With the season over and Joe Espada's future uncertain, the Astros face a pitching staff in need of help and a handful of young players that might see more playing time in 2027.
1. What is next for Joe Espada?
Dana Brown was let go in August. Espada was informed his contract would not be renewed after the season. Espada was given the option to leave in August or stay and finish the season, and he chose to stay. However, owner Jim Crane later said that the decision on Espada’s future would come at the end of the season. Now that the Wild Card is over, his contract has expired. Espada has said he wants to return, but his fate is on hold for now. Espada and Crane are expected to meet to discuss his future and the team's future.
2. What do they need for their pitching staff?
The Astros’ pitching staff caused problems all season long. Between injuries and shaky performances, the staff continued to thin. They spent much of the offseason trying to beef up their pitching staff, but it didn't pay off for a couple of reasons. For one, many of their key arms went down early in the season. Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier both had right shoulder strains, and they had Hayden Wesneski and Ronel Blanco out with Tommy John surgery. Beyond losing key players to injuries, their pitching additions didn't pan out the way anyone hoped. One of the biggest stories was Tatsuya Imai. Imai was supposed to be a game-changer for this team, but after countless disappointing starts, he was finally moved to the bullpen. Prioritizing pitching depth is a must again this offseason. On top of needing to stay healthy for 2027, they need a few more strong starters to make sure they don't wear out the few arms that held this staff together this season.
3. What young players could we see more of in 2027?
With all the injuries the Astros sustained this season, a few young players got a chance to show what they have to offer. Based on a few of their performances in 2026, we might see more of them next season. On the mound, players like Miguel Ullola and Ethan Pecko both made their debuts this season. Ullola debuted earlier than expected because of the thinning staff, but he showed he can hold his ground on the major league mound. Is he ready to be a full-time starter? It will be interesting to see how he develops this offseason. Ethan Pecko has had his ups and downs on the major league mound, but has also shown he can hold his own. Then there is one of the biggest stories from the final stretch of the regular season: Lucas Spence. Spence came up and tore it up during their series against the Athletics. He was a major contributor and earned himself back-to-back starts in the playoffs. He will definitely be a part of the conversation for 2027 after his explosive performance.
