The Houston Astros have plenty to sort out this offseason, but the starting rotation looks like the biggest problem on the board.
Hunter Brown slipped in 2026, and the two additions from last winter, Mike Burrows and Tatsuya Imai, didn’t give Houston the kind of impact it needed. On top of that, the group had a hard time staying healthy. That leaves the Astros searching for at least one starter who can take the ball every fifth day and give them quality innings.
New general manager Randy Flores may not have the luxury of waiting around. An impending lockout is part of the pressure, and the free-agent market doesn’t offer much depth once the top names are gone.
One pitcher who keeps coming up for Houston is Tyler Mahle, and Bleacher Report projected the veteran right-hander to land with the Astros on a two-year, $39 million deal that includes a $22 million club option for 2029. On paper, it fits. In reality, Houston may have to fight off the team Mahle finished the season with.
Mahle’s 2026 season split into two very different chapters. He opened the year with the San Francisco Giants on a one-year deal, and that stretch went poorly. In 18 starts, he posted a 5.13 ERA before being dealt at the deadline to the Atlanta Braves.
Everything changed once he got to Atlanta. Mahle turned in a 1.99 ERA over nine starts for the Braves, and the numbers behind the turnaround were just as sharp.
His strikeout rate nudged up from 22.0% to 22.9%, while his walk rate dropped from 9.2% to 4.3%. His WHIP also fell from 1.394 with the Giants to 0.957 with Atlanta, all while throwing just over half the innings he logged in San Francisco.
Health has been the big question with Mahle for much of his career, but 2026 marked his first mostly healthy season since 2021. He made 27 starts and threw 149 innings, which is a big reason he’s drawing multi-year projections now.
That’s also why the Braves matter here. Atlanta is looking for multiple starting pitchers this offseason, and bringing Mahle back after the way he pitched for them is very much on the table. He could also have interest in returning to a familiar situation, which would force Houston to come in with a stronger offer.
For the Astros, Mahle checks a lot of boxes. He’d bring dependable innings, slot in as a solid mid-rotation arm, and help stabilize a rotation that badly needs consistency. The real issue is whether Houston can outbid the competition and close the deal.
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Brad Ausmus Sends Astros Fans A Clear Message About Expectations
Brad Ausmus is back in Houston in a very different role, officially introduced as the Astros new manager and becoming the 21st skipper in franchise history. For a fan base that knows him well from his 10 seasons as a player, the reunion carries a familiar feel, but this time the expectations come with a dugout card and a much bigger spotlight. Ausmus arrives with prior managerial experience from Detroit and Los Angeles, along with a recent stint as the Yankees bench coach, giving the Astros a veteran hand at the top.
What stood out in his introduction was the standard he set right away. Ausmus made it clear the goal in Houston should not be framed in terms of incremental progress or merely staying competitive, but winning the World Series every year. It is the kind of message Astros fans are used to hearing from a franchise that has lived at the center of the sport, and now the question is how quickly that mindset translates from the podium into the day-to-day demands of a new season. [Read more 🡒]
Astros May See One Intriguing Rotation Gamble Worth Making
Dustin May is back on the market, and the Astros are among the teams weighing whether his arm is worth a multi-year commitment. The right-hander declined his mutual option with Milwaukee after helping the Brewers out of the bullpen during their World Series run, and now the free agent is drawing interest from the Cubs, White Sox, Padres and Houston as clubs sort through the kind of pitching depth that can shape a season.
For Houston, the appeal is obvious enough to at least keep the conversation going. Mays 2026 line was uneven, with a 7-9 record and a 4.70 ERA across 31 starts for the Cardinals and Brewers, but the larger question is whether there is still enough starter upside to justify a gamble. The Astros have shown a willingness to look for value where others see risk, and Mays next contract could tell a lot about whether they view him as rotation help or just another arm to monitor. [Read more 🡒]