Astros–International Free Agent Signings and Waiver Addition
The Astros only have two international free agent signees, but they are important players. These two players combined to be worth 7.4 WAR this season, accounting for 13 percent of the total WAR produced by the Astros’ 25-man ALCS roster, which is tops of any team still remaining in the postseason.
2B Jose Altuve (5.2 WAR)—As the story goes, a young Jose Altuve showed up at tryout camp for the Houston Astros in Maracay, Venezuela, but was sent away because he was too short and they didn’t believe he was 16 years old. He came back the next day with his birth certificate. When special assistant for the Astros Al Pedrique asked him if he could play, Altuve said, “I’ll show you.” The team signed him and gave him a $15,000 bonus.
Dodgers Way
Altuve spent parts of six seasons in the minor leagues and hit .327/.386/.481. He got his first taste of big league action in 2011, but struggled to get on base in a 57-game sample (.297 OBP). He became a regular in 2012, then really broke out in 2014 when he led the AL in hits, steals and batting average for the first time.
Over the last five seasons, Altuve has been among the best players in the game. Only Mike Trout and Mookie Betts have more WAR than Altuve from 2014 to 2018. He’s led the league in hits four times, steals twice, batting average three times and won the AL MVP Award in 2017. That’s not bad for a “too short” player discovered at a tryout camp and signed for $15,000.
1B Yuli Gurriel (2.2 WAR)—In the middle of the 2016 season, the Astros signed Yuli Gurriel out of Cuba. Prior to coming to the states, Gurriel had been one of the best players in Cuba for a decade. After signing with the Astros, he played 15 games in the minor leagues before joining the Astros in August. He didn’t hit much in his first major league season, but was much improved last season, when he hit .299/.332/.486 and was worth 2.6 WAR. He was a similar player this year, but with less power.
Waiver Wire Addition
RHP Collin McHugh (2.0 WAR)—McHugh pitched for the Mets and Rockies in his first two big league seasons, but with an 8.94 ERA and 5.86 FIP in 47.3 innings, he wasn’t exactly all-star material. The Rockies put him on waivers in December of 2013 and the Astros claimed him.
The move to Houston was good for McHugh. He had a 2.73 ERA and 3.11 FIP in 154.7 innings in his first year with the Astros, which was good for 4.0 WAR. His second season was pretty good also, but struggles with the home run ball hurt him in 2016 and injuries limited him in 2017. He was shifted to the bullpen this season and posted a 1.99 ERA and 2.72 WHIP in 72.3 innings.
Summary
Of the four remaining playoff teams, the Astros received the highest percentage of value from players they drafted or signed as international free agents. Players acquired through these two pathways produced 46 percent of the total WAR during the regular season by the players on the Astros’ 25-man ALCS roster. Core players like Alex Bregman, George Springer, Dallas Keuchel and Carlos Correa came through the draft and Jose Altuve and Yuri Gurriel were international free agent signings.
The Astros also have key players who were signed as free agents, like Charlie Morton and Josh Reddick. Their two best starting pitchers, Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, came by way of trades, and Collin McHugh was a waiver wire pick-up. The Astros built their playoff team by acquiring good players through multiple avenues.