New Crush City Territory episode - GM Meetings recap - What Dana Brown had to say - Cam Smith - New coaching staff - Trade talks Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/49WX... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx77...

Dana Brown said the Astros have to “firm up” their outfield. Part of that calculation: is Cam Smith the everyday right fielder? Brown made it clear today: Smith doesn’t have a guaranteed roster spot headed into spring training - www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Hunter Brown finished third in American League Cy Young voting. He appeared on 29 of 30 ballots and received 24 third-place votes. The Astros get a draft pick after the first round in June's draft thanks to Brown's top-3 finish

Some injury updates from Dana Brown - Josh Hader has thrown off the mound three times and is progressing well - Yordan Alvarez is jogging at 65-70 percent, but is expected to be ready for spring training - Jeremy Peña and Jose Altuve are fine - Isaac Paredes is about 65 percent recovered

Dana Brown explained the thought process behind Houston's new-look hitting staff and why having such defined roles is a crucial part of it - www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Scott Boras said Hunter Brown "is in a special category of performance that is among the Cy-type pitchers." "Dana is fully aware of that and, surely, I'm sure they have a strong desire to keep him. What I always tell them is we'll certainly listen to what they have to say."

This is now official. Kenedy Corona, Luis Garcia and John Rooney also cleared waivers. Pedro León got claimed off waivers by the Orioles. Ronel Blanco, Zach Dezenzo, Kaleb Ort, Brandon Walter and Hayden Wesneski were activated off the 60-day IL and put back on the 40-man roster

Chas McCormick went unclaimed on outright waivers and will become a free agent, source tells @theathletic.com. McCormick has more than three years of major-league service time, which allows him to refuse an outright assignment.

New Crush City Territory episode with a special guest — Geoff Blum Blummer talks the offseason, answers hitting coach questions and looks back on his broadcast career Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6CrJ... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2BV...

The Astros are moving toward hiring San Diego Padres hitting coach Victor Rodriguez. Story with Dennis Lin - www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

New Crush City Territory episode with a special guest — Geoff Blum Blummer talks the offseason, answers hitting coach questions and looks back on his broadcast career Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6CrJ... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2BV...

The Astros will again play Team Venezuela in an exhibition game on March 3 in West Palm Beach. The two teams faced off in 2023 before the WBC, too.

Astros offseason outlook: Trade candidates, finding innings and Jose Altuve’s role - www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Millersville is D2, my apologies to the Marauders

Tuesday's decision was not surprising, but Chas McCormick must still be considered a scouting and player development success story — a 21st rounder from a D3 school starting 27 playoff games and making one of the most iconic catches in franchise history - www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

The Astros have placed outfielder Chas McCormick on outright waivers, source tells @theathletic.com, along with John Rooney, Kenedy Corona, Luis Garcia and Pedro León.

New Crush City Territory episode - World Series reactions - Hunter Brown earns a pick - Justin Verlander back? - Offseason priorities Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2bQ4... YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=ccjm...

Astros right-hander Hunter Brown is one of three finalists for the American League Cy Young Award. Because Brown is PPI eligible, the Astros will receive a compensatory pick after the first round in the 2026 draft if he finishes in the top-3 of voting.

The Astros will have to start a good bit of roster housekeeping this week. Their 40-man roster is technically at 37 players, but there are eight players on the 60-day IL that must be put back on the 40-man. Some DFAs, outrights or (minor) trades could be coming.

Mauricio Dubón won his second American League utility Gold Glove on Sunday night. He also won it in 2023.

Astros farm director Jacob Buffa is leaving the organization to become the St. Louis Cardinals international scouting director, sources tell @katiejwoo.bsky.social and me. Buffa, who had been with the Astros for seven years, is a Missouri State grad who has worked in the St. Louis area before.

Astros mailbag: Trade possibilities, veto power and the search for balance - www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

New Crush City Territory episode Astros prospect Walker Janek joins us to discuss his first year in pro ball and his success in the Arizona Fall League Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2XTU... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUF1...

Astros mailbag: Trade possibilities, veto power and the search for balance - www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Longtime Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy is leaving the team for a job with the Pittsburgh Pirates, sources tell @theathletic.com. Full story - www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

Longtime Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy is leaving the team for a job with the Pittsburgh Pirates, sources tell @theathletic.com. Full story - www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

If you have questions for an Astros mailbag running this week, submit them at this link - www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

Former Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker is headed to the New York Mets, where he will reunite with Jeff Albert, who was instrumental in bringing Snitker into the Astros' organization - www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

New Crush City Territory episode Some Astros-related lessons learned from watching the World Series. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7jJ3... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIRG...

New Crush City Territory episode Some Astros-related lessons learned from watching the World Series. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7jJ3... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIRG...

Nate Pearson said he had offers from other teams as a reliever, but the Astros approached him with the idea of turning him back into a starter. Dana Brown talked to him prior to signing about the ideas they had.

New Crush City Territory episode New Astros pitcher Nate Pearson joins to discuss his conversation with Dana Brown, his excitement to start again and why he chose Houston Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3VML... YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=e-zz...

Within are exclusive comments from Max Scherzer, who has been close with Tony Vitello since they were at Mizzou. Plus reaction from U of Arizona coach/former DBacks manager Chip Hale, former UT player Ben Joyce, and what Pat Murphy said when asked about Vitello yesterday (via the NY Post podcast).

New Crush City Territory episode - The 5 Astros who may not return in 2026 - Signing Nate Pearson - Me butchering an ad read Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/46HV... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd9P...

New Crush City Territory episode - The 5 Astros who may not return in 2026 - Signing Nate Pearson - Me butchering an ad read Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/46HV... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd9P...

Martín Maldonado announced his retirement this morning after a 15-year MLB career - www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Martín Maldonado announced his retirement this morning after a 15-year MLB career - www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

More on the Astros' agreement with former top prospect Nate Pearson, the first move of an offseason that should revolve around reinforcing the rotation - www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Probably should have noted this in the story, but Astros GM Dana Brown was running the Blue Jays' draft in 2017 when they took Nate Pearson in the first round

More on the Astros' agreement with former top prospect Nate Pearson, the first move of an offseason that should revolve around reinforcing the rotation - www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

The Astros are in agreement with right-handed pitcher Nate Pearson on a one-year, $1.35 million contract, pending physical, source tells @theathletic.com

New Crush City Territory episode - Which young players need to step up in 2026? - Daikin Park's nap room - Josh on his Yamamoto tweet Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0uVy... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4auj...

New Crush City Territory episode - Which young players need to step up in 2026? - Daikin Park's nap room - Josh on his Yamamoto tweet Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0uVy... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4auj...

The Astros have two Gold Glove finalists: Cam Smith in right field and Mauricio Dubón as a utility player.

New Crush City Territory episode - What's next after the staff changes? - Guessing Carlos Correa's dinner with Joe Espada - Trade Bryan Abreu or Yainer Diaz? Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4oTG... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_op...

New Crush City Territory episode - What's next after the staff changes? - Guessing Carlos Correa's dinner with Joe Espada - Trade Bryan Abreu or Yainer Diaz? Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4oTG... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_op...

It's all approximations and estimates, but here's an attempt to parse the Astros' 2026 payroll, which will probably need to be trimmed this winter - www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Emergency Crush City Territory episode Reacting to the Astros shaking up their staff and what comes next Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/36LD... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uySw...

An offensive overhaul is underway in Houston - www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

The Astros have fired head athletic trainer Jeremiah Randall, multiple sources tell @theathletic.com - www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...