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 -- Kyle Tucker will be manning right field at Wrigley Field, and the future for free agents Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander remains up in the air. Regardless, the Astros will have a different look in 2025, but the club insists its window of contention remains wide open coming off its eighth consecutive trip to the playoffs in 2024.

If Bregman and Verlander don¡¯t return, that would leave Jose Altuve, who signed a contract extension prior to last season to remain with the Astros for the rest of his career, and pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., who has missed the past two seasons due to injury, as the only two remaining members of Houston's 2017 World Series championship team.

The optimism in Houston stems from Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Yainer Diaz coming back to lead the offense, the additions of Isaac Paredes from the Cubs in the Tucker trade and slugging first baseman Christian Walker via free agency, a rotation anchored by Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown and Ronel Blanco, and a bullpen that returns Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader. The Astros have the makings of a playoff team, but what level of contender depends on what they do next.

Here¡¯s a look ahead to the Astros in 2025:

One free-agent target who would still be a perfect fit: OF Randal Grichuk
The Astros have a need for outfield help, and Grichuk would love to play for his hometown team. After agreeing to a three-year, $60 million deal with free-agent first baseman Walker, the Astros are already over the projected Competitive Balance Tax for next season, so any further significant deals may require freeing up some payroll. (Trading Pressly remains an option.) Grichuk, 33, slashed .291/.348/.528 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs in 106 games last season for the D-backs in arguably one of the best years of his career. The loss of Tucker makes Houston¡¯s lineup more right-handed, so the Astros may prefer a left-handed bat (Grichuk hits right-handed) if they make any additional moves.

One player poised to have a breakout season: RHP Spencer Arrighetti
Arrighetti reached the big leagues earlier than expected last season because of injuries to Houston¡¯s starters, and he more than held his own as a rookie. He made 28 starts and showed the potential of a frontline starter at times, including back-to-back outings in which he struck out a combined 25 batters on Aug. 4 and Aug. 10. Arrighetti posted a 4.53 ERA in 145 innings with 171 strikeouts, 65 walks and 21 homers. In 80 innings prior to the All-Star break, he had a 5.63 ERA and an .802 opponents¡¯ OPS. In 65 innings after the break, he had a 3.18 ERA and a .697 opponents¡¯ OPS.

One prospect to watch in 2025: 3B Cam Smith
Smith (Houston's No. 1 prospect, No. 73 overall in MLB), who was acquired from the Cubs in the Tucker trade, put up terrific offensive numbers in his pro debut last season. Taken by Chicago with the No. 14 overall pick in the MLB Draft in July out of Florida State, the 21-year-old slashed .313/.396/.609 in 32 games combined between Single-A Myrtle Beach, High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee. Smith played third base in the Cubs' system, but Astros general manager Dana Brown said he will play some right field and first base, as well. If Smith hits well in his first full season in pro ball, he could reach the Major Leagues sooner than later.

One prediction for the new year: RHP Hunter Brown will win the 2025 AL Cy Young Award
OK, that¡¯s a bold prediction, especially with Detroit¡¯s Tarik Skubal coming off a unanimous AL Cy Young Award win and looking like a guy who might win a few more. Brown¡¯s breakout season was something to behold, though, and it was one of the Astros' biggest storylines of 2024. After going 0-4 with a 9.78 ERA in his first six starts, he added a sinker to his repertoire on May 5 and it opened up his entire arsenal. Brown went 11-5 with a 2.51 ERA in 147 innings in his final 25 games (24 starts), and he pitched with the stuff and confidence of an ace.