Astros general manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Smith could begin next season at Triple-A Sugar Land "if he hasn't turned the corner," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Brown remains high on Smith's potential, saying he "could be a star one day," but added that "we're going to need him to be more consistent." Smith forced his way onto the Astros' Opening Day roster with a huge showing in spring training, but he went on to slash just .236/.312/.358 with nine home runs and a 27.8 percent strikeout rate across 134 contests. The rookie started only six of the Astros' final 20 games, including just two of their final 16 tilts versus right-handed pitching. Smith did play a surprisingly solid right field, a position he had never manned before. Slated to turn 23 in February, Smith should enter spring training with a chance to win a starting job, but some seasoning in the minors might not be the worst thing for him and the Astros. The 2024 first-round pick has logged just 32 games and 134 plate appearances at the minor-league level.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Resumes jogging
Rotowire
General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Alvarez (ankle) has begun jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez suffered a severe left ankle sprain during the final weeks of the regular season. Brown's comments indicate that the 28-year-old is coming along nicely in his recovery, and the GM added that he expects Alvarez to be ready to go by the start of spring training. The righty-hitting slugger also missed significant time in 2025 due to a fracture in his right hand and finished the season with just a .797 OPS across 199 plate appearances.
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Astros' Josh Hader: Throwing off mound
Rotowire
General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Hader (shoulder) has thrown off a mound three times, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Hader's season ended in mid-August after he suffered a left shoulder strain, but he appears to be progressing well in his rehab program. The Astros have yet to establish a return timeline for the lefty closer, however, so his availability for the start of spring training remains unknown.
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Astros' Kenedy Corona: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Corona was outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Corona was placed on waivers Tuesday and went unclaimed. He's eligible to become a free agent, but could also stick around as organizational depth.
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Astros' Brandon Walter: Added back to 40-man roster
Rotowire
Walter (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
This move is procedural as the Astros set their 40-man roster for the offseason. Walter is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2026 season.
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Astros' John Rooney: Outrighted to Sugar Land
Rotowire
Rooney (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list and outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Rooney underwent elbow surgery in September, though the exact nature of the operation is unclear. He's now eligible to be a free agent but could elect to stick around as organizational depth in Houston.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Shifts off injured list
Rotowire
Wesneski (elbow) was activated from the injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
This move was procedural as the Astros get their 40-man roster in order for the offseason. Wesneski will be sidelined until at least the middle of the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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Astros' Zach Dezenzo: Back from IL
Rotowire
Dezenzo (elbow/hand) was activated from the injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Dezenzo was on a rehab assignment when the season ended, so he'll presumably be healthy for spring training. He'll likely compete for a bench role to begin 2026.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Removed from injured list
Rotowire
Blanco (elbow) was activated from the injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
This move was strictly procedural, as Blanco is recovering from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace. He is expected to miss most of the 2026 season.
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Astros' Kaleb Ort: Activated from IL
Rotowire
Ort (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Ort was sidelined for the final month of the regular season with elbow inflammation. He'll presumably be ready to start spring training on the mound, though there hasn't been any official timeline from the team.
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Astros' Pedro Leon: Waived by Astros
Rotowire
The Astros placed Leon (knee) on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Leon spent all of 2025 on the injured list while battling knee problems, though he managed to slash .241/.312/.422 over 94 Triple-A plate appearances across multiple rehab assignments. He may be fully healthy by the time the 2026 season starts, but he will most likely remain in the minor leagues as organizational depth.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Placed on outright waivers
Rotowire
The Astros placed Garcia (elbow) on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Garcia has already been ruled out for the entire 2026 campaign -- his final year of team control -- after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow in October. Having pitched just 34.2 innings over the past three seasons, the injury-prone right-hander is unlikely to be claimed by another club.
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Astros' Kenedy Corona: Waived by Houston
Rotowire
The Astros placed Corona on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Corona spent the vast majority of his time at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2025, finishing the season with a .220/.308/.326 slash line through 433 plate appearances. If he clears waivers, he will most likely return to Sugar Land and begin the 2026 season as organizational outfield depth.
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Astros' John Rooney: Placed on waivers
Rotowire
The Astros placed Rooney (elbow) on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Rooney made his MLB debut in 2025, giving up one run and striking out two batters over 1.1 innings against the Orioles on Aug. 24. All of his other appearances came in Triple-A, where he finished the season with a 2.56 ERA and 1.19 WHIP through 38.2 frames. His year was cut short in September by elbow surgery, and it remains unknown whether he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign.
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Astros' Chas McCormick: Waived by Astros
Rotowire
The Astros placed McCormick on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
McCormick was one of five players waived by Houston on Tuesday in an effort to free up roster space heading into the offseason. If he passes through waivers unclaimed, the 30-year-old outfielder will have the option to reject his assignment and become a free agent. After posting a .786 OPS through his first three seasons in the majors, McCormick has regressed considerably at the plate, slashing just .211/273/.301 across 383 plate appearances since 2024.
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Astros' Peter Lambert: Gets MiLB deal from Astros
Rotowire
The Astros signed Lambert to a minor-league contract Monday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.
Lambert spent the 2025 campaign pitching for the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball, collecting a 3.98 ERA and 111:54 K:BB over 124.1 innings. The 28-year-old has posted a 6.98 ERA over 74 appearances (38 starts) at the big-league level for the Rockies and will likely begin the 2026 season as rotation depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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