down last season, Wesneski posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 29/6 K/BB ratio across six starts.

Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Jose Altuve will mostly play second base in 2026. Astros manager Joe Espada said Altuve will mainly be at second base, but will occasionally play in left field as well. The long-time second baseman made the switch to the outfield last season. The Astros quickly realized that having a five-foot-six-inch outfielder with below-average arm strength might not be the best decision. They've decided to put Altuve back in his primary position, which is the best move for everyone involved. At his age, Altuve is best served playing second base or getting reps at designated hitter.

Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes will reportedly get reps at second base during Spring Training. Paredes is primarily a third baseman, but will get some playing time at the keystone in camp. This isn't a completely foreign position to Paredes, as he's played 67 games at second base during his pro career. During his first season with the Astros last season, Paredes saw time only at third base and designated hitter. The Astros could be attempting to shift Paredes over to second base to give Jose Altuve more time in left field and at DH. Paredes isn't known for his defensive abilities, but a move to second base might help him on defense.

Houston Astros infielder Brice Matthews will reportedly take some reps in the outfield during Spring Training. According to Chandler Rome, Matthews is going to see some playing time in center field during camp. Until this point, Matthews has almost exclusively played in the infield during his pro career. He did play nine games in center field during his time in Triple-A Sugar Land last season. The Astros need another outfielder with Jesus Sanchez, Jake Meyers, Cam Smith, and Jose Altuve as the main options. Matthews appears to be ready for the big league level after posting impressive numbers in the minors last season. His best path to playing time might be moving to the outfield.

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez will reportedly play some left field this upcoming season. According to Chandler Rome, Alvarez will see time in left field, but will mostly serve as the designated hitter. This isn't shocking news, given Alvarez was limited to 48 games due to injuries last season. The Astros keeping Alvarez as the DH is the best way to protect him from injury. Alvarez played 15 games in left field in 2025 and 53 games in the outfield during the 2024 campaign. The 28-year-old isn't exactly known for his defensive ability, so keeping him at DH for the majority of the games makes sense. He's an elite player when healthy, so hopefully, fantasy managers will get a full season from Alvarez in 2026.

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes may have to earn a starting role during spring training, given the current state of the team's infield. During his first stint with the Astros last season, Isaac Paredes logged 89 of his 102 games at the hot corner, with the other 13 coming as the designated hitter. However, after Paredes suffered a significant hamstring injury in July, the Astros opted to acquire Carlos Correa ahead of the trade deadline to bolster their infield. With Correa slated to play third base, Paredes will have to compete for the first base job alongside Christian Walker. He could also see time as a DH if Yordan Alvarez is moved back to left field. Paredes has also been linked in several trade discussions, including the Boston Red Sox, which could open up a full-time role. However, in his current situation, managers should expect him to potentially see limited at-bats, which will hinder his early-season upside.

The Houston Astros have signed free-agent pitcher Cody Bolton to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Bolton only pitched in one game for the Cleveland Guardians last season. That was his lone big league appearance in 2025, but he did pitch 17 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2024. Bolton is a former sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates from the 2017 draft. He began his career as a starter, but has converted into a bullpen arm. He'll likely serve as organizational depth and start the season in Triple-A.

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker seems to be in an overcrowded situation in Houston, but according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, there isn't much interest in him on the open market. The Astros have Carlos Correa back in the mix, most likely at 3B, with Yordan Alvarez locked in as DH for most of next season. That leaves Isaac Parades without an everyday spot unless he moves to 1B, or he could be moved in a trade. Parades would likely get more in return, but it makes more sense for the Astros to try to move Walker. The veteran has two years, $40 million left on his contract, and could end up being moved in a salary dump if the Astros can find a taker. While he did have 27 homers last year, he only hit .238 with a .310 wOBA in 154 games. Walker's market doesn't seem to be heating up, though, so the Astros may have to get creative to solve their infield logjam.

According to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, Houston Astros top infield prospect Brice Matthews is expected to see time in the outfield during the upcoming season. Matthews made his MLB debut last season but was deployed in the infield, spending most of his time at the keystone. The former first-round pick came up in the minor leagues as a shortstop but appears ticketed to shift to the outfield to open more opportunities, given the crowded Houston infield. Currently, Jeremy Pena, Carlos Correa, Isaac Paredees, Christian Walker, and Jose Altuve all appear poised to see opportunities before Matthews. As a result, the former Nebraska standout's best opportunity to crack the Opening Day roster would be to shift positions. In his debut season, Matthews posted an underwhelming .167/.222/.452 line across 13 games. However, he did flash high power potential, launching four long balls during this brief taste. He could be worth a look in AL-only formats if he can earn a consistent role.

The Houston Astros and right-hander Hunter Brown agreed to a $5.71 million salary for 2026, avoiding arbitration, according to a source who spoke with Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Brown is coming off the best season of his young career. In 2025, he posted a 2.43 ERA (3.39 SIERA), a 28.3% strikeout rate, and a 1.03 WHIP across a career-high 185 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old Michigan native is entering the prime of his career, and that hasn't gone unnoticed in fantasy drafts. Over the past month, Brown has carried an ADP of 37, making him the seventh starting pitcher off the board. While some ERA regression is likely, given the gap between his ERA and SIERA, his strikeout ability, workload, and team context point to the fact that he should be a top-10 fantasy starter in 2026. Brown is worth his ADP.