Derek Fisher
Derek Fisher might be the only one on this list that occupies a spot on Houston’s roster by Opening Day. Although the Astros have him on the trade block, he was the only player in the list that played more than 50 games in Houston last season.
The Astros boast a glut of outfielders on the MLB roster already. But with Marwin Gonzalez as an infielder/outfielder, Fisher could be the club’s fourth outfielder.
Jake Marisnick, George Springer, Gonzalez, and Reddick will rotate in the everyday lineup. However, Houston still needs depth in the position as a precaution.
Fisher struggled against big-league pitchers in 2017. Though nearly 30 percent of his hits were for extra hits, he only notched 31 hits in 166 plate appearances. Like most inexperienced players, he whiffed in almost a third of his plate appearances.
Despite the issues in the MLB, Fisher proved all he could in the minors. His Double-A numbers weren’t outstanding, but he thumped opposing pitchers in Triple-A across the previous two seasons.
Last year was a major breakout year in the minors. Fisher boasted a .318/.384/.583 triple-slash while clubbing 21 bombs and 26 doubles. He ranked fourth in the Pacific Coast League in OPS, demonstrating his ability at the dish.
Thus, Fisher will likely deserve another opportunity. General manager Jeff Luhnow attempted to ship him to another team, but it was unnecessary. The outfielder still needs to succeed in Spring Training to preserve a spot on the roster. But compared to other minor-leaguers, he has a good shot.
Fisher also possesses some speed to make him a dual-threat player. Yet, he didn’t utilize his wheels much last season, and catchers caught him 10 times in 26 attempts in Fresno. He had just six attempts for the Astros – he stole three bases successfully.
The short stint in the MLB hurts his case. But the front office might be more optimistic due to his age and success in Triple-A. Hence, if he continues to develop, Fisher could spend the majority of the season in Houston.