After pitchers and catchers reported to Astros Spring Training last week, it was finally time for everyone to join the team in Palm Beach, Florida over the weekend. Monday represents the first full squad workouts and the official opening of the spring.
Still so many questions loom for the Astros. They made a relatively minor trade last week, sending Jesus Sanchez to Toronto and get back former prospect Joey Loperfido, essentially swapping one lefty bat for another, but this one with minor league options, to compete in the outfield mix.
That didn’t clear up pretty much anything for this team, but let’s take a crack at the Opening Day roster again now that we are officially into spring.
STARTERS (9)
Yainer Diaz (C)
Christian Walker (1B)
Jose Altuve (2B)
Jeremy Peña (SS)
Carlos Correa (3B)
Yordan Alvarez (LF)
Jake Meyers (CF)
Cam Smith (RF)
Isaac Paredes (DH)
Alvarez has been campaigning already to spend more time patrolling left field. Manager Joe Espada has said he wants to keep Alvarez at DH as much as possible to avoid injuries. Thing is, Alvarez has never been hurt playing in the outfield and his numbers are better when he is defending than when he is just at the DH spot.
More importantly, Alvarez playing more time in the outfield means more opportunity to rotate the DH between Paredes, Altuve, Alvarez and others. It could definitely help loosen up some of the infield logjam and give them a better lineup on the whole. No one expects Alvarez to win a Gold Glove in left field, but even half the games played there would change the math for this complicated lineup.
BENCH LOCKS (3)
Cesar Salazar (C)
Zach Cole (OF)
Nick Allen (UTIL)
Unless the team makes a move for a different backup catcher, Salazar is the guy. He is a good defender and great with pitchers, but a big step down from Victor Caratini at the plate. Nick Allen is the new Mauricio Dubon and, for now, we have Cole as a lock with his lefty bat and solid defensive skills.
ON THE BUBBLE
Zach Dezenzo (OF), Joey Loperfido (OF), Brice Matthews (2B), Shay Whitcomb (OF)
Only one of these guys will make it and it will largely depend on how well they play in the spring (and injuries). Lopefido, given his solid play in Toronto and his left handed bat, has the inside track. But watch out for Matthews, who swings a big bat and will take some reps in centerfield this spring.
STARTING ROTATION (6)
Hunter Brown
Tatsuya Imai
Cristian Javier
Mike Burrows
Spencer Arrighetti
Lance McCullers, Jr.
Brown has been named the Opening Day starter and it would make sense for Imai to go number two and Javier number three. The team should open with six starters given their heavily packed schedule out of the gate and the fact they tend to want their pitchers to throw less early in the season. Right now, McCullers would be the number six. This is his last season under contract and he has no options left. It will depend on his health. He could spend time in the bullpen, but that didn’t appear to be an option toward the end of last season, so hard to see that changing this year.
If McCullers isn’t healthy, Jason Alexander or a youngster like AJ Blubaugh could take his place.
BULLPEN (7)
Josh Hader
Bryan Abreu
Bryan King
Steven Okert
Enyel De Los Santos
Roddery Muñoz
Ryan Weiss
So much will depend on the health of Hader, who had forearm soreness before Spring Training opened. Assuming no setbacks, the first five spots here are basically locked barring a trade or another injury. Abreu comes back as a free-agent-to-be and one of the best set up men in baseball. King, Okert and De Los Santos all provided reliable relief last season.
Muñoz was taken in the Rule 5 draft from the Reds. The Astros must keep him on the 26-man roster all year or surrender him back to Cincinnati, so for better or worse, they are stuck with him. Hopefully, that investment pays off. Right now, both Weiss and vet Nate Pearson have a shot at the very back end of the bullpen along with a handful of guys who could float as relievers or starters, particular in the first couple months of the season.