Over the last decade or so, there’s been a whole lot more good than bad when it comes to the Houston Astros. Honestly, there would have to be a Swiss Alps style mountain of bad to outweigh two World Series championships. We’ve been very lucky here in Houston.
However, there is no doubt that, among the Astro trends that upset or anger their fans, near the top of the list would be the annual tradition of watching at least one foundational player walk in free agency, or in the case of Kyle Tucker, get shipped out in a trade a year before the Astros have to even offer him in free agency.
Actually, it was a tweet about Tucker that got me thinking about all of the All Star caliber players that have departed the team in recent years. As it turns out, Kyle Tucker, whose four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers might have been the final straw in the inevitable work stoppage coming next year, is putting up numbers that barely exceed Cam Smith’s numbers. Of course, Smith, the Astros’ second year right fielder, was one of the three players the Astros received in exchange for Tucker.
Tucker is lucky, and not just because he’s getting paid $60 million to be mediocre at baseball this year. He’s lucky that he signed with a team that has a half dozen All Stars, where his underperformance can essentially be a write-off.
So it got me thinking, how have the other Astros who’ve departed over the last several seasons performed so far in 2026? As it turns out, maybe we should be thankful that JiM Crane is allowing all of these guys to leave in free agency! Check it out:
GERRIT COLE, SP, Yankees, left in free agency after 2019
It’s hard to believe that, after 2026, there are only two seasons remaining on Cole’s nine-year, record setting deal he signed after 2019. There’s no doubt that Cole’s been largely excellent as a Yankee, including a Cy Young Award in 2023. Still, his best season as a pro probably remains 2019 as an Astro, and he missed all of 2025 with an arm injury. This season, in 11 starts, he’s 3-5 with a pedestrian-for-him 3.92 ERA.
GEORGE SPRINGER, OF, Blue Jays, left in free agency after 2020
The heart and soul of the Astros from 2014 through 2020, Springer left for Toronto after the COVID season, and is now in the final year of his six-year, $150 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays. Springer’s time in Toronto has been very up and down, with the highlight being a World Series appearance last season. This season, Springer is struggling to be even average offensively, with .691 OPS and an OPS+ of 88.
CARLOS CORREA, SS, Twins/Astros, left in free agency after 2021
Correa is a weird one, because he left the Astros after the 2021 season, went to Minnesota, spent nearly four seasons with the Twins, before getting traded back to Houston in 2025. Correa played 32 games this season before popping an ankle ligament in the batting cage, ending his season. Thus, in a weird twist of fate, the Astros themselves are the victims of the Curse on the Departing Astros, when it comes to Correa.
JUSTIN VERLANDER, SP, Mets/Astros/Giants/Tigers, left in free agency after 2022 and 2024
After leaving for a two-year, $86 million contract with the Mets in 2023, Verlander, like Correa, found his way back to Houston at the trade deadline in the summer of 2023. In the second chapter with Verlander, the Astros got a much more decrepit version than the one that won the Cy Young Award in 2022. Verlander left for San Francisco after 2024, where he went 4-11 in 2025. This season, he returned to where his career began, signing with Detroit, where he’s pitched in one game, got shelled, and wound up on the IL. He announced his retirement a few weeks ago, effective at the end of this season.
ALEX BREGMAN, 3B, Red Sox/Cubs, left in free agency after 2024
Bregman left the Astros after 2024, and is now on his second team since then. Bregman was an All Star for the Red Sox in 2025, but since signing a six-year deal with the Cubs this past winter, he’s been a target of criticism from Cubs fans, as his OPS has dipped to .692 with an OPS+ of 94. Like Springer and Tucker, Bregman is a below average offensively player.
FRAMBER VALDEZ, SP, Tigers, left in free agency after 2025
This departure probably stings less than the others, at least for Astros upper management, who reportedly didn’t make Valdez an offer. Valdez signed a three-year, $114 million deal with the Tigers, and he’s been inconsistent at best. Valdez, in 20 starts, has a 5-7 record with a 4.57 ERA.
