HOUSTON -- The Astros haven’t been getting much offensive production from their outfielders this season, where rookies Zach Cole and Brice Matthews, second-year right fielder Cam Smith and starting center fielder Jake Meyers each have a sub.-700 OPS.
The group oozes athleticism and features elite defenders in Meyers and Smith, but a high strikeout rate has limited an offense that’s built around designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, first baseman Christian Walker, second baseman Jose Altuve, shortstop Jeremy Peña and third baseman Isaac Paredes.
The search for more disciplined outfield production has taken the Astros to 32-year-old veteran LaMonte Wade Jr., who opted out of his deal with Triple-A Charlotte on Monday and signed with Houston on Thursday. He was in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Pirates at Daikin Park, hitting fifth and playing left field.
The signing of Wade was among a handful of moves the Astros made Thursday to shake up their roster, including the promotion of Triple-A catcher Collin Price, who was in the lineup for his Major League debut. Meanwhile, Cole was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land, while catcher César Salazar and outfielder Rhylan Thomas were designated for assignment.
The Astros turned to Wade over Joey Loperfido, the left-handed-hitting outfielder who was activated from the injured list Thursday and optioned to Sugar Land.
“We actually have shown interest in [Wade] for a while,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I remember actually talking to him in the offseason and showing our interest. I like the lefty bat, the corner outfield, the swing decisions. He’s really good coming off the bench, can give you quality at-bats against high-level right-handers and can spell Walker at first base. I like the player and have liked him for a long time. Happy to have him.”
Astros outfielders had a .658 OPS entering Thursday that ranked 24th out of 30 Major League teams and were ranked 29th with a 27.5 percent strikeout rate (second only to the 28 percent strikeout rate from the Marlins' outfield group). Wade has a 21 percent strikeout rate in his Major League career and had more walks (45) than strikeouts (43) this season with Charlotte.
“I feel like that's one of the biggest parts of my game is to get on base, get these other guys to drive me in,” Wade said. “I always take pride in that. Last year, between San Fran and the Angels, [I] didn't really do a good job of that. And I understood why I was let go on both sides. I really focused this offseason on getting back to what I do well, and this year I feel like it's been a lot better, and it's been trending in the right direction.”
Wade has a career .236/.341/.390 slash line with 55 homers and 185 RBIs in 560 career Major League games with the Twins (2019-20), Giants (2021-25) and Angels (2025). Last year, he posted a .524 OPS with two homers in 80 games between the Giants and Angels. He signed with the White Sox out of Spring Training and spent all of this season with Charlotte, where he slashed .250/.420/.441 with seven homers and 26 RBIs.
He figures to play mostly left field, with Smith (a Gold Glove-caliber defender) in right field and Walker (a three-time Gold Glove Award winner and the team’s leader in RBIs) entrenched at first base. Espada said first base is Wade's best defensive position, but he should be able to handle left field.
Wade showed up at Daikin Park on Thursday afternoon and spent some time working with first-base coach Dave Clark practicing fielding caroms off the unpredictable left-field wall.
“It feels good to be back at this level,” Wade said. “Grateful and blessed for this opportunity. Looking forward to making the most of it, getting to know this team and coming out here and helping out any way I can.”
Price, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Mercer, was slashing .235/.360/.476 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs for Sugar Land, with a 1.035 OPS in his past nine games. Since May 2, his seven homers were tied for the Pacific Coast League lead.
“I’m really happy for Collin,” Espada said. “He’s been having some good seasons for us, started slow in the depth chart and he’s been working his way up and he has improved his catching and his throwing. He can hit for power, and we felt like this was a good time to give him a look, an opportunity.”