Houston’s offseason plan centers on preserving core stability while addressing two free-agent questions. Framber Valdez and Victor Caratini are the only consequential free agents from the current roster, with Valdez anchoring the rotation and Caratini handling catching. The rest of the star core—Altuve, Alvarez, Peña, and Brown among others—remains under team control for the near term, creating room to balance extensions, arbitration, and payroll without a full rebuild.

Beyond Valdez and Caratini, the horizon features a mix of arbitration-eligible depth and aging or longer-term contracts. Key decisions will revolve around how aggressively Houston retains or replaces pieces like Abreu, Dubón, Urías, and McCullers, while mapping out long-term commitments for a championship window that runs through the late 2020s and into 2030s via extensions and option structure.

Houston closed its season with a 6-2 win over the Angels, finishing 87-75 and ending an eight-year playoff run. The finale showcased the Astros’ power surge—four homers in two innings—while rookie Colton Gordon delivered five scoreless frames. Lance McCullers Jr. returned from the IL to log three innings, providing a glimmer of a potential late-season reset for Houston.

Yainer Diaz, Ramón Urías, Brice Matthews and Victor Caratini all went deep as Houston totaled 182 homers for the year, a modest total that underscored a power-driven finish. Mike Trout supplied a signature moment for L.A., but the Astros’ young core and a healthy McCullers set the tone for a pivotal offseason and a retooled 2026 rotation.

Offseason questions loom: Peña went on the injured list, and Houston must decide on rotation roles with Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier as anchors. Manager Joe Espada emphasized reset and work this winter, as the team aims to recapture its championship pursuit after missing the dance despite strong finish and power in the finale.

Altuve battled a painful right foot while Houston’s postseason bid unraveled, forcing him to play through the discomfort as the Astros were eliminated. He previously left a Sept. 13 game with right foot issues, then returned to start 11 straight games at second base before the season’s end.

A slew of injuries plagued Houston down the stretch: Alvarez sprained an ankle, Peña strained an oblique, Meyers missed time with calf soreness, and Paredes battled hamstring and running limitations. Espada pulled Altuve, Paredes and Correa in the finale, underscoring how the club fought through injuries for the city and a fading playoff chance.

Fantasy managers should monitor the offseason medical notes as the team plans rest and rehab, especially for Altuve’s durability and the lineup’s overall health. The ripple effect on Houston’s 2025 projections could hinge on whether these stars recover fully and how the organization prioritizes depth and rotation as they chase a return to contention.

Houston's eight-year playoff run ends as Cleveland clinches the final AL playoff berth with a 3-2 win over Texas. The decisive moment came when C.J. Kayfus was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth, delivering the go-ahead run for the Guardians. Houston's season sagged under injuries and upheaval—Yordan Alvarez missed significant time, Alex Bregman left for Boston, Kyle Tucker went to Chicago, and Hader, Peña, and Paredes spent stretches on the IL. Seattle surged, Oakland steadied up, and Detroit kept pace, but the Astros will miss the postseason for the first time since 2016. The Guardians advance, and Houston’s offseason starts with a broad reckoning.

From a fantasy lens, Cleveland’s ascent signals a depth-forward approach with a resilient bullpen and a young core, while Houston’s rebuild will reframe value with new faces and potential late-round standouts. The domino effect across the AL West and Central should reshape draft boards and strategy for 2026.