Dubón, Hensley viewed as utility options
JUPITER, Fla. — They lost a unanimous American League Cy Young winner and a first baseman who became a clubhouse cornerstone, but the Astros’ biggest question may be on the bench. Aledmys Díaz departed for more regular playing time and a two-year guaranteed deal with the Oakland A’s, leaving Houston seeking the sort of utilityman it has relied upon since Marwin Gonzalez mastered the position in 2017.
Both Díaz and Gonzalez went unnoticed when the Astros were at full health. One injury thrust each into a limelight. The team’s insistence on managing workloads for its everyday players put them there, too. Both veterans offered a luxury that Houston now enters the season without.
Though they claimed Rylan Bannon off waivers from the Chicago
Cubs and traded with Detroit for Bligh Madris, the Astros declined to add a proven utilityman on a major league deal after Díaz departed, signaling faith in rookie David Hensley and a bounce-back season from Mauricio Dubón.
One of Jake Meyers or Chas Mccormick will serve as the Astros’ fourth outfielder while Korey Lee and Yainer Diaz are battling to back up Martín Maldonado. Considering how Houston treats its infielders — and the immense value that quartet provides — no bench spots are more important than the two utility infielders.
“It’s not hard to see where we need guys to fill in,” Hensley said on Monday morning.
Among Houston’s three returning infielders, only Alex Bregman played more than 150 games last season. Days off for both Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña became a common occurrence during long stretches. Both spent time on the injured list, too.
New first baseman José Abreu is 36 and, though he played 157 games last season, could see time at designated hitter as half-days off during the season, especially if the team is intent on easing Michael Brantley back from shoulder surgery and playing Yordan Alvarez more in left field.
Hensley did not play a major league inning at first base during his 16-game stint last season. He made just 15 starts there at Class AAA Sugar Land, where he started at least 20 times at second base, third base and shortstop. Hensley has started twice at first base during Grapefruit League play, including on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“I’m trying to move him around, trying to figure out who I’m going to play over there and hopefully not lose a whole bunch on days I have to give Abreu off or, God forbid, something happens and he gets injured,” manager Dusty Baker said. “(Hensley) is doing much like Díaz did for us last year, playing multiple positions, so just trying to get him ready for that.”
Both Dubón and Hensley are more natural middle infielders. The Astros view Dubón as their best defensive backup at shortstop. Team officials deem his defense in both center field and shortstop as above average, explaining why his value is so high .
Dubón slashed .208/.254/.294 in 216 plate appearances as an Astro. He has added 25 pounds since Houston acquired him last May in hopes of bolstering his average exit velocity and discovering more offensive continuity.
Hensley’s plate discipline and contact rate impressed during his brief big league cameo last season, but he must translate it into a full season. He is sure handed up the middle, but the Astros may prefer Dubón as a backup middle infielder, if necessary. Hensley is the club’s clear backup at third base and — barring a surprise — at first, too.
Madris and J.J. Matijevic have more major league experience than Hensley at first base. Both hit lefthanded, too, and could factor into the opening day roster discussion if manager Dusty Baker wants more balance on his bench. Hensley and Dubón are both righthanded hitters — as are each of the four aforementioned players in the fourth outfielder and backup catcher battle.
Across three weeks of Grapefruit League play, neither Matijevic nor Madris has distinguished himself as a legitimate threat to take a roster spot from Hensley or Dubón. Hensley has spent almost all of camp working with the major league infield.