Astros left fielder/designated hitter Michael Brantley will likely begin the season on the injured list, manager Dusty Baker confirmed to reporters this morning (Twitter links via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). Baker also announced that fellow left fielder/DH Yordan Alvarez will make his spring debut on Thursday after missing all of the team’s Grapefruit League games thus far due to soreness in his left hand. The ’Stros also optioned lefty reliever Matt Gage to Triple-A this morning, making an all-right-handed bullpen likely to begin the season.
Brantley, 35, underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last summer. He’s yet to appear in a game this spring, although that’s in part due to a pair of leaves he’s taken while tending to an unspecified family matter. Brantley was participating in hitting drills on the field in late February, but the team hasn’t provided a formal timeline for when or whether he’ll get into a spring game.
Houston re-signed Brantley to a one-year, $12MM contract over the winter, setting the stage for his fifth straight year as an Astro. Though the aforementioned shoulder injury limited him to just 277 plate appearances in 64 games last season, he remained productive when healthy, batting .288/.370/.416 with a higher walk rate than strikeout rate (11.2% versus 10.8%). Brantley has long been one of the toughest strikeouts in the game, and he’s been excellent in his four seasons with the Astros: .306/.368/.464 (128 wRC+).
As for Alvarez, the Astros have continually been coy when it comes to revealing much in the way of details on the still-nebulous hand ailment that has bothered the slugger dating back to 2022. Alvarez had soreness in both hands last summer, but Baker has regularly eschewed specifics regarding the injury. Both Baker and GM Dana Brown have continually voiced confidence that Alvarez, who hit .306/.406/.613 with 37 home runs in just 135 games last season, will be ready for Opening Day. A Thursday in-game debut would give him a week’s worth of plate appearances to ramp up.
Turning to the bullpen, Gage was the lone remaining lefty candidate on the spring roster. Both Blake Taylor and Parker Mushinski are expected to open the season on the injured list, and Houston opted not to re-sign Will Smith or bring in any of the many free-agent lefties available this winter. It’s always possible that a small trade, waiver claim or free-agent signing alters the calculus between now and Opening Day, but it seems increasingly likely that they simply won’t have a left-handed reliever come Opening Day.
That’s familiar territory for the Astros, who have been regularly light on left-handed bullpen arms in recent seasons. Houston didn’t carry a lefty reliever on its ALDS or ALCS roster during the 2022 postseason, for instance. That hasn’t proven to be a major issues for the Astros, due largely to the strength of their right-handed relievers even in typically disadvantageous platoon spots. Houston’s righty relievers not only lack glaring platoon splits but have dominated left-handed hitters. Each of Hector Neris, Bryan Abreu, Ryne Stanek, Rafael Montero and closer Ryan Pressly held lefties to a batting average of .205 or lower, an OBP of .287 or lower, and a wOBA of .240 or lower in 2022.
Uff da!
ReSigning Brantley was one of Houston ‘s few MAJOR mistakes. They need a LH bat and Benintendi was a FAR better choice.
You make it sound as if the Astros could just wave a wand and—presto!—Benintendi would have signed with Houston, no questions asked.
We signed Brantley for 1 season. The ridiculously overrated benintendi was signed for 5? Yordan and Brantley will split time at LF and DH. Brantley was a risk coming off shoulder surgery but he’s still terrific at the plate. Benny is too young a player to have zero power and be a left fielder only. Your statement makes zero sense. We have Drew Gilbert, a left handed superstar ofer waiting in the wings. Most of our high minors prospects are ofers.
I mean, let’s not act like Benintendi has never shown decent power and Brantley has been a slugger his entire career. They both have four seasons with a dozen or more home runs, similar career slugging percentages, and Benintendi has a higher isolated slugging. Not saying that Benintendi would have solved all the Astros’ problems, but still.
You misunderstood my complaint. Brantley has zero power at this juncture of his career. I thought that was obvious. But he’s 36, coming off his 3rd right shoulder surgery, and only conjured up a one year deal. Andrew Benintendi has no excuses for minimal power except for the fact he was an overrated prospect out of Arkansas to begin with. The Astros aren’t perfect. They make mistakes. Resigning Brantley isn’t one of them.
It was only 2021 when Benintendi hit 17 home runs with a .166 isolated slugging percentage. I get what you are saying with Brantley, but 2022 was the first full season of Benni’s career with an SLG% below .420. It’s only a projection, but ZIPS has him rebounding to a .420 SLG% and 14 home runs.
75 million for a light hitting corner ofer is a lot of money. I’m not obsessed with power like some but if you are going to be a corner ofer making 75 million I would expect a lot more. Benny is a good player but he never became what he was supposed to be. It’s why hes on his 4th team by 28 years old.
Yordan having problems with both hands….could be a neck issue.
Absolutely right. MRI of cervical spine would be a good idea.
Who are the Trashtros? A new expansion team?
Tune in to the World Series this year toga. You’ll be watching the Trashtros go back2back.
Bullpen problems? Nobody in Houston is worried. They are so much better than the rest of the division it would take a lot more than Altuve being out for 2 months for any team to be within 10 games.
Rooting for injuries? Maybe being a fan of sports is not for you. You should join a sewing circle.
He/she needs a therapist. Wishing injuries upon others is not normal.
The that’s thing: I don’t need to feel ashamed of my past mistakes because they do not define me. I don’t need to pretend to be tough because pointing out how your desire to see other people who have not wronged you get hurt is a sign of desperate-need-for-help has nothing to do with toughness. Yes, exercise your right to throw morals out the window and be screwed-up individiual.
lol
and this is why I said a thousand times SIGN YULI!!!!!!
To play LF?
to cover 1B and DH, with either Alvarez or Brantley in LF – thus, whenever Abreu, Alvarez, or Brantley is injured, we’re good.
The Astros had better options. I love Yuli, but there’s a reason he had to settle for a minor league deal on a non-contender.
Cheaters
Michael Brantley brings class and dignity to the Astros IL, and will continue to do so for most likely the entirety of the season.
Twisted Sister, wanting injuries indicates you need professional help!
Brantley will be back by week two, Tuve will be back by June, Yordan won’t miss any time. All the well wishes by the rest of the league are just that, wishes. The same thing they experienced watching us raise the trophy again last year. Enjoy watching Houston cruise to 100 wins again. We’ll see you losers in October, again. Hate us cause you ain’t us. #wewanthouston