Spring training is approaching quickly, and the Houston Astros still feel unfinished.
Sep 20, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) motions to the crowd while walking to the dugout after a pitching change in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Trade talks linger. Depth questions remain. The roster isn’t locked.
Dana Brown and the front office continue exploring options, particularly in pitching depth and backup catching.
Movement is expected soon.
As camps open across the league, free agency typically accelerates.
Some players find homes quickly. Others wait longer than expected.
Several former Astros are still waiting.
The reasons vary.
One potential reunion, however, feels closer than the rest.
Christian Vázquez stands out immediately.
Houston needs an experienced backup catcher. Familiarity matters. Cost matters even more.
Vázquez checks both boxes.
His recent seasons with Minnesota haven’t gone well, suppressing his market significantly.
That makes him affordable.
And available.
Vázquez knows the clubhouse. He knows the expectations. He knows October pressure.
For Houston, the move makes sense.
For Vázquez, it offers stability.
Of all former Astros on the market, this return feels the least complicated.
Others are not so simple.
Framber Valdez’s free agency has stalled in a way few expected early in the winter.
His exit from Houston was messy.
Calling out the coaching staff publicly strained relationships. Crossing up his catcher on purpose ended them.
Teams noticed.
Talent still exists. Trust does not come as easily.
Valdez will likely sign somewhere, but the contract won’t match early projections.
A reunion with Houston feels unrealistic.
Justin Verlander’s situation carries a different weight.
On paper, the fit is nostalgic. Emotional. Almost cinematic.
In reality, it hasn’t materialized.
Houston hasn’t shown urgency. Or interest.
That silence speaks loudly.
The Astros appear focused on flexibility and low-risk upside, not legacy signings.
Verlander, meanwhile, may want one last run with a clear contender.
Those paths don’t align.
Then there’s Ramón UrÃas.
When Houston acquired him at last year’s trade deadline, the vision was clear.
A versatile bench piece. Defensive reliability. Depth.
Instead, the fit never settled.
Mauricio Dubón already filled a similar role, leaving UrÃas redundant.
His late-season struggles didn’t help.
This winter, his market has cooled.
Teams see versatility, but not necessity.
For Houston, the need isn’t there anymore.
That leaves three familiar names unemployed as camps open.
Each story reflects a different kind of ending.
One amicable. One fractured. One simply forgettable.
The Astros are moving forward, not backward.
That’s clear.
But as spring training nears, their recent past still lingers on the market.
At least one reunion feels possible.
The rest feel like chapters that won’t be revisited.
Sometimes, the offseason isn’t just about who a team adds.
It’s about who they leave behind — and why those players are still waiting when everyone else reports.
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