Luis Contreras is done playing baseball and ready to move into coaching.
The former Astros right-hander announced his retirement from professional baseball on Sunday, July 26, sharing the news in a heartfelt Instagram post. Contreras said he is leaving the mound behind after an eight-year career that included 14 appearances for Houston over the last two seasons.
“Today, I officially retire from my playing career and begin my journey as a coach,” Contreras wrote. “Baseball has given me far more than I ever could have imagined.
Now it’s my turn to give back. I can’t wait to pour everything I’ve learned into the next generation and help others chase their own dreams.”
Contreras finishes his MLB career with a 0-0 record and a 7.50 ERA.
A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Contreras signed with the Chicago Cubs in April 2015. Chicago released him in May 2016, and he spent the next three years away from affiliated baseball.
Milwaukee gave him another shot in 2019, and he climbed back through the minors as a reliever. He reached Triple-A for the first time in 2022 at age 26, posting an 8.00 ERA in his first taste of the level. In 2023, he was better with the Nashville Sounds, going 4-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 26 games.
After that season, Contreras elected free agency and signed with Houston in November. His path to the majors opened in June 2024 after a strong run at Triple-A Sugar Land, where he logged a 1.40 ERA with a 26 percent strikeout rate and a 9.1 percent walk rate in 19 1/3 innings.
Contreras got off to a clean start in the big leagues, throwing four scoreless low-leverage outings out of the Houston bullpen. But a rough July 5, 2024, appearance in Minnesota changed the tone of his season, as the Twins piled up six hits and a walk on their way to six runs against him. He spent the rest of that year back in the minors.
In nine appearances for the Astros last season, Contreras held opponents scoreless in five of them. The other four outings were costly, and he finished with a 6.75 ERA before Houston designated him for assignment in an August roster crunch.
The Astros let him reach free agency after the season, and he never landed another affiliated job. He did spend a brief stretch in the Venezuelan Winter League last offseason, but that did not lead to another contract.
In Other News...
Cubs Bullpen Suddenly Has A Reason For Late-Season Hope
The Cubs bullpen, which has spent much of the summer piecing itself together, suddenly has a few more encouraging health updates to track. Hunter Harvey has resumed bullpen sessions and is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment soon, while Daniel Palencia is also moving forward after a strong bullpen session and could be headed for rehab work within the next couple of weeks.
Shelby Miller adds another layer to that late-season picture. The veteran right-hander, coming back from Tommy John surgery, has also resumed bullpen sessions and is on track to pitch for the Cubs before October, with a rehab assignment coming soon. For a relief corps that has needed help all year, the possibility of getting multiple arms back in the mix gives Chicago at least a little reason to look past the current grind and toward what the final stretch might hold. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Face A Deadline Question Fans Wont Like
Cody Bellingers hamstring injury has quickly turned the Yankees outfield depth into a problem, and Aaron Boone has already acknowledged the club may need to look outside the organization for help. With Bellinger expected to miss four to six weeks and other key outfielders also banged up, New York is suddenly in the market for a right-handed bat, the kind of move that can ripple through the trade market well before the deadline.
For the Cubs, that is where the conversation gets uncomfortable. Any team looking for immediate outfield help is going to ask about Chicagos more established hitters, and the Yankees have the kind of need that can push a serious discussion into motion fast. If the Cubs decide to listen, the return would likely have to make sense for a club trying to balance present value with future depth, which is exactly the sort of deadline calculus that can get complicated in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Jed Hoyer May Finally Be Ready For A Cubs Deadline Gamble
Jed Hoyer appears to be approaching this deadline with a different level of urgency, and the reason is easy enough to see. Chicagos pitching depth has been tested by injuries, and according to MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Cubs are prepared to move both prospects and major league talent if that is what it takes to bring in starting help before the Aug. 3 deadline. For a front office that has often preferred to protect its future, that kind of flexibility would mark a notable shift in how aggressively it is willing to chase a fix.
The prospect side of the conversation is already getting attention, with names such as Kane Kepley, Jaxon Wiggins, Pedro Ramirez, Jefferson Rojas and Owen Ayers floating as possible trade chips. Chicago has also been linked to some of the bigger arms that could shape the market, including Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta and Reid Detmers, which only adds to the sense that this could become a meaningful pivot point for the roster. Josiah Hartshorn is expected to stay put, but the larger question is how far Hoyer is willing to go to strengthen the rotation. [Read more 🡒]