As the Astros head to the postseason once again, there aren’t many glaring holes in the Houston lineup if you look beyond first base. The production the team has received there, led by José Abreu, ranks in the bottom five in the league, but that’s hardly the place they’ll likely prioritize this offseason.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF/IF, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Astros lineup has helped carry them this year. Alex Bregman has produced another solid season at third base, while Kyle Tucker has emerged as one of the best right fielders in baseball. The pair both rank in the top three at their respective positions in terms of WAR on the season. Houston will want to get them support in the lineup.
There’s certainly some familiarity here with Gurriel Jr., whose brother held down first base for the Astros for seven seasons. The younger Gurriel spent most of the year playing left field for the D’backs after coming over in a trade last winter. Over his six-year career he’s a .279/.325/.468 hitter who made his first All-Star appearance this past season.
Wandy Peralta, LHP, New York Yankees
Left-handed relievers that can be counted on are a valuable commodity, and there are only a handful who will be on the free-agent market this offseason. It’s one piece of the Houston bullpen that doesn’t stand out.
Peralta has been an important piece of the Yankees bullpen since the club acquired him in 2021. He’s been used in multiple roles and even served as the club’s closer during the postseason in 2022. He’s well-liked in the New York clubhouse and there are those within the organization who hope to re-sign him, but the market could dictate otherwise.
Shota Imanaga, LHP, Yokohama DeNA BayStars (NPB)
This is a bit of a wild card, particularly because the Astros starting rotation is a strength. Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and Justin Verlander are an impressive front three. J.P. France emerged as a real option and Hunter Brown had a solid season. Plus, at some point next season the club should see Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. back from injury.
Imanaga is expected to be posted by the BayStars this offseason and he could be one of the best arms available on the open market. The left-hander has a 2.57 ERA and 0.986 WHIP on the season in Japan’s highest league. He began the year helping anchor the Japan World Baseball Classic roster, starting their gold medal-winning game. Adding him to the Houston rotation would make them even more formidable.
