Astros' Chas McCormick: Being pressured for roster spot
Rotowire
McCormick could be optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
McCormick has slashed .161/.409/.290 across 31 Grapefruit League at-bats, leading Rome to describe McCormick's role as the team's starter in right field as "tenuous at best." Several alternatives also appear to be on the table, including a demotion to Triple-A Sugar Land or being pushed to a reserve role. If McCormick loses playing time, Zach Dezenzo or Cam Smith would benefit.
McCormick is likely to begin the season as Houston's starting right fielder, but he will be on a short leash, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCormick had a very disappointing 2024 season, maintaining only a 66 wRC+ across 267 plate appearances. Due to Houston's lack of offseason additions in the outfield, he's likely to maintain a starting role by default, though he'll need to return to the form he showcased earlier in his career to maintain that status. McTaggart named Taylor Trammell (calf) as a potential playing time winner should McCormick continue to struggle.
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Astros' Chas McCormick: Settles at $3.4 million
Rotowire
The Astros and McCormick avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.4 million contract Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McCormick was arbitration-eligible this winter for the second time. The outfielder cratered to a .576 OPS in 94 regular-season games in 2024 following an .842 OPS in 2023. McCormick currently appears in line for regular playing time in 2025, although the Astros might not be done making roster additions.
Astros' Chas McCormick: On Houston's wild-card roster
Rotowire
The Astros activated McCormick (hand) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCormick has been sidelined since mid-September with a small fracture in his right hand, but he's progressed enough to be included on the team's wild-card roster. While an option to get some reps versus lefties, McCormick is not in the Game 1 lineup against southpaw Tarik Skubal.
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Astros' Chas McCormick: Expected to be on wild-card roster
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that McCormick (hand) should be "ready to go" for the wild-card series against the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McCormick has been shelved since mid-September with a small fracture in his right hand, but he's been working out for the past week and it appears he will be part of the Astros' wild-card roster. The switch-hitting outfielder has put up just a .577 OPS over 267 plate appearances in 2024.
McCormick (hand) will not accompany the Astros on their road trip to Cleveland this weekend, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
McCormick has been ramping up his activities and will continue to work out back in Houston, but he will not return from the 10-day injured list before the end of the regular season. The 29-year-old should still have a good shot to be ready in time for the wild-card round, provided he responds well to facing live pitching back in Houston this weekend. McCormick has put up a disappointing .577 OPS over 267 plate appearances in 2024, but he had gone 10-for-24 at the plate over his last eight games before fracturing his right hand in mid-September.
Astros general manager Dana Brown said that McCormick (hand) will resume swinging the bat Monday with the hope that the outfielder could return from the 10-day injured list for the team's weekend series in Cleveland, MLB.com reports.
McCormick has produced a poor .577 OPS over 267 plate appearances with Houston in 2024, but he had enjoyed his best stretch of the season over his most recent eight games (10-for-24 with a home run and 1:2 BB:K) before landing on the IL on Sept. 12 with a small fracture in his right hand. The 29-year-old is ready to begin ramping up again following a brief shutdown period, and if he's able to swing the bat at full velocity and without discomfort, he looks like he could return to the Astros' active roster before the regular season comes to a close.
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