Astros' Taylor Trammell: Gets new deal from Astros
Rotowire
Trammell signed a one-year, split contract with the Astros on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Trammell's contract will pay him $900,000 if he's in the majors, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The 28-year-old finished 2025 with a .197/.296/.333 slash line over 135 plate appearances and will likely have to fight to make the big-league roster during spring training.
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Astros' Enyel De Los Santos: Sticking with Houston
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De Los Santos signed a one-year contract with the Astros on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
De Los Santos put up a 4.03 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 22.1 innings after signing with the Astros in August, and his new deal will ensure he remains in the organization for the start of the 2026 campaign -- likely serving as a middle reliever.
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Astros' Nick Allen: Dealt to Houston
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Atlanta traded Allen to the Astros on Wednesday in exchange for Mauricio Dubon.
Allen's strong defensive capabilities at shortstop allowed him to appear in 135 games in 2025, though he finished the year with just a .535 OPS over 416 plate appearances. Now that he's moving to Houston, where Jeremy Pena is locked in at shortstop, Allen is likely to operate in more of a bench role.
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Astros' Anthony Maldonado: Latches on with Houston
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The Astros signed Maldonado to a minor-league contract Nov. 14.
Maldonado holds a 7.20 ERA and 18:12 K:BB over 25 innings across parts of two big-league seasons. The 27-year-old will give the Astros some experienced bullpen depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Miguel Ullola: Joins 40-man roster
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The Astros selected Ullola's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.
The move adds Ullola to the 40-man roster and protects him from next month's Rule 5 Draft. Ullola spent the entirety of the 2025 campaign at Sugar Land, finishing with a 3.88 ERA and 131:78 K:BB over 113.2 innings. The 23-year-old will compete for an Opening Day roster spot, but a career 15.6 percent walk rate in the minors suggests more seasoning is needed.
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Astros' Ramon Urias: Booted off 40-man roster
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The Astros designated Urias for assignment Tuesday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Miguel Ullola. Urias is projected to make more than $4 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility, which the Astros felt was too much. The 31-year-old is a career .257/.321/.403 hitter and capable defender at second and third base, so he shouldn't have difficult landing a major-league contract this winter, assuming he clears waivers and becomes a free agent.
Altuve underwent a procedure to remove fluid between the fourth and fifth toes on his right foot Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve played through the issue for the final few weeks of the regular season after suffering the injury Sept. 13 against Atlanta. McTaggart described the procedure as a minor skin aspiration, and the expectation is that the 35-year-old will be ready for the start of spring training.
Astros' Isaac Paredes: Still not over hamstring tear
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said during last week's general managers' meetings that Paredes was about 65 percent recovered from his right hamstring injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Brown added that he's hopeful Paredes will be 80-to-90 percent recovered by spring training and potentially be ready to go by Opening Day. Paredes missed two months due to a right hamstring tear suffered in mid-July before making a late-season return, though he was limited to designated hitter duty and severely compromised as a baserunner. The 26-year-old will continue to rehab the injury and it sounds like he'll be slow-played at the start of spring training.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Expected to be ready for spring
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Arrighetti (elbow) is expected to be 100 percent for the beginning of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Arrighetti missed the final month of the season with a right elbow injury, but he's considered healthy now and is "having a very productive offseason," per Astros general manager Dana Brown. The 25-year-old was limited to only seven starts at the major-league level in 2025, as he was sidelined four months with a right thumb fracture in addition to the elbow issue. Brown indicated that Arrighetti has a rotation spot for 2026 locked up.
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Smith could begin next season at Triple-A Sugar Land "if he hasn't turned the corner," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Brown remains high on Smith's potential, saying he "could be a star one day," but added that "we're going to need him to be more consistent." Smith forced his way onto the Astros' Opening Day roster with a huge showing in spring training, but he went on to slash just .236/.312/.358 with nine home runs and a 27.8 percent strikeout rate across 134 contests. The rookie started only six of the Astros' final 20 games, including just two of their final 16 tilts versus right-handed pitching. Smith did play a surprisingly solid right field, a position he had never manned before. Slated to turn 23 in February, Smith should enter spring training with a chance to win a starting job, but some seasoning in the minors might not be the worst thing for him and the Astros. The 2024 first-round pick has logged just 32 games and 134 plate appearances at the minor-league level.
General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Alvarez (ankle) has begun jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez suffered a severe left ankle sprain during the final weeks of the regular season. Brown's comments indicate that the 28-year-old is coming along nicely in his recovery, and the GM added that he expects Alvarez to be ready to go by the start of spring training. The righty-hitting slugger also missed significant time in 2025 due to a fracture in his right hand and finished the season with just a .797 OPS across 199 plate appearances.
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Astros' Josh Hader: Throwing off mound
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General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Hader (shoulder) has thrown off a mound three times, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Hader's season ended in mid-August after he suffered a left shoulder strain, but he appears to be progressing well in his rehab program. The Astros have yet to establish a return timeline for the lefty closer, however, so his availability for the start of spring training remains unknown.
Corona was outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Corona was placed on waivers Tuesday and went unclaimed. He's eligible to become a free agent, but could also stick around as organizational depth.
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Astros' Brandon Walter: Added back to 40-man roster
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Walter (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
This move is procedural as the Astros set their 40-man roster for the offseason. Walter is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2026 season.
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