Houston Astros

Manager: AJ Hinch (fifth season). 2018: 103-59, first place, lost to Boston in ALCS. First Workout: Feb. 14/18. He’s Here: OF Michael Brantley, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Wade Miley, INF Aledmys Diaz. He’s Outta Here: INF-OF Marwin Gonzalez, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Charlie Morton, DH Evan Gattis, LHP Tony Sipp, C Brian Mccann, C Martin Maldonado. Going campin’: Houston returns aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, who are both coming off great seasons, but let Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, go in free agency and will be without Lance Mccullers Jr. all season following Tommy John surgery. Jose Altuve, the 2017 AL MVP, and shortstop Carlos Correa struggled with injuries late in the season but are healthy and eyeing a return to form in 2019. Third baseman Alex Bregman, who had a breakout season in 2018, will get a slow start to spring training after minor elbow surgery, but is expected to be ready for opening day.