Designating a player for assignment always carries risk, something the Astros learned this offseason when Kaleb Ort was claimed off waivers by the Angels.
Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France (68) | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
This time, Houston avoided that outcome, as right-hander J.P. France cleared waivers without being claimed by another organization.
France was designated for assignment after the Astros acquired pitcher Kai-Wei Teng from the Giants, creating immediate roster pressure.
Instead of leaving, France was outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land, allowing the Astros to preserve depth without burning an active roster spot.
Houston also extended France a non-roster invitation to spring training, giving him a direct path to compete for an Opening Day role.
France’s career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries, including a 2025 season largely lost to the injured list.
He has mostly been used as a starter, but the Astros may view him as a better fit in a long-relief or swing role.
The Astros also quietly added infield depth, signing former Marlins infielder Jack Winkler to a minor league deal.
Winkler was assigned to Triple-A and could receive a non-roster spring invitation, giving him a chance to earn a look in camp.
While Houston kept and added pieces, former Astros starter Jose Urquidy found a new home with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Urquidy missed all of 2024 due to injury and struggled in extremely limited action last season, making his next opportunity uncertain.
Now in Pittsburgh, he’ll try to rebuild his value, while Houston continues shuffling depth pieces before camp opens.
Leave a Reply