The Astros selected Munoz with the eighth pick of the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.
Munoz, 25, actually has plenty of MLB experience, unlike most Rule 5 picks. The hard-throwing righty logged 83.2 innings in the majors for Miami in 2024 before spending 2025 in the Cardinals organization, working primarily as a reliever at Triple-A. Munoz had a 3.28 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 76:30 K:BB in 57.2 innings last season at Triple-A.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Slated for designated hitter duty
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like Alvarez (ankle) to "spend most of his season" at designated hitter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez started 32 games at DH and 15 in left field during his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, and Houston wants to limit his time in the field in hopes that it will help keep him healthy. While it makes sense for the Astros to do everything they can to keep Alvarez's bat in the lineup, it makes for a difficult lineup construction for Espada, especially when it comes to where Isaac Paredes (hamstring) slots in. Alvarez's 2025 season ended prematurely due to a severe left ankle sprain, but general manager Dana Brown said Monday that the slugger will be ready to go for the start of spring training.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Resumes workouts
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Altuve (foot) has resumed workouts, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Altuve underwent a minor procedure last month to remove fluid between the fourth and fifth toes on his right foot, an injury he played through down the stretch of the regular season. The 35-year-old is not expected to have any limitations at the start of spring training.
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Astros' Isaac Paredes: To be 'full-go' for spring training
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Paredes (hamstring) will be "full-go" at the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brown said during last month's general managers' meetings that Paredes wasn't fully recovered from his right hamstring tear and that the infielder likely wouldn't be 100 percent by spring training. Now, however, Brown seems confident that Paredes will not have any limitations when camp opens. Paredes should have an everyday role for Houston in 2026 -- assuming he's not traded -- though it's not yet clear what position he will play.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Will be full-go for start of spring
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Alvarez (ankle) will be "full go" for the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Alvarez went down with a severe left ankle sprain late in the regular season. Brown said nearly a month ago that Alvarez had resumed jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, and while it's unclear how much, if at all, the slugger has progressed with his running since then, Alvarez is not expected to be limited at the start of spring training. Additionally, manager Joe Espada added that his preference is for Alvarez to spend most of his time at designated hitter in 2026, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The 28-year-old will remain an injury risk heading into the 2026 campaign, however, after being limited to only 48 contests in 2025, mostly due to a fracture in his right hand.
VanWey cleared waivers Friday and was outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
VanWey reached the majors for the first time in 2025 and logged a 5.06 ERA alongside a 1.69 WHIP over 10.2 innings. He now seems poised to begin the new season back in Triple-A, and the Astros could look to fill his spot on the 40-man roster during the Rule 5 Draft.
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Astros' Taylor Trammell: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Trammell cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Trammell signed a split contract with Houston in November that would've paid him $900,000 if he were in the big leagues, but it now appears that he will begin the 2026 campaign in the minors. The 28-year-old outfielder owns a .632 OPS over 494 plate appearances in his big-league career and likely wouldn't serve as more than a bench piece if he made it back to the majors in '26.
Astros' Amos Willingham: Lands with Houston on MiLB deal
Rotowire
The Astros signed Willingham to a minor-league contract Nov. 28.
Willingham, 27, spent the 2025 season in the minors in the Atlanta organization, collecting a 5.17 ERA and 64:18 K:BB over 55.2 frames. The righty has a 7.11 ERA over 19 appearances at the big-league level and will give the Astros some experienced relief depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Carlos Perez: Lands MiLB pact with Houston
Rotowire
The Astros signed Perez to a minor-league contract Nov. 28.
Perez spent all of the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Iowa in the Cubs organization, putting up a .944 OPS with 27 long balls. The 35-year-old last saw action at the big-league level in 2023 and will provide the Astros with experienced catching depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Ryan Weiss: Inks deal with Astros
Rotowire
The Astros signed Weiss to a one-year contract Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Weiss is getting a major-league contract after spending part of 2023 in independent ball and the last two seasons with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. The right-hander had an excellent 2025 campaign with the Eagles, posting a 2.87 ERA and 207:56 K:BB over 178.2 innings covering 30 starts. Weiss -- who turns 29 next week -- will be used as a starting pitcher by the Astros. He has not appeared in a major-league game.
Hader (shoulder) stated Monday that he feels back at full strength after completing his rehab program a few weeks ago, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Hader's 2025 season came to an early end after he was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, but he's feeling strong after finishing up his rehab. The lefty noted Monday that he thinks he'll be able to throw as he normally would leading up to spring training. "It should be normal," said Hader. "Obviously, intensity gets up and we'll see how that goes and how I'm recovering, bouncing back from that. But as of now, everything is status quo, back to normal."
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Astros' Taylor Trammell: Gets new deal from Astros
Rotowire
Trammell signed a one-year, split contract with the Astros on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Trammell's contract will pay him $900,000 if he's in the majors, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The 28-year-old finished 2025 with a .197/.296/.333 slash line over 135 plate appearances and will likely have to fight to make the big-league roster during spring training.
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Astros' Enyel De Los Santos: Sticking with Houston
Rotowire
De Los Santos signed a one-year contract with the Astros on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
De Los Santos put up a 4.03 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 22.1 innings after signing with the Astros in August, and his new deal will ensure he remains in the organization for the start of the 2026 campaign -- likely serving as a middle reliever.
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