The Houston Astros made a surprising move by releasing Jon Singleton, their primary first baseman from last season, just two days after he was informed he would not be on the opening day roster. Singleton, now a free agent, had cleared waivers and is out of minor-league options. With the Astros signing Christian Walker during the offseason, Singleton found himself in a tough competition for a bench role that ultimately led to this decision.

Manager Joe Espada expressed that the choice was difficult due to Singleton's contributions last season, during which he recorded a 103 OPS-plus in 119 games. Singleton's journey with the Astros has been a rollercoaster, as this was his second stint with the organization. The team will need to evaluate their first base depth and explore potential replacements as they prepare for the upcoming season.