Astros look to improve in key areas, these are the players who may strengthen the team in 2023

These are players being talked about for the Astros 2023 roster (Getty and AP Images)

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Hey guys, it’s Ari Alexander and I’m back from San Diego where MLB held its annual Winter Meetings. There was a lot of action because annual hasn’t meant annual for two years due to COVID, so this was really the first event since 2019. I got to chat with Dusty Baker, Astros Ops. Director Bill Firkus, Kyle Tucker and a number of other baseball people in the know about what the Astros can be expected to do this offseason as well as other teams, so let’s dig in.

WHAT’S LEFT

The good news is the Astros have very few holes. They could go into the season without making any more additions and probably still win the division. The bad news is ‘very few’ doesn’t mean ‘zero’ and there are a few spots the Astros would like to improve. Left field/outfield depth, DH and backup catcher are the 3 spots brought up by Baker, Jim Crane and any industry analyst in the past few weeks.

THE LEFT FIELD OPTIONS

Michael Conforto

Who is he: A corner outfielder with a beautiful lefty swing who missed all of 2022 with an injury, and was awful in 2021. However, before that he had a 128 OPS+ and hit 27, 28 and 33 home runs in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Conforto is an ex-first round pick and at his peak is a near-All-Star level player.

FILE - New York Mets' Michael Conforto bats during the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 3, 2021, in Washington. Free-agent outfielder Conforto will miss the entire season after having surgery on his right shoulder. Conforto's agent, Scott Boras, confirmed late Saturday night, April 23, in a text message to The Associated Press that Conforto had surgery last week. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File) (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

How much he’ll cost: Somewhere around $14-18 million on a one-year deal.

Andrew Benintendi

Who is he: A lefty corner outfielder who hit above .300 in 2022 with Kansas City and the New York Yankees. Benintendi is an excellent contact hitter without much power, but is coming off a 2021 Gold Glove and a 2022 All-Star nod.

How much he’ll cost: Benintendi will command a multi-year deal, somewhere around $15-17 million per year.

New York Yankees left fielder Andrew Benintendi catches a fly ball hit by Tampa Bay Rays' Ji-Man Choi during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette) (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Michael Brantley

Who is he: We know. Brantley says he’ll be ready by spring training after shoulder surgery, but how much can you trust his health and defense at 36?

How much he’ll cost: Brantley has signed back to back two-year, $32 million deals with Houston. This time it’ll likely be a one-year deal at a reduced price, something around $10-12 million.

THE DH OPTIONS

Yuli Gurriel

Who is he: We also know, plus Dusty Baker and the clubhouse love him.

How much he’ll cost: Something like one-year, $5-7 million.

Michael Brantley

See above. The Astros have a couple possibilities for Brantley.

THE CATCHER OPTIONS

Christian Vazquez

Who is he: We learned late this season. The now two-time World Series Champion is a solid defensive catcher with a good contact bat who adapted to Houston’s pitching staff well. However, a league source told KPRC 2 the Minnesota Twins have made Vazquez a priority after losing Gary Sanchez to free agency, so a reunion with Vazquez seems unlikely. Houston also has two top prospects at catcher and are likely looking for more of a stopgap than a starter.

How much he’ll cost: A multi-year deal, at something around $8-10 million per year.

Tucker Barnhart

Who is he: A relatively light-hitting two-time gold glover would be a perfect fit to play 70 games to Martin Maldonado’s 90. Barnhart had an awful year offensively in 2022, but has put up strong defensive numbers for years. There’s also familiarity between Barnhart and Dusty Baker, who knows him from the Reds system (Barnhart was called up in 2014, a year after Baker had left).

How much he’ll cost: Somewhere around $5 million for a season, but the Astros could be battling some bad teams who would like to use him in a bigger role.

Detroit Tigers catcher Tucker Barnhart is pictured during the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Seattle. The Mariners won 9-6. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Sean Murphy

Who is he: The Athletics catcher is among the best in baseball at this weak position, winning a gold glove in 2021 and getting some downballot MVP votes in 2022, finishing 22nd. Murphy had a 120 OPS+ in 2022, and has hit 35 home runs in the past two seasons combined. He’s very good.

Oakland Athletics' Sean Murphy during a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

How much he’ll cost: Mainly he’ll cost Martin Maldonado regular playing time and he’ll cost prospects and likely Jose Urquidy or Luis Garcia in a trade. Murphy is widely targeted and the Athletics are expecting a haul - something the Astros don’t have in their upper minor league system.


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Murrow and Emmy award-winning sports anchor & reporter. Avid traveler, mediocre golfer. Loves good food, good friends and southern rap.