HOUSTON -- Barring injuries or a trade, which remains a possibility, the Astros’ 13-man position-player group appears to be pretty set entering Spring Training next week. Most of the competition will be on the mound, with Houston focusing its efforts this winter on improving its pitching depth.
Here’s our first look at the projected Opening Day roster.
Catcher (2): Yainer Diaz, César Salazar
Diaz returns as the starting catcher following an up-and-down season at the plate. Backup Victor Caratini left in free agency, and the club may still look to upgrade that spot this spring.
First baseman (1): Christian Walker
The Astros perhaps would have traded Walker in the offseason, but the two years and $40 million remaining on his contract made it difficult. A subpar season at the plate still saw him leading the club in homers and RBIs after posting a .799 OPS in the second half.
Second baseman (1): Jose Altuve
The Astros shifted Altuve to left field to begin last season but the results weren’t great, and he wound up getting more starts at second base. He will be back at second base this season, though you can’t rule out a cameo in left.
Shortstop (1): Jeremy Peña
Peña is coming off his best season, in which he made his first All-Star team and was named the club’s MVP. He flourished in the leadoff role but sustained a pair of injuries -- a fractured rib that cost him July and an oblique injury at the end of the season -- that marred an otherwise great year.
Third baseman (2): Carlos Correa, Isaac Paredes
Paredes began last year as the starter and socked a team-high 19 homers in 94 games before straining his right hamstring on July 19, an injury that cost him two months. That prompted the Astros to trade for Correa, who moved to third base. The Astros tried to deal Paredes -- and still could -- to clear up the infield logjam, but he remains for now and will play other positions.
Outfielders (4): Jake Meyers, Zach Cole, Jesús Sánchez, Cam Smith
The Astros traded prospect Jacob Melton because Cole surpassed him with his solid 2025 season, which included an eye-opening Major League debut. He can play all three outfield spots but appears headed for the starting spot in left, with Smith having to compete for the job in right. Meyers, who was also on the trade market, had his best season at the plate, but a pesky calf injury limited him to 104 games. Sánchez didn’t perform well after coming over from the Marlins in a trade, but he’s a left-handed bat the Astros sorely need.
DH (1): Yordan Alvarez
Alvarez was limited to 48 games last year because of a pair of injuries, including a hand fracture that kept him out most of the season, and the Astros will do everything in their power to keep him in the lineup. That includes getting most of his at-bats as DH.
Bench/Utility (1): Nick Allen
Allen, acquired in November from the Braves in exchange for Mauricio Dubón, is a solid and versatile glove who can play shortstop and second base at a high level, but sans much offense.
Starting Pitchers (6): Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, Mike Burrows, Spencer Arrighetti, Lance McCullers Jr.
The Astros bolstered their rotation by adding a number of arms, headlined by Imai, a three-time All-Star in Japan. He’ll top the rotation with 2025 Cy Young finalist Brown and Javier, who came back from Tommy John last year, and newcomer Burrows. Beyond that, it’s a competition between McCullers, Arrighetti, and newcomers Ryan Weiss and Nate Pearson, who’s out of options. The Astros could opt for a six-man rotation in April with 26 games in 28 games to start the year and Imai having pitched once a week in Japan.
Relief Pitchers (7): Josh Hader, Bryan Abreu, Bryan King, Steven Okert, Bennett Sousa, Kai-Wei Teng, Nate Pearson
Hader, Abreu and King return as a formidable back-end trio, and lefties Okert and Sousa appear to be in good standing, if healthy. The Astros will carry one fewer reliever if they have a six-man rotation, so Pearson (if he doesn’t make the rotation) and Teng (acquired from the Giants) could provide needed long relief. There’s competition behind that with Enyel De Los Santos and Rule 5 pick Roddery Muñoz, who would have to stay on the big league club all season. Weiss, who has options, could also fill out a long relief role if he doesn’t start.