The Astros have plenty to sort out this offseason, but Cam Smith is not one of the problems. If anything, he’s one of the clearest reasons to feel better about where this roster is headed.
Houston’s outfield depth was a real issue this season, especially with Daikin Park playing tough on pitchers. That puts even more pressure on the club to have its best three outfielders out there every day, and Smith has done his part to make that possible. Among the group, he stood out.
Smith arrived in 2025 and immediately looked like someone the Astros can build around. He earned American League Gold Glove nominations in right field in both of his first two seasons, and that kind of recognition matters even if the hardware didn’t end up in his hands. The award went to Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox, who has taken home the Gold Glove each year Smith has been in Major League Baseball.
There’s still a lesson in that for Smith. Abreu has already collected two Gold Gloves by age 28, and Smith can use that as a benchmark as he keeps developing.
What makes Smith’s rise even more notable is where he started. He was a third baseman in the minor leagues before moving to the outfield, and he’s managed to turn that transition into Gold Glove-level production. Statcast had him at a fielding run value of zero in 2025, then at 3 in 2026 over 1,260 innings.
The numbers back up the eye test, too. Smith posted six outs above average in 2026, with his range and first-step quickness helping him cover ground in right field. He isn’t going to beat anyone with pure speed on the bases, but his reads on the ball have become a real asset, especially for a player who used to work the hot corner.
He’ll be 24 in 2027, and the Astros have every reason to keep betting on the growth they’re seeing. Smith is improving at the plate and in the field, and for a team that needs young players who can carry the load of being franchise cornerstones, that’s a big deal.
There is one area he can still sharpen this offseason: his arm. Statcast says Smith threw out three runs all season, held four from tagging up, and was unable to stop 31% (106) of runners from advancing on the bases.
In Other News...
Christian Walker Just Gave Astros Fans Another Big Infield Question
Christian Walkers first season at first base for Houston ended with a familiar kind of hardware, even if the setting was new. He won a Rawlings Gold Glove for the fourth time in his career and the first time in the American League, a fitting cap to a year in which he led AL first basemen in fielding percentage and put together a 121-game errorless streak while handling the position for the Astros every day.
What makes the award more interesting for Houston is where it leaves the position going forward. Walker appeared in 154 games at first base and now heads into the final year of his contract in 2027, which only adds to the sense that the Astros have another infield decision looming. For a club that values stability on the dirt, the question is no longer whether Walker can defend the spot, but how long he will be around to keep doing it. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Manager Search Suddenly Puts A Familiar Name In Focus
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Flores is set to be introduced at a press conference, but the bigger task waiting for him is finding the right voice to lead the club on the field. The Astros are expected to keep working through their list during next weeks General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas, where the process should start to pick up speed. For now, the search has a distinctly Houston feel to it, with former players like Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Morgan Ensberg also in the mix as the front office starts narrowing the field. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Face A Tough Joey Dixon Decision They May Regret
Joey Dixons strong fall in Arizona has only sharpened the Astros dilemma. The pitching prospect has spent much of his professional career fighting through injuries, which has kept his innings total light, but the flashes he has shown in the Arizona Fall League have reminded Houston why he remains an intriguing arm in the system.
Now the organization has to weigh upside against uncertainty. Protecting Dixon from the Rule 5 Draft would mean using a spot on the 40-man roster, a move that would signal real belief in his future while also carrying the risk that his health and limited workload still leave plenty of unanswered questions. For a club trying to manage both present depth and long-term talent, it is the kind of call that can look obvious only after it is made. [Read more 🡒]