Will there be any more additions to the roster?
Blake Taylor saw some meaningful innings as a left-handed reliever before he went down with an injury last year. Other than Taylor and Astros legend, Tony Sipp (2014-2018), the Astros have mostly operated without a major left-handed relief pitcher. Will Smith was acquired in a trade from the Braves last season, but did not see work in the postseason, and will likely not be back with the team. While many teams value having a couple of lefties to match-up against opposing teams’ lefty batters, the Astros have been able to get lefties out without deploying left-handed arms.
I really hope the Astros re-sign fan favorite, Yuli Gurriel. After a poor regular season, Gurriel slashed .347/.360/.490 across the entirety of the 2022 postseason run. While it’s difficult to quantify the negative impact of losing a decorated and veteran leader, I hope the Astros don’t put such a loss to the test. There is certainly room for an experienced, productive bat on the bench. Whether Gurriel wants to run it back, without being a part of the everyday lineup, is the real question. With Gurriel still available on the market, there is some hope that Gurriel has not been offered the money or playing time that he desires and will therefore find himself in an Astros uniform again soon.
My prediction: La Pina (Yuli Gurriel)
Comment down below what you think!