Houston Astros He will likely look for experienced players in the offseason. They are now a team built to win and while they would like to add some young talent, there are not many young stars that are traded or available in the winter.

Maybe that could change in the offseason, but the Astros will likely look to increase the margins with veteran talent, and that should be all they need to get back to the top of the baseball world.

There will be a ton of players to follow.

Houston wants to improve its rotation Yusei Kikuchi And Justin Verlander If they leave in free agency, they could target Michael Wacha.

Wacha is an interesting name to follow as he has been in the Major Leagues since 2013. All he did during his 12-year MLB career was pitch at an above-average level. There have been a few tough seasons along the way, but what he’s done over the last three seasons leaves a lot of optimism that he’ll age well.

The right-hander posted a 3.30 ERA and struck out .373 in that span.

He has a player option worth $16 million, which he can pick up if he doesn’t believe the market will be too hot.

Although this is possible, Jim Bowden Athletic He doesn’t expect that to be the case, estimating the Iowa native will get a three-year, $54 million deal.

“Michael Wacha has been excellent and consistent over the last three years, posting ERAs between 3.22 and 3.35 in double-digit strikeouts each season while also being on short-term contracts. His downward trajectory and change (.169 batting average) is quite significant.” good. Special. He ranked in the 99th percentile in off-speed rushing value and 92nd percentile in hard-hit rate. Wacha has a $16 million player option for 2025, which I think he will decline so he can enter free agency and sign a multi-year contract. “

A three-year deal would net Wacha more long-term money, which the 33-year-old would likely welcome.

The Astros’ decisions will greatly impact what their pending free agents decide to do. If they re-sign more than one player from their roster who will be released, Wacha may not have much of a place in the rotation.

Otherwise, there’s reason to believe Houston could be an excellent candidate to pick up some of the lost innings with several injury questions heading into next season.