This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart's Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
HOUSTON -- The Astros have revamped their coaching staff and made changes in their front office so far this offseason, but all eyes will be on improving their roster heading into next week’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.
After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016 by just one game last season, the Astros have already added a couple arms in right-hander Nate Pearson, a '17 first-round Draft pick of the Blue Jays who will likely wind up in the bullpen, and Ryan Weiss, who agreed to a one-year deal Tuesday after two seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization, according to a source.
The Astros have trimmed some payroll by trading Gold Glove utility player Mauricio Dubón to the Braves on Nov. 19 in exchange for infielder Nick Allen, giving them some flexibility to add pitching.
With the Winter Meetings set to begin Monday, the Astros will be looking to make additions to a pitching staff that’s likely to lose workhorse lefty Framber Valdez, who’s a free agent. Injuries decimated the Astros’ rotation last season, and the club wants to add multiple depth pieces to shore up the pitching staff.
Club Needs
The Astros’ desire to add controllable pitching is likely to be accomplished through trades from their Major League roster. The club doesn’t have the financial resources to sign any of the big-name free agents on the market, which is one of the reasons it pursued Weiss.
Weiss, 28, made 46 starts over the last two years in Korea, posting a 3.16 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with 305 strikeouts in 270 1/3 innings.
The Astros will return Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier to the top of the rotation, with hopes that Spencer Arrighetti will be healthy. Weiss provides depth with Lance McCullers Jr., Colton Gordon, Jason Alexander, J.P. France and AJ Blubaugh (ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club's No. 16 prospect).
Potential Trade Candidates
Center fielder Jake Meyers is drawing interest as Houston pursues controllable pitching. Meyers, who made $2.3 million last season, is arbitration-eligible for the second time and has value because of his elite defense and the .727 OPS that he posted last season. He was a Gold Glove finalist in ’24, but he played in only 104 games last season because of a right calf injury.
Prospect to Know
Miguel Ullola, the Astros’ No. 5 prospect, will come to camp competing for a spot in the rotation, but he’s going to have to throw strikes. He spent the 2025 season with Triple-A Sugar Land, where the hard-throwing right-hander struck out 131 hitters in 113 2/3 innings and posted a .186 opponents’ batting average. He also walked 78 batters for a 6.18 walks per nine innings ratio that’s in line with his career Minor League numbers (6.14).
Right-handers Bryce Mayer (No. 11) and Ethan Pecko (No. 12) could push for starts later in 2026. Mayer, a 16th-round pick out of Missouri in '24, went 4-6 with a 4.11 ERA in 21 appearances (16 starts) last season between Single-A Fayetteville, High-A Asheville and Double-A Corpus Christi. He had 112 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings, a 1.17 WHIP and a .227 opponents’ batting average.
Rule 5 Draft
The 40-man roster is full, so it’s unlikely the Astros would make a selection at the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 10. Ullola was the only prospect added by the club to the 40-man roster to protect from being selected, leaving right-handers Alimber Santa (No. 13) and Jose Fleury (No. 17) among those unprotected.
Burning Question
What’s the future of Cam Smith?
Smith, who was one of three players acquired from the Cubs a year ago, made an impressive position switch in Spring Training and won the Opening Day job in right field, where he was a Gold Glove finalist. Offensively, he regressed through the season -- he had a .489 OPS in 170 plate appearances after the All-Star break -- and wound up platooning with Sánchez, who started against right-handers.
Astros general manager Dana Brown said at the General Managers Meetings last month that Smith would have to play with more consistency in '26 or be sent to Triple-A. Smith’s struggles against right-handed pitching (.617 OPS) could cause the Astros to start him in the Minor Leagues to get everyday at-bats, especially if Sánchez isn't traded.