The Astros’ offseason has already started to take shape, and the first wave of decisions includes a familiar mix of roster churn and staff turnover. Houston now has several players in free agency, among them Bryan Abreu, Daulton Varsho and Steven Okert, while Tatsuya Imai is set to stay put after choosing not to exercise his opt-out.
Imai’s decision keeps him in the organization through the 2027 season, though his next step with the club still isn’t clear. Houston’s new leadership could always decide to move him this winter, but for now he is guaranteed $18 million next season.
The more definitive roster call came with Ryan Weiss, whose option was declined by the Astros, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. That sends the right-hander into free agency and closes the book on a rough 2026 season in Houston. After returning to the States following a successful stint overseas, Weiss wound up at Triple-A Sugar Land and appeared in only nine games for the Astros, finishing with a 7.62 ERA over 26 innings.
Houston’s coaching staff is also taking hits. The Boston Red Sox hired Astros major league field coordinator and outfield coach Jason Bell earlier this week, with Bell set to work as the outfield instructor alongside Red Sox manager Chad Tracy in Boston.
That wasn’t the only departure from Houston’s staff. The Pittsburgh Pirates also pulled away Sean Buchanan, the Astros’ Triple-A pitching coach, to work in their minor-league system next season.
Neither move figures to register as a stunner, especially with Houston likely to reshape its coaching staff for next season, but both Bell and Buchanan were respected figures inside the organization.
And then there’s Lance McCullers Jr., whose brief stop with the Milwaukee Brewers could still end in another championship keepsake. McCullers and Colton Gordon were dealt to Milwaukee earlier this year for minor leaguer Jadyn Fielder, and McCullers made two appearances before being designated for assignment less than two weeks after arriving.
Even so, he is likely in line for a World Series ring - his third - because he spent time on the Brewers’ active roster this season. The call is left to the team, but with Milwaukee winning its first-ever World Series, it sounds like just about everyone around the club may be part of the celebration.
In Other News...
Astros Just Took A Flier On A Bullpen Arm Worth Watching
The Astros added another arm to the bullpen mix by acquiring right-hander Evan Reifert from the Rays for cash considerations, a low-cost move that fits the kind of depth play contenders often make this time of year. Reifert has spent most of his professional career in Tampa Bays system and arrives with a profile that is easy to understand: plenty of strikeouts, some control questions, and a slider-heavy approach that has helped him miss bats.
At 27, Reifert is still chasing his first major league opportunity, and the appeal is obvious for Houston. He recently turned in a 2.48 ERA in Triple-A, which only adds to the intrigue around a pitcher whose stuff has long stood out more than his command. For the Astros, it is a worthwhile flier on a reliever worth watching, especially if they can help him sharpen the strike-throwing enough to make his arsenal play at the next level. [Read more 🡒]