The new year brought the most exciting addition to the Astros this offseason. The first big splash they made for the offseason and the year was signing Japanese starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai. While this offseason isn’t over just yet, let’s take a look at the new players putting on an Astros jersey for the first time. Through trades, signings, Rule 5 picks, and top prospects, who do Houston fans need to get to know before the season starts?
New Faces To See in 2026:
Tatsuya Imai (Starting Pitcher) – Signed January 5, 2026
Known for his dominant fastball, slider, and competitive presence on the mound, Imai is motivated for a world championship.
Nate Pearson (Starting Pitcher) — acquired November 17, 2025 (trade)
A hard-throwing righty with a ton of strikeout potential.
Nick Allen (Infielder) — acquired November 19, 2025 (trade)
A solid infielder who can really cover ground.
Ryan Weiss (Starting Pitcher) — signed December 9, 2025 (free agent)
Weiss comes over from the KBO with a strong track record of strikeouts and innings. Could be a solid addition to the rotation.
Roddery Muñoz (Relief Pitcher) — Rule 5 Draft, December 10, 2025
A high-upside bullpen arm, Muñoz can bring some strikeouts in key spots.
Mike Burrows (Starting Pitcher) — acquired December 19, 2025 (trade)
A young righty with a lot of promise, Burrows could compete for rotation innings right away.
Prospects Added to the 40-Man Roster
Miguel Ullola (Starting Pitcher) — added November 18, 2025 (40-man roster)
A young righty with a high strikeout rate. Now protected on the 40-man roster, he could log some big-league innings in 2026 and add some excitement to the rotation.
The Astros have been on a hot streak for many years, but every team finds itself rebuilding at some point. Would you call this a full rebuild or just a revamp? They still have their core, like Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Jeremy Peña, and now they have seven new players, five of them starting pitchers, with one of those pitchers being the most exciting addition of the entire offseason so far. Spring training is right around the corner, and the Astros will give the first glimpse of how they will perform in the 2026 season. Who are you most excited to see next year?