Houston Astros: George Springer not looking to return to Houston in 2021

George Springer will be one of the most coveted free agents on the market in a few short weeks. And it seems he has no intention of returning to the Houston Astros.

According to an early report, Houston Astros leadoff slugger George Springer wants to get out of town.

And the market for Springer’s talents will likely rival that of Trevor Bauer‘s. There are a few notable free agent position players on the market this year, namely DJ LeMahieu, J.T. Realmuto and Marcell Ozuna, but Springer’s defensive prowess in centerfield is a huge separator from the rest of the pack.

Additionally, the New York Yankees will likely do whatever it takes to re-sign LeMahieu and the Atlanta Braves will do the same with Ozuna. Leaving Realmuto as the only real competition in Springer’s free agency pool. And between the two, Springer is clearly the better player, and has a better chance to remain productive into the later years of his contract.

Essentially, Springer is the best free agent position player on the likely available market. And he’s made it clear that he has no interest in remaining where he is. So heading into an unprecedented free agency market, we could be in for another Bryce Harper–Manny Machado level waiting game.

The New York Mets could be considered early contenders, with new owner Steve Cohen looking to make a splash. But Cohen is more likely to seek trades than multiple free agent signings. And the Mets are also closely linked to the pursuit of J.T. Realmuto. Between the two, Realmuto addresses a more pressing need for the Mets and if given the choice, they would likely sign him instead of Springer.

The Boston Red Sox could also make a move on Springer. After clearing David Price and Mookie Betts from the payroll, they finished last in the AL East. Red Sox fans don’t typically take kindly to losing seasons. They also may be looking to replace Jackie Bradley Jr., who is a free agent this year and will leave a huge defensive hole in centerfield. Springer can fill that position as well as anybody defensively, and would be a huge upgrade at the plate over Bradley Jr.

But wherever Springer ends up, the Houston Astros will suffer the most. He’s been one of their best hitters, and not extending him prior to the 2020 season has clearly soured their relationship with him. It also casts yet another shadow on the organization, which has an infamously brutal workplace climate and a great deal of trust to rebuild with the league following the sign stealing scandal. Free agents may be wary of signing with the team that everybody hates right now.

Other teams will emerge in pursuit of Springer, but at this point it’s almost impossible to tell what the market will look like. Teams are reeling from the loss of attendance revenue in 2020, so handing out huge contracts isn’t exactly a top priority. And according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, the outlook for the 2021 season isn’t looking great due to rising Covid-19 numbers.

Even worse, a new CBA will have to be negotiated following the 2021 season. Those labor negotiations are expected to be extremely contentious, especially after the debacle of the 2020 season delay. Teams could potentially be looking at a labor strike immediately following two seasons of no or limited fan attendance.

The outlook is bleak, but George Springer is among the upper echelon of free agent talents and shouldn’t have a problem getting his pay day. Even if it’s not as much as he thinks he’s worth, big market teams will take the financial hit to lock him up long-term.