Oh I guess the Winter Meetings started, marking the end of this eternal offseason slumber...in theory, anyway. Let's see who said what and what it may or may not mean.  *Dana Brown is "not entertaining" trading Alex Bregman. Check out this Chandler Rome article, where he's as incredulous as I am that Dana Brown and Jim Crane haven't discussed a budget yet. *The Astros will get a 4th option year on Forrest Whitley, who will apparently report to Spring Training as a reliever, because Dana Brown is "not interested in overpaying for a reliever." That's smart. Because some idiot gave Rafael ..read more

Good morning. It appears as though the Astros have their new manager, and will announce Joe Espada as the 20th manager in franchise history at a press conference today at 11am. Espada was hired by A.J. Hinch from the Yankees to be Alex Cora's replacement as bench coach. I got it wrong, I didn't think the Astros would be willing to hire Espada.  Obviously this is going to be good news for Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, Ryan Pressly, and anyone else who has been with the Astros since 2018 because it provides continuity. There's (probably) not going to be this massive change in ..read more

It's time for the GM Meetings, so of course we're going to hear more from Scott Boras than we will Mariah Carey on the radio for the next few days. Unless everyone poops themselves to death and the GM Meetings end early. UPDATE: Everyone's bowels is definitely loose. GM Meetings have been canceled. *Boras said there have been positive interactions towards extensions for both Altuve and Bregman, but nothing formally yet. GM Dana Brown: I think that we understand they have one more year left. And we want to sign them. I think they're interested in being here. I think it's just going to take time ..read more

The Ramgers won the World Series. I hate it. But they went 11-0, outscoring opponents 71-29, on the road in the postseason, defeating the Rays, Orioles, and Astros on the way to the World Series. I hate them, but you can't argue with that.  ESPN: Inside the Ramgers' rapid rebuild. Teams that have not won a World Series: San Diego, Seattle It is 114 days until the Astros' first Spring Training game of 2024.  It is 147 days until Opening Day.  *Dana Brown gave an update on the Astros' search for a new manager: We're not going to rush through this. So there's not really a timefrane ..read more

This isn't Breaking News, but here's a handy little guide to the Astros' future payroll commitments: Name 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 Jose Altuve $29m Yordan Alvarez $10.83m $15.83m $26.83m $26.83m $26.83m Alex Bregman $30.5m Justin Verlander $18.3m* Lance McCullers $17.7m $17.7m $17.7m Rafael Montero $11.5m $11.5m Cristian Javier $7.4m $10.4m $21.4m $21.4m Jose Abreu $19.5m $19.5m Kendall Graveman $8m Ryan Pressly $14m $14m^ *The Mets are paying $25m of Verlander's 2024 salary ^Pressly's has a $14m mutual option in 2025, or the Astr ..read more

*The World Series, which they're still playing for some reason, is tied 1-1. Game 3 is in Arizona tonight. FanGraphs has it Six Flags 52.2 - 47.8 Arizona. *Six Astros whose surprise 2023s could lead to more in 2024. *ESPN: That iconic moment in baseball history? Dusty Baker was probably there. *Dusty hit up Trill Burgers. *Ryan Pressly hit a free throw before yesterday's Rockets game for $5,000. *Yordan went to the Dynamo game. *Astros in the Arizona Fall League: Zach Dezenzo: 16G/65ABs, .231/.333/.446, 22K:8BB. Kenedy Corona: 4G/13ABs, .154/.214/.154, 3K:1BB. Miguel Palma: 12G/42ABs, .095/.17 ..read more

It's the first Post-Dusty Day in Astros history.  Quotes from Dusty Day: Dusty: It was probably the quickest four years I've ever spent in my life. But that's what happens when you win. They were winning when I got here, winning while I was here and I wish them well. Jim Crane, to Dusty: You came in and helped us when we needed some help, and you did a great job. And I think you are the only guy that can do that in the business. You did a fantastic job, and the record speaks for itself. You will be missed, I know the players will miss you...You're a great guy and a great friend and thank ..read more

Ready for a break from the gah dang Houston Astros? TOO BAD. There's news. *There's a Press Conference today at 11am at Minute Maid Park, presumably to announce the retirement of Dusty Baker. Last night I wrote up some thoughts about Dusty Baker's tenure with the Astros, and ended with a Barry Switzer quote in reference to Jim Crane, which was predictably (and this is likely some fault of my own, since I was very tired and just wanted to go to bed and didn't explain it very well) misinterpreted. The "he was born on third base and thought he hit a triple" has nothing to do with Jim Crane's net ..read more

Astros manager Dusty Baker apparently told Jim Crane this afternoon (Wednesday, October 25) that he is retiring. A press conference will be held on Thursday at noon at Minute Maid Park. Dusty: I'm very grateful and thankful to Jim Crane and the Houston Astros for giving me this opportunity, and to win a championship. I felt like they've been good for me, and I've been good for them. What I really appreciate is that Jim has been totally honest and transparent with me on all things. Dusty would like to remain in an advisory role, either with the Astros or with a team closer to his home in Sacr ..read more

I don't care who wins the NLCS, I will be their biggest fan for the next two weeks, despite the fact that I'll likely not watch a minute of the World Series. This is a time for resetting, for reacquaintance, for recharging. More at the end. To the Links: *Only two teams in MLB history have lost all four home games in a seven-game series: the 2019 Astros and the 2023 Astros. As much as I hate the Rangers right now, I might hate the Astros just as much.  *Chas McCormick, who got 16 plate appearances in seven games in the ALCS: I mean, we just didn't play well enough at home. That's what ..read more