With roster expansion around the corner, Astros considering their options
When rosters expand from 25 to 40 on September 1, teams in contention will be looking to maximize their depth as they try to juggle the rigors of a postseason push with making sure their everyday players aren't burnt out.
The Houston Astros, who currently have a somewhat comfortable five and a half game lead in the AL West over the Texas Rangers, will be dipping into their rich farm system for reinforcements.
However, as Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reported on Wednesday, the Astros won't be calling up every flashy prospect possible. Rather, they'll likely promote at least four players, all of which will have complementary roles on the team in the month of September.
According to Drellich, Houston plans to recall outfielder Preston Tucker, relief pitcher Josh Fields, catcher Max Stassi and a left-handed reliever.
This list doesn't even include George Springer, though the slugger is currently making his way through the recovery process after undergoing wrist surgery in early July.
As manager A.J. Hinch told Drellich, the team has to weigh the positives and negatives of promoting a young player who might not play every day versus letting him continue developing in the minors: “Couple different waves. I would expect a couple guys on the first and a couple guys trickle in. … We’ve got playoffs in Double A and Triple A, so we’ll try to balance the value of having guys here vs. continuing their season and staying sharp by playing."
Drellich also suggests that a few other players - among them outfielder L.J. Hoes, lefty reliever Joe Thatcher and infielder Jonathan Villar - are viable candidates for September promotions as well.
(h/t Houston Chronicle)
