The past two weeks have been relatively uneventful in the MLB offseason. Not many big names have been moved or signed, and as the offseason rolls on, there is much wonder over who will get moved. A few teams have already made minor efforts to improve their squads for the 2017 season. The Mariners acquired Danny Valencia from the A's and Carlos Ruiz from the Dodgers. The Braves signed pitchers R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon to one-year deals to help expand their starting pitching staff.
Another team that has made a surprising splash so far is the Houston Astros. From the beginning of last year, the Astros established themselves as an actual competitive threat in the AL West. Youth and depth are what has led the Astros to a playoff berth in 2015 and a winning record in 2016. This offseason, the Astros lost one key player, but gained two more. Losing Pat Neshek to free agency, the Astros rebounded by trading away prospects to get Yankees catcher Brian McCann. Just moments later, it was announced that the Astros were going to sign outfielder Josh Reddick to a deal. Both of these moves serve as much-needed upgrades for the Astros, as Reddick is a much better fit than Colby Rasmus, and McCann is a much better fit than Jason Castro.
Those upgrades were definitely needed. Now, it's time to wonder if the Astros are actually done. Youth definitely isn't an issue, and the Astros still have offensive depth. Their weaknesses involve their pitching staff despite possessing a former AL Cy Young award winner. Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Mike Fiers, and Doug Foster all showed inconsistencies, and Lance McCullers dealt with injuries. With Fister a free agent, it leaves a hole open for the Astros to improve. There aren't many big names on the market in terms of starting pitching, but there are some names that can help.
This year, the closer role for the Astros was filled by three different closers, and while bullpen depth is definitely on the Astros side, an experienced closer may prove beneficial. There are several big names available such as Chapman, Melancon, and Jansen, and other experienced names as well such as Papelbon and Holland. If the Astros can add some depth to their pitching, they may be able to rise above third place. With stiff competition from the Rangers and Mariners, it may be now or never for Houston
