Final roster spots remain unsettled
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — After participating in a roster construction meeting before Friday’s workout, manager Dusty Baker intimated the Astros’ final few position battles may not be resolved before the team leaves Florida on Sunday.
“These last few decisions are tough, so sometimes they decide for you,” Baker said. “This is what you want. The way I look at it is you’re competing for a job. And if you can’t compete for a job where you are, how are you going to compete in September or in the playoffs? How are you going to handle that? That’s how I’ve always looked at it.”
Houston has two Grapefruit League games remaining: Saturday against the Nationals and Sunday against the Marlins. The team will play two exhibitions against Class AAA Sugar Land next week too, a scenario that should allow the Astros to take a longer look at their opening day roster candidates.
Most of the players who aren’t on the opening day roster will be ticketed for Sugar Land anyway, making it somewhat unnecessary to make roster moves before the two exhibitions Monday and Tuesday.
Twenty-three of the team’s 26 roster spots are all but secured, leaving competition still ongoing for two bench spots and the backup to starting catcher Martín Maldonado.
Earlier this week, Baker acknowledged a possible scenario where the team carries both of its rookie catchers, but if only one makes the team, Houston may opt for Korey Lee, a far superior defender to Yainer Diaz. Both have been exposed to first base this spring too.
Baker emphasized that Grapefruit League stats “don’t make up our minds one way or the other,” but discounting them completely is crazy. For one candidate, it’s all the Astros may have.
That Houston has not reassigned outfield prospect Justin Dirden to minor league camp is proof of how serious his case is to make the major league team. Michael Brantley will begin the season on the injured list, increasing the need for another corner outfielder to split time with Yordan Alvarez.
Dirden has nine hits in 27 Grapefruit League at-bats and a handful of impressive defensive plays. Baker also praised his baserunning and above-average speed after a heads-up play during Thursday night’s game against the Nationals.
“He’s playing well,” Baker said Thursday night. “He’s throwing well, hitting the ball. He can hit that fastball — that’s where it starts. He’s working hard on his outfield (defense), judgment, everything. He’s been impressive.”
If Grapefruit League performance alone dictated the decision, Dirden may have already secured his spot, but there is at least some concern about his lack of upper-level experience.
He’s played just 32 games above Class AA Corpus Christi — and didn’t fare well in them. Dirden had a .703 OPS and .305 on-base percentage in 142 Class AAA plate appearances last season.
Dirden is not on Houston’s 40-man roster, which is currently full. The Astros can clear a spot by placing Jose Altuve on the 60-day injured list while he recovers from thumb surgery.
Whether they have enough infield coverage in Altuve’s absence must enter the team’s calculus. Waiver claim Rylan Bannon, who is on the 40man roster, has seen substantial action at second base in spring training games since Altuve’s injury.
Bannon bats righthanded, as do all of the Astros’ entrenched bench players. Finding some balance is crucial. Dirden hits lefthanded, but so do both of his primary competitors: Bligh Madris and J.J. Matijevic.
Both Madris and Matijevic are on the 40-man roster and capable of playing left field and first base. Altuve’s absence will force David Hensley — Houston’s primary backup first baseman — to play far more second base. Carrying either Madris or Matijevic would give Houston more coverage at first and in left field.
Valdez to start on opening day
Framber Valdez is the Astros’ opening day starter, a fact known throughout spring training but only made official Friday when Major League Baseball revealed all 30 pitchers as part of a leaguewide announcement.
Valdez has been on schedule all spring to pitch Houston’s regularseason opener March 30 against the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park. Baker all but confirmed the decision last week, but he opted to wait until the league reveal to make any official declaration.
“He earned it. This guy has been damn near as good as anybody the last three years,” Baker said Friday. “He’s been durable, he’s had quality starts — 25 in a row last year. Who’s more deserving of that than him? We’re counting on him.”
Valdez will oppose White Sox righthander
Dylan Cease, the runner-up to Justin Verlander in American League Cy Young voting last season.
Baker did not reveal his rotation for the rest of the four-game series against Chicago, but if the team stays on its current schedule, Cristian Javier would start the second game, followed by José
Urquidy and Luis Garcia.
Valdez is the third lefthander in Astros history to make consecutive opening day starts, joining Dave Roberts and Dallas Keuchel.
Valdez is the presumed ace of Houston’s pitching staff and one of the organization’s biggest turnaround stories. The 29year-old southpaw struggled in each of his first two major league seasons before authoring a career renaissance in 2020.
Dating to 2020, Valdez has a 3.05 ERA in his past 63 regular-season starts. With help from Astros sports psychologist Dr. Andy Nuñez, Valdez has matured into a more reliable, steady starter on the cusp of acehood.
Valdez led all American League starters with 2011⁄3 innings last season and finished fifth in Cy Young voting. He threw 25 consecutive quality starts from April 25 through Sept. 18, besting Jacob deGrom’s singleseason record.
Valdez earned his first All-Star selection and became the first pitcher in franchise history to win the game. Valdez started and won Houston’s World Series-clinching win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 too.
Valdez made his fifth and final Grapefruit League start Friday against the Miami Marlins, giving up two earned runs on four hits in 52⁄3 innings.
Injured Brown throwing again
Astros pitching prospect Hunter Brown resumed throwing Friday, two days after lower back pain forced him to miss a Grapefruit League start.
Brown threw on flat ground at the team’s spring training complex and is expected to continue his progression Sunday. Brown did not speak to reporters Friday afternoon.
“He’s feeling a lot better,” Baker said. “That’s a great sign. He’s moving well and looking good. We’re just hoping he doesn’t have any setbacks.”
Brown hurt his back while exercising on the agility field, general manager Dana Brown said earlier this week. Hunter Brown had built his pitch count to 66 before being scratched from his start Wednesday.
Provided everything continues according to plan, Brown could pitch in Tuesday’s exhibition game against Sugar Land at Minute Maid Park and stay on track to open the season in Houston’s starting rotation.