Injuries & Moves: OF Trammell acquired from Yankees
This roster moves and injury updates page will be updated throughout the offseason as news happens.
LATEST NEWS
Nov. 4: OF Taylor Trammell acquired from Yankees in exchange for cash considerations
Looking to bolster some outfield depth, after veterans Ben Gamel and Jason Heyward reached free agency last week, the Astros traded for Trammell, the 27-year-old who was once a Top 100 Prospect per MLB Pipeline and was a first-round Draft pick by the Reds in 2016.
Houston will be Trammell's sixth organization, though he's spent most of his career in Seattle, where he made his MLB debut with the Mariners as they emerged from their rebuild in 2021. Over parts of four big league seasons, Trammell has hit .167/.270/.363 (.633 OPS) with 15 homers and 39 RBIs across 126 games. Trammell packs tape-measure-type power, but he has struggled to harness his strikeouts, with a career 37% K rate. He can play all three outfield positions, but he's best suited for a corner spot.
Nov. 4: RHP Oliver Ortega and RHP José Urquidy outrighted; OF Trey Cabbage, RHP Seth Martinez and RHP Penn Murfee lost via waivers; RHP J.P. France, RHP Luis Garcia, RHP Cristian Javier, RHP Lance McCullers Jr. and LHP Bennett Sousa returned to 40-man roster.
In addition to acquiring Taylor Trammell from the Yankees, Houston made a flurry of additional transactions after the five-day quiet period following the World Series:
Ortega and Urquidy were outrighted off the 40-man roster. As such, both became free agents.
Cabbage, Seth Martinez and Penn Murfee were claimed off waivers by other clubs, with Cabbage going to Pittsburgh, Martinez to Arizona, and Murfee to the White Sox.
Five players that had been on the 60-day injured at the end of the season have been returned to the 40-man roster: France, Garcia, Javier, McCullers and Sousa.
None of these moves was considered major or surprising, and they allow the Astros to press forward with the rest of their offseason.
Nov. 4: Astros extend 3B Alex Bregman qualifying offer
As expected, the two-time All-Star received the one-year, $21.05 million offer for next season, which is an aggregate of MLB's 125 highest-paid salaries. Bregman has until 3 p.m. CT on Nov. 19 to accept or reject the offer of $21.05 million for next season. Bregman is pretty much a lock to reject the offer, which means the Astros will get Draft pick compensation if he signs with another team.
INJURY UPDATES
UT Mauricio Dubón (left thumb surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Dubón underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb Oct. 9 and is expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training. He suffered the injury sliding into first base on a single Sept. 6 and played with pain during the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
Dubón, 30, appeared in a career-high 137 games in 2024, hitting .269 with 25 doubles, four home runs and a career-best 47 RBIs. A Gold Glove winner in 2023 and finalist in '24, he became the first player in franchise history to start at seven different positions in the same season: 44 in left field, 18 in center field, 11 in right field, 13 at second base, nine at first base, nine at third base and six at shortstop. (Last updated: Oct. 31)
RHP Penn Murfee (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Murfee had a setback as he tried to ramp up for the end of the 2024 season, but was throwing to hitters by the end of the regular season and should compete for a bullpen spot next year. Murfee, who was claimed off waivers on March 27 from the Braves, last pitched in the big leagues for the Mariners in 2023, posting a 1.29 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with 16 strikeouts in 14 innings. As a rookie in '22, he appeared in 64 games for Seattle and posted a 2.99 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. (Last updated: Oct. 4)
RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: 2025
McCullers had surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur, but suffered a setback in July 2024 and was shut down for the season. He hasn't pitched since the 2022 World Series. McCullers still wasn't throwing when the season ended on early October. (Last updated: Oct. 4)
RHP Cristian Javier (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: July 2025
Javier, who underwent Tommy John surgery on June 6, could return by the end of July 2025, GM Dana Brown said on Oct. 3. The right-hander was 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts with the Astros this year, including three quality starts. Javier was moved to the 60-day IL on June 16. (Last updated: Oct. 4)
RHP José Urquidy (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: July 2025
Urquidy, who underwent Tommy John surgery on June 5, could return by the end of July 2025, GM Dana Brown said on Oct. 4. He was pulled out of his May 24 rehab start at Triple-A after experiencing right forearm inflammation and shut down for the rest of 2024. (Last updated: Oct. 4)