Projecting Astros' Opening Day roster: Who could make the cut?

HOUSTON ¨C The Astros figure to have more competition at the back half of their roster this spring than they have in recent years, with budget-minded trades and free agent departures impacting their depth. There are opportunities for some less-than-household names ¨C as well as some prospects ¨C to put themselves on the radar with a strong showing when Spring Training begins this week.

As the Astros prepare to head to West Palm Beach, Fla., for the start of camp (pitchers and catchers hit the field on Thursday), we¡¯ll take a shot at predicting what the 26-man roster could look like on Opening Day:

Catchers (2): Yainer Diaz, Victor Caratini
Diaz will be the starting catcher with Caratini backing him up for the second year in a row. The pair combined to start all but seven of the Astros¡¯ 161 games last year.

First baseman (1): Christian Walker
Walker, who signed a three-year deal worth $60 million on Dec. 23, quietly established himself as one of the game¡¯s top first basemen over the past three seasons, pairing strong production at the plate with elite glove work. He¡¯s won three consecutive National League Gold Gloves at first base.

Second baseman (1): Jose Altuve
Altuve has started at second base on Opening Day in 12 of the past 13 seasons (he was injured in 2023) and appears in line to start there in ¡¯25, unless the experiment of moving him to left field comes to fruition.

Shortstop (1): Jeremy Pe?a
Pe?a¡¯s fourth season as the Astros¡¯ starting shortstop will come without third baseman Alex Bregman playing to his right for the first time. Pe?a posted a 100 OPS+ last year while playing in a career-high 157 games.

Third baseman (1): Isaac Paredes
Acquired from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade, Paredes is the starter at third base, though he can also play second and first base. He¡¯s a right-handed pull hitter who could take advantage of the Crawford Boxes at Daikin Park in 2025.

Outfielders (4): Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers, Ben Gamel, Zach Dezenzo
With the Astros preferring for Yordan Alvarez to get most of his at-bats at DH and Tucker having been traded, there¡¯s plenty of at-bats to be had in the outfield. Dezenzo can play some third base as well, and he joins Taylor Trammell in the mix for an outfield spot.

DH (1): Yordan Alvarez
The slugger started 53 games in left field last year (and 94 at DH) and the team wants to keep him at DH for the most part this year to keep him healthy.

Bench/Utility (2): Mauricio Dub¨®n, Jon Singleton
Dub¨®n, who started at seven positions last year, is one of the most versatile utility players in the game, and Singleton could provide some left-handed pop off the bench. The Astros could carry another infielder if Altuve starts the season in left field, giving non-roster invitees Jesus Bastidas and Zack Short a path to make the club.

Starting Pitchers (5): Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Spencer Arrighetti, Hayden Wesneski
Valdez, Brown, Blanco and Arrighetti ¨C each of whom made at least 28 starts last year ¨C will anchor the rotation. Wesneski, acquired from the Cubs in the Tucker trade, is penciled in as the No. 5 starter, but the Astros used 12 starting pitchers last year, leaving plenty of room for somebody to emerge. Prospects Ryan Gusto and Colton Gordon (No. 12 in Houston's system) will be given good looks in the spring.

Relief Pitchers (8): Josh Hader, Bryan Abreu, Tayler Scott, Bryan King, Kaleb Ort, Forrest Whitley, Shawn Dubin, Rafael Montero
The Ryan Pressly trade left the Astros without a key bullpen arm for ¡®25. Hader returns as closer, and Abreu gets moved into the eighth-inning setup role. Scott, who posted a 2.23 ERA in 68 2/3 innings last year before ending the season on the injured list, and Montero, who was designated for assignment last year and is a non-roster invite this spring, are the next most experienced arms in the bullpen. Dubin (45 1/3 innings in ¡®24), King (26 1/3 innings), Ort (24 2/3 innings) and Whitley, who was at Triple-A most of last season, are next in line to provide innings, and Nick Hernandez, Luis Contreras and Steven Okert are among those in the competition.