Brian McTaggart

HOUSTON – Coming off a season in which the Astros had the fifth-highest payroll in baseball and exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax for the first time, owner Jim Crane said Monday he would be “comfortable enough” to spend similarly on his team in 2025. That could bode well for the

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart's Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

HOUSTON -- Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez were named to the 2024 All-MLB Second Team on Thursday.

HOUSTON -- As expected, third baseman Alex Bregman was one of a handful of players to receive a qualifying offer Monday. Bregman was the only player given a qualifying offer by the Astros, who are expected to try to retain one of their cornerstone players as he hits free agency

HOUSTON -- Third baseman Alex Bregman will hit free agency with a Gold Glove on his résumé. Bregman was named Sunday as the American League winner of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award at third base, which goes to the best defensive player in each league at the position. Bregman, a

HOUSTON -- The Astros made official the hiring of Tony Perezchica as their third-base and infield coach/run-prevention coordinator on Thursday. He replaces Gary Pettis, whose contract was not renewed after serving as third-base coach the previous 10 seasons. Perezchica, who was the third-base coach for the Diamondbacks from 2017-24, spent

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart's Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. HOUSTON -- While all eyes are on a tantalizing World Series matchup between the Dodgers and Yankees -- two teams that have been eliminated

HOUSTON -- Despite a farm system that in recent years has been at the bottom of MLB Pipeline’s rankings -- and this year was ranked 30th from among the 30 clubs -- the Astros have continued to churn out impact homegrown players. The Astros have had a top-five finisher in

HOUSTON -- Gary Pettis, whose familiar windmill arm motion has been a staple in the Astros’ third-base coaching box for the past decade, will not return to coaching staff next season, a source told MLB.com on Monday. Pettis, whose contract was up at the end of the season, was the

HOUSTON – No one’s words carry more weight in the Astros’ clubhouse than second baseman Jose Altuve, the 14-year veteran who is Houston’s unequivocal leader. Facing the reality of losing another cornerstone player, Altuve said following Wednesday’s 5-2 elimination loss to the Tigers in Game 2 of the American League

HOUSTON -- With franchise icon Alex Bregman facing free agency coming off the Astros’ shortest postseason run in eight years, the club is staring at an interesting and challenging winter, as it tries to keep its window of contention open in the American League. The Astros’ string of seven consecutive

HOUSTON – The sounds of handshakes and heavy-handed hugs filled the otherwise quiet air in the home clubhouse at Minute Maid Park. A sense of disbelief and dismay dominated the scene as Astros players signed jerseys for each other, said some goodbyes -- perhaps for good -- and started looking

HOUSTON -- The Astros have their backs against the wall in early October, which is a position Houston’s playoff-tested club hasn’t been in since its run of seven consecutive trips to the American League Championship Series began in 2017. That streak began under former Houston manager A.J. Hinch, who has

HOUSTON -- As perhaps the only active pitcher with a chance to reach 300 career wins, Justin Verlander said Wednesday his career is far from done. At 41 years old, he spent most of this season on the injured list and wasn’t on Houston’s Wild Card Series roster, but will

HOUSTON -- As perhaps the only active pitcher with a chance to reach 300 career wins, Justin Verlander said Wednesday his career is far from done. At 41 years old, he spent most of this season on the injured list and wasn’t on Houston’s Wild Card Series roster, but will

HOUSTON -- Nine years after he led the Astros to a surprising playoff run that ushered in the golden era of baseball in Houston, A.J. Hinch will return to Minute Maid Park to try to end the Astros’ season as the manager of the upstart Tigers. “Baseball, I'll tell you,

HOUSTON -- The ball rocketed off the bat of Jason Heyward, and for a split-second Tuesday afternoon, it appeared as though the Astros had pulled off a stunning come-from-behind win. When Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson squeezed his glove for the final out in the ninth inning, the excitement turned

CLEVELAND -- Just two days after he had a pair of base hits to help Triple-A Sugar Land clinch the Pacific Coast League championship \-\- and participated in the requisite champagne celebration that followed -- Astros’ No. 5 prospect Zach Dezenzo on Friday made his case to be on Houston’s

Who are the best players born on each day of the year? We have a list for every day on the calendar. Here’s a subjective ranking of the top five for Sept. 26. 1) Bobby Shantz (1925) The 1952 American League Most Valuable Player after winning 24 games for Philadelphia

HOUSTON -- When the Astros took the field on defense to start the fourth inning Wednesday afternoon, veteran Alex Bregman stood alone at third base. The Minute Maid Park speakers blared “Wanna Be a Baller” by Lil’ Troy, one of his walk-up songs, while he was shown on the video