The Astros made another trade, acquiring pitcher Mike Burrows from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 26-year-old wasn’t making headlines, but he was having a solid rookie season. Good enough for the Astros to trade two of their younger players for Burrows.
Mike Burrows has shown steady growth in his first two seasons with the Pirates. He made his MLB debut in 2024, pitching 3.1 innings in one game and allowing just one earned run with two strikeouts. In 2025, he became a regular in the rotation, starting 19 of 23 games and throwing 96 innings with a 3.94 ERA.
He struck out 97 batters, walked 31, and gave up 13 home runs, holding opponents to a .243 batting average and posting a 1.24 WHIP. Over his career so far, Burrows has 3 wins and 4 losses with a 3.90 ERA in 99.1 innings, striking out 99 batters while keeping hitters to a .241 average, per MLB. He’s shown he can take regular innings and be a reliable arm in different roles, giving teams flexibility when managing the rotation.
Could Burrows fill the gap in the pitching rotation the Astros had? Only time will tell. When spring training arrives, Burrows can show Houston what he is capable of. He may not be making headlines, but he clearly grabbed Houston’s attention. If he can continue his steady development, Burrows could be an important piece for the Astros’ rotation in 2026.