The Astros streak of consecutive postseason appearances ended in 2025. A poor second half, highlighted by a late sweep at the hands of the eventual division-champion Mariners (in Houston, no le s), left the Stros on the outside looking in for the first time since 2016. Despite a disappointing finish to the season, it doesnt seem like major changes are coming to the organizations leadership. Speaking to reporters at a season-end pre s conference, general manager Dana Brown suggested both he and manager Joe Espada would return in 2026. Brown declined to definitively comment on his own status, stating only: Im the GM of the Astros, and thats what I would expect to be tomorrow, the next day and the next day ( ). On Espada, he provided a clearer answer, stating: Joe is the manager. Joe is under contract [for 2026]. Any change up top would be Cristian Garcia Jersey at least somewhat surprising. Brown was hired as general manager in Jan. 2023 and has only had three full seasons and two full offseasons at his current post. Espada was elevated to the manager post for the 2024 season, following Dusty Bakers retirement. While weve seen occasional instances of executives and managers having leashes that short, most are provided a lengthier runway after coming aboard with a new organization. Its po sible therell be some changes further down the ladder. Brown vowed Sunday to and to think about the entire operation. Changes in the coaching staff and/or on the player development front havent decisively been ruled out. The season ended 48 hours ago, said Espada. We are trying to have conversations and see how were going to move forward. Thats where were at right now. With regard to the roster itself, therell be clear turnover. and are free agents. Houston has a ma sive cla s of 14 arbitration-eligible players. , , , , and are all eligible for the third time this winter (Paredes as a Super Two player wholl be eligible once more after the 26 season). , , and are all eligible for the second time. , , and are eligible for the first time. Not everyone from that group will return, of course. Garcia suffered another significant elbow injury late in the 2025 season. Urias and Sanchez struggled badly after being acquired at the trade deadline. McCormick tallied just 116 plate appearances and turned in his second consecutive poor year at the plate. Po sible non-tender/trade candidates aside, the most consequential departure will be Valdez a rock in the Houston rotation since 2020. The Astros wont outright close the door on a reunion, but Valdez figures to command the type of long-term contract that the Astros have reserved for position players only under Jim Cranes ownership. Houston hasnt gone beyond $95MM guaranteed to any pitcher under Crane, and that was to reliever . s ill-fated five-year, $85MM extension is the largest pact Crane has given to a starting pitcher. I think its going to be headed up with [Hunter] Brown, the GM said when asked about his rotation. Were going to have some conversations, like weve had in the past, with Valdez. Weve got some young guys. Were going to see what they can do, and were going to have some other guys coming back off the IL. Both Brown and Espada praised the work did in his return from Tommy John surgery and spoke of him as an important piece of the 2026 rotation. Righty was also mentioned as a potential factor on next years staff. McCullers drew praise for making it back to the field after an arduous rehab proce s spanning more than two years, but Brown suggested only that McCullers will compete for a job in camp next year. The GM also suggested hell be on the hunt for additional starting pitching: Were going to probably be in the market to trade for an arm. Again, nothing within Browns comments expre sly rules out the return of Valdez, but specifically calling out the po sibility of addre sing the rotation via trade is notable. Houston already has a bit more than $159MM on the 2026 books, , and thats before accounting for any of the arbitration cla s. Their 2025 payroll finished at just under $225MM. In addition to the rotation, catching help will be a priority. Brown noted that the Astros definitely have interest in bringing Caratini back after a succe sful run in Houston. The switch-hitting 32-year-old signed a two-year, $12MM deal prior to the 2024 season and wound up appearing in 201 games over his two seasons, slashing .263/.329/.406 in 660 turns at the plate. If you dont bring him back, you definitely need a backup catcher, said Brown. Hes been one of the best backup catchers in the league. Hes going to be a free agent, so if he decides to go somewhere else, we have to be in the market for a backup but we definitely have interest in talking to him. Its a thin cla s of catchers in free agency this winter, with Caratini, 35-year-old and standing as the most notable names on the free agent market. The Astros dont need a starter behind the plate. , 27, was terrific in 2023-24, hitting .293/.318/.478 with 39 homers in 996 plate appearances. He slipped in 25, batting only .256/.284/.417 with 20 homers, but thats plenty productive for a catcher. He figures to see a significant portion of the workload behind the plate again in 2026, regardle s of who stands as the other half of the catching tandem. Given the thin supply of backstops and Caratinis succe s with the Astros, its po sible catching-needy clubs could offer Caratini more playing time than Houston. Thatd leave Brown and his staff searching for help behind the plate, as he alluded to; , wholl turn 30 next March, is the only other catcher on Houstons 40-man roster and turned in a tepid .213/.353/.353 batting line in Triple-A this season. One other notable storyline for Astros fans to track this winter will be the progre s of Hader, whose season ended in mid-August due to a capsule injury in his shoulder. Brown revealed that the team has consistently had imaging performed on Haders shoulder and that the closer is feeling better and appears to be moving in the right direction. Hader, however, has yet to resume throwing, and the Astros wont have a clear picture on his timetable for a return until he takes that step and they can gauge how his shoulder responds. Its not yet clear when Hader might pick up a ball. Chaz Green Jersey