The Astros are in prime position to win the AL West, but should they fail to make a legitimate postseason run, heads will roll.
Houston has several big names hitting the free agent market this offseason, and any team failure could lead to a complete upheaval.
Just a few years removed from the sign-stealing scandal, the Astros are trying to redeem themselves. In the COVID-19 shortened campaign, Houston was just one game away from winning the pennant. Oh what could have been.
Instead, the Rays spoiled what would’ve been a rematch with the Los Angeles Dodgers. As of this writing, the Astros hold a 2.5 game lead over the rival Athletics for the top spot out West. Is their current core enough to hold on? And should they fail to reach expectations, who will be shown the door?
The Houston Astros will part ways with Justin Verlander
Verlander is already rumored to be heading back to the team that drafted him in the Detroit Tigers. JV missed all of this season so far while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he’s severely hurt his financial value as well.
Is there any team remaining which will pay him like an ace?
Detroit, for one, needs a veteran to help train their young cats. Verlander can serve as just that, and if he doesn’t go to MoTown, don’t expect the Astros to pay a premium for a pitcher who hasn’t thrown in a year.
Say what you want about Houston’s optics, they don’t waste money.
Carlos Correa is playing himself out of the Astros price range
The crowded 2022 free agent shortstop market will be headlined by the likes of Correa, especially with the contracts given out to Francisco Lindor and Fernando Tatis, Jr. before the start of the season.
Correa can’t expect that much capital, but he’s due more than the Astros were offering him before the start of the season. Houston reportedly raised their offer to $125 million over 5 seasons before the start of this campaign. Correa was sorely disappointed.
Astros should go younger in rotation, and Zack Greinke doesn’t fit
Greinke has pitched well this season, but like Verlander he probably doesn’t fit the Astros long-term vision for their pitching staff.
Unless the 37-year-old takes an underslot deal to stay in Houston, expect him to at the very least test the market and see if he can take advantage of free agency one final time before he retires.
If the rest of baseball balks at his asking price, then perhaps he could return to Houston at a bargain. But given Greinke is a solid tier-two free agent option behind the likes of Max Scherzer, who is also getting up there in years, it seems unlikely he signs for tremendously less than the $32 million he made this season.