The Houston Astros are heading into Spring Training with a question mark behind the plate - specifically, who will back up starting catcher Yainer Diaz in 2026?
With Victor Caratini heading north to Minnesota on a two-year, $14 million deal, Houston’s depth at catcher took a hit. Diaz is locked in as the starter, but the backup role is still up for grabs. And while Cesar Salazar may have the inside track, don’t sleep on a familiar name in AL West circles: Carlos Pérez.
The Astros quietly signed Pérez back in November and recently announced he’ll be among their non-roster invitees in camp. At 35, Pérez is no stranger to the grind, and while his name might not jump off the page, his experience could give him a legitimate shot to stick.
Salazar, 29, has been in the Astros’ system since being drafted in 2018 and has seen big league action over the past three seasons. That continuity matters - he knows the pitching staff, the clubhouse, the expectations. But Pérez brings more major league experience to the table, and that could tip the scales if he shows well in camp.
The Astros could still look outside the organization for a more established option, but as it stands, this looks like a two-man race between Salazar and Pérez.
Now, for fans who don’t recall Pérez’s brief stint with the Texas Rangers - you’re not alone. It was short and largely forgettable.
The Rangers scooped him up off waivers from the Braves in May 2018, but he only appeared in 20 games for Texas before an ankle injury sidelined him. He ended that season in Triple-A Round Rock, where he actually hit well - a .316/.368/.494 slash line with four home runs and 13 RBI over 22 games.
Pérez’s journey through the majors has been anything but linear. Originally signed by the Astros, he was traded to the Angels in 2012 and made his MLB debut with Los Angeles in 2015.
His rookie year was solid - 1.1 bWAR, four homers, and 21 RBI over 86 games. The following season, he added five more homers and 31 RBI, though his offensive numbers dipped.
After brief stints with the Angels and Braves, and a short run with the Rangers, Pérez disappeared from the big league radar until 2023, when he resurfaced with the Oakland A’s. He posted a respectable 0.5 bWAR and 83 OPS+ that season, hitting six homers and driving in 20 runs. He spent the next two years in the minors, first with the A’s system in 2024 and then with the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate in 2025.
Now, he’s back where it all began - in Houston - looking to carve out one more role at the highest level. For the Astros, it’s a low-risk move that could pay off if Pérez can bring stability behind Diaz. With Spring Training just around the corner, this is a position battle worth keeping an eye on.