Let’s take a look at the Houston Astros’ 2024 season, the questions the team will have to address this winter, and the early outlook for 2025.

Read more: 2024 MLB offseason preview: What’s next for the Twins, Mariners, Cubs and more??

Postseason result

It’s unlikely that the Astros were the first team eliminated from the 2024 postseason. They defeated the Detroit Tigers 2-0 in the wild-card round behind a dominant performance from Tarik Skubal in Game 1 and a scrappy comeback in a back-and-forth game in Game 2. Houston’s remarkable streak of seven consecutive ALCS appearances is over.

The wild card loss can largely be attributed to Houston’s offense, which scored three runs in two games. The lineup’s top two hitters, Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker, each reached base just once. The bullpen also deserves some of the blame, as Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader failed to protect their 2-1 lead in the eighth inning of Game 2.

Things that went well

The Astros won the AL West for the fourth straight time and seventh time in the last eight years. It wasn’t a smooth road to the top, as Houston got off to a slow start and trailed Seattle by a game at the All-Star break. But the two teams moved in opposite directions in the second half, and the Astros were mostly happy in September.

The club was led by its pitching staff, which ranked sixth in baseball with a 3.74 ERA. Framber Valdez continued to be one of the most consistent starters in baseball, leading the Astros in innings pitched and wins. Hunter Brown bounced back from a disappointing rookie year, leading the team in strikeouts and posting solid rates (3.49 ERA, 1.27 WHIP). And Ronel Blanco was one of the biggest surprises in baseball. The 31-year-old earned the fifth rotation spot at the end of spring training and finished the season fourth in the majors in ERA. The bullpen, led by closer Josh Hader and setup men Bryan Abreu, Tayler Scott and Ryan Pressly, was even more effective than the rotation.

Yordan Alvarez continued to be the driving force on offense. The 27-year-old ranked as high as sixth in baseball in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was joined by leader Jose Altuve, who experienced some decline but still hit .295 and was a 20-20 player. Kyle Tucker was also a dominant force (.993 OPS) despite missing three months with a broken tibia.

Things that went wrong

The team’s running performance was barely better than average as some players let the club down. Jose Abreu saw further regression after a significant decline in 2023. The organization tried everything, including a stint in the minors in May, before giving up and releasing Abreu in June. Jon Singleton deserves credit for filling the void at first base, but he hasn’t made much of an impact on offense. Chas McCormick was an even bigger disappointment than Abreu, as he struggled mightily at the plate (.576 OPS) after breaking out in 2023, spending time in the minors and enduring two IL stints.

Although the rotation had some highlights, there were also some major disappointments. Cristian Javier entered 2024 hoping to bounce back from a disappointing season, but he only lasted seven starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. José Urquidy didn’t make a start before suffering the same fate. And the team didn’t get what it expected from Justin Verlander, who was limited to 17 starts due to injuries and wasn’t effective even when healthy (5.48 ERA, 1.38 WHIP), so Verlander was traded to the Astros was excluded -card list.

Off season plans

Astros general manager Dana Brown is tasked with extending this perennial contender’s window even further. It won’t be easy.

The infield is spread out in three spots, with Yainer Diaz behind the plate, Altuve at second base and Jeremy Peña at shortstop. There is complete unrest at corners as third baseman Alex Bregman leaves in free agency and Singleton is initially underperforming. Mauricio Dubón could help fill the gaps, but he is not effective at the plate and is more valuable in a utility role.

Brown could get away without addressing the outfield, but he would need a bit of luck on his side. Tucker excels as a right fielder, and while centerfielder Jake Meyers is a marginal offensive player, he is one of the best defensive players in baseball at a premium position. The gamble for Brown would be to keep McCormick as the starting left tackle in hopes he can regain his 2023 form.

There are fewer holes in the rotation as Valdez, Blanco, Brown and Spencer Arrighetti will occupy four of the five spots. Luis Garcia could be the fifth starter as he returns from Tommy John surgery in 2023, while JP France and Lance McCullers Jr. are other candidates returning from injury. The relief corps is also in great shape, with Hader, Scott, Pressly and Abreu all expected to return in 2025.

Overall, the Astros have spent a lot of money over the past few seasons and will likely continue to open their wallets to quality free agents. After all, this roster needs at least two new members, and the prospect pool isn’t strong enough to acquire those players through trades. Bringing Bregman back would certainly be a popular move, but he has long-term concerns after his on-base skills declined this year.

Perspectives on the horizon

The Astros’ farm system is as bad as you would expect from a team that has operated in win-now mode for nearly a decade. MLB Pipeline ranked Houston’s prospect pool as the worst in baseball in its August update. However, there are a few players who could help the team next year.

Jacob Melton has reached Triple-A and could fill a glaring hole in the outfield. The 24-year-old has extra speed and can play all three outfield spots. His challenge will be getting on base regularly once he gets the opportunity in Houston, but he could be a good spark plug at the end of the lineup.

Zach Dezenzo has had a cup of coffee with the Astros this year (62 at-bats), and while he hasn’t made much of an impression, he could play a role at both corner infield spots next year, depending on what those positions look like in the Addressed off season. Dezenzo has shown an intriguing mix of speed, power and base skills in the minors.

Subscribe Baseball Bar B Cast To Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Goals for 2025

The Astros have won two World Series titles in the last eight years and will continue to push for a third championship. The roster isn’t overflowing with rising players, but management has been able to keep winning and shift the foundation to two superstars who are in their prime: Alvarez and Tucker. This is a team with obvious holes (1B, 3B, LF), but it also has the star power that many contenders lack, giving the Astros the potential to address their weaknesses and head into 2025 with a new strong roster .

Fantasy focus

Several Houston players will be selected early in the draft round. Tucker is an obvious first-round option, while Alvarez belongs in the first round of points leagues and second round of roto formats. Altuve is past his best, but is still good enough to be selected in rounds 3-5. Diaz is one of the few catchers to make significant fantasy contributions, which will lead to him being selected in the middle rounds.

Valdez will be the first Houston hurler off the board as some managers view him as a fantasy ace. Hader will be one of the most sought-after closing players, while Blanco and Brown will be valuable middle-round options. Finally, Arrighetti will be an exciting late-round pick due to his swing-and-miss abilities.