r/baseballoffseason2021 was this year’s rendition of an annual mock MLB offseason, where for 2 months all 30 teams are given a GM to run their team how they see fit, trading with each other and signing free agents. It is an interpretation of the real MLB offseason, rather than a fantasy baseball or OOTP league or anything of the sort.

This year I was tasked with running the Houston Astros! Houston entered this offseason in a peculiar position. A difficult 29-31 regular season, but a strong playoff run and ALCS appearance. As GM I felt we should still view ourselves as one of the premier teams in the American League, but with several key players hitting free agency this offseason and next, plus Justin Verlander lost before the season begins, trying to run everything back exactly the same could result in the competitive window closing if things break the wrong way.

So the gameplan was to be the best team in the AL West and pennant contenders in 2021, while trying to brighten the outlook of the 2022 and onward teams. We went a few unconventional places in pursuit of that, and I hope y’all will read with an open mind!

THE 2020-2021 HOUSTON ASTROS OFFSEASON

Acquired Andrew McCutchen, Vince Velasquez, cash considerations for Kent Emanuel, Brett Conine

Trying to retain one of George Springer and Michael Brantley was a huge priority early in the offseason. I thought I was prepared to offer Springer any deal he wanted, but unfortunately other teams ended up offering deals we couldn’t match for both and we had to find other solutions in the outfield.

McCutchen is a player I think is a beautiful fit on the Astros. Cutch helps in maintaining the offensive identity of the Astros without Springer and Brantley. Smart, veteran at bats, and production without high strikeout totals. He is a beloved clubhouse veteran, a quality I think helps in the first post-scandal season with fans in attendance. He’s a guy I’m thrilled to add here.

Velasquez has never quite reached his potential in Philadelphia, and patience may be running thin. A change of scenery could certainly do him good, and I think returning to the team that originally drafted him is his best chance at turning a corner. If nothing clicks for him this year he is still a useable back-end rotation piece, but I think he’s a great candidate to figure things out with Houston’s skill in delevoping pitchers. Emanuel and Conine are both useful minor league pieces, but most of this trade is salary related, and we can afford to take on the short term salary with so much coming off the books.

Signed Blake Treinen for 2 years, $20 million and 3rd year team option

The Astros bullpen looked significantly better in the postseason, but its tumultuous regular season can’t be ignored when building the 2021 team. We aimed for the top, competing on Liam Hendriks, but in the end settled for the next tier of reliever on the market. Treinen had a bounceback 2020 with the Dodgers, and has elite years in his past. If his upside shows up he can compete to close here, but should be a great late game setup option.

Acquired Keston Hiura, Tyrone Taylor, Eduarqui Fernandez for Carlos Correa, Josh James, Rogelio Armenteros

Here’s the big one. While I entered the offseason hoping to acquire cost-controlled young talent, I didn’t really consider trading Correa part of the plan. However, as difficult as trading him is, and as key a part of the core as he is, holding onto him has to be committing 100% to keeping him past 2021. And with Altuve’s large contract already looking shaky after a difficult year, and Correa’s inconsistency and injury history, giving him the contract he’ll command is a risk and when we found a deal we thought made sense from a baseball perspective we had to bite the bullet and make the difficult move.

We sent out Correa and brought in Keston Hiura. Hiura is one of the most talented young hitters in baseball and has five years of team control to Correa’s one. He’s had is own issues with consistency, which is why Milwaukee had willingness to make the move. With a young offensive core of Bregman, Tucker, Alvarez, and Hiura for years to come I think the Astros are positioned to keep the competitive window open long term. In 2021 he’ll move all around the diamond and with Gurriel hitting free agency after the year, and looking at bouncebacks for Altuve and Alvarez, we’ll find his long term home positionally from there.

Taylor is a young outfielder who can step in and play immediately, he has good pop and can play a respectable center field. Fernandez is a young, toolsy low minors outfielder.

Acquired Franchy Cordero for Cristian Javier

This is a move that as GM you make and then turn off your phone and don’t check Twitter. (Or Reddit…) Javier is at arguably the highest point of his value, and Cordero at a low point. But Cordero remains one of the most toolsy, high upside hitters in baseball, who hasn’t been able to stay on the field to fully put it together. I think the Astros need to shoot for some upside in the outfield, and I intend to put Cordero in center field opening day. Moving Javier after a great rookie year is not an easy sell, but I think he settles in as a back end rotation piece and I’m willing to take the gamble on Cordero being a difference maker offensively.

Signed Masahiro Tanaka for 2 years, $32 million

Having been unable to sign Springer and Brantley, we still had a chunk of money to look to FA. The younger, big names like Bauer and Stroman got to prices we had no interest in giving them, but on a shorter deal the steady Tanaka should be a rock in the middle of the rotation. Getting good pitching without committing too many years is difficult in free agency, and Tanaka’s 3.56 ERA for a reasonably priced 2 years is exactly what we were looking for.

Acquired Genesis Cabrera for Chas McCormick, Cionel Perez

Cabrera is more bullpen help, with massive strikeout stuff (12.90 K/9) from the left side, and the ability to go multiple innings. He still has some chance to be a starter, and he could get that chance with Houston if injuries deplete some depth, but he has huge upside as a reliever. If he’s a lefty specialist we’ll be OK with that, but he has the chance to be an impact lte inning piece.

Acquired Freddy Tarnok for Jack Mayfield
Acquired Jonah Heim for Humberto Castellanos

Lumping these two small trades together. Tarnok is a prospect acquired for a spare part, and Heim is a young catcher who adds depth and is likely an upgrade over Stubbs as the backup.

Signed Yusmeiro Petit for 1 year, $4 million

One last little bullpen move. The veteran Petit rounds out the bottom of the bullpen, where he’s been incredibly steady for years running. He is capable of pitching multiple innings, has experience in any role, and most importantly is available on a cheap one year deal, so there isn’t too much downside. And hey, weakening Oakland’s bullpen is a plus.

Conclusion

Here is an idea of the opening day roster in 2021. Most anyone of note not pictured (Urquidy, Straw, Abreu, etc.) has minor league options and can compete for a roster spot and just isn’t on my rough draft of the roster.

Trying to remain competitive in 2021 without sacrificing pieces like Whitley and Toro in trades was important to me. I strongly believe this team can be a contender and is young, with many under team control for the next half decade. I’d love to hear criticism (and I’m sure I will!) We all agree we’re just trying to make the Astros the best they can be, everyone’s interpretation of that will be different.

Regardless, thank you so much for reading! (And if you’d like, you can scroll through the subreddit linked above and view the entire league’s offseason rather than just Houston’s.)