With Meyers Gone and Varsho a Free Agent, Who Plays Center Field for Houston

With Jake Meyers gone and Daulton Varsho entering free agency, who will take over center field for the Astros in 2027? Could we see more of Brice Matthews and Lucas Spence, or will Houston need to look outside the organization?

The Houston Astros may lack some depth in the outfield, but they do have a handful of younger players who could play a larger role in 2027, as well as some trade rumors floating around.

After the Astros outrighted Meyers from their 40-man roster, the veteran outfielder elected free agency. He played nearly 500 games in center field for Houston since 2021, more than twice as many as any other Astro during that span (MLB.com). He also started four consecutive Opening Days in center field.

The Astros' outfield ranked 29th of 30 teams in OPS. Houston got Daulton Varsho from Toronto as a rental on August 3, and he’s now a free agent. Then, Joey Loperfido had hip surgery. Looking at their outfielders as a whole, the group looks thin.

If Houston looks internally, Spence and Matthews are two options.

Lucas Spence, conveniently a center fielder, had an explosive run at the end of the season. Although it was short-lived, it would be interesting to see how he would do with more time in the majors. He is a solid defender and was absolutely dominant at the plate. The question is whether he can maintain that production over a full season or if it was a fluke. Either way, his spark at the end of the season earned him two postseason starts, and that says something as they head into 2027.

Brice Matthews, a center fielder who spent a lot of time out there in 2026, didn’t have a particularly good season. He struggled at the plate, batting .201. Matthews has spent a lot more time in the majors than Spence, but he has some improving to do before earning a regular spot.

Both players are still working to earn a regular position, but the Astros do have them in their back pocket.

The likely outcome from this situation is developing the younger generation and adding an outside player to the outfield to give them depth. Now, if Spence can replicate his explosive performance in 2027, the Astros need to look no further. They are set for center field. But it is hard to know if the younger players can handle that kind of workload.