The Houston Astros’ remarkable postseason streak is officially over, as they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. For a franchise that set the standard for consistent excellence over the past decade, this season marked an undeniable turning point.
The departure of two cornerstone players and a relentless wave of injuries pushed an already difficult campaign over the edge. What began as a transitional year ended in a frustrating late-season collapse-one that leaves plenty of questions and a real sense of urgency heading into 2026.
While there’s work to be done across the roster-especially in the outfield and the depth of the lineup-the biggest concern looming over the offseason is the starting rotation. And that’s before even addressing the potential departure of Framber Valdez, whose impending free agency could strip Houston of one of its most battle-tested arms.
If Valdez does walk, as expected, the Astros will need to be aggressive in finding a replacement who can stabilize the top of the rotation. One name that could emerge as a strong fit: Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gallen’s coming off the most turbulent season of his big-league career-which might actually make him a perfect buy-low candidate for a team like Houston.
Gallen’s 2025 numbers weren’t pretty: a 4.83 ERA, 1.260 WHIP, and a career-low 1.1 bWAR across 33 starts. For a pitcher who, just a year ago, ranked among the most reliable and dominant right-handers in the game, that’s a disappointing line. But when you dig deeper, there’s reason to believe this could be an outlier, not a trend.
After the All-Star break, Gallen looked much more like his old self, posting a 3.97 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over his final 13 starts. That kind of second-half rebound suggests the early-season struggles may have been more of a rough patch than a definitive downturn. For a Houston team trying to stretch limited resources while still competing, that late-season form could be worth betting on.
The beauty of targeting Gallen lies in the possibility of a relatively modest deal-something along the lines of a one-year, $15-20 million “prove-it” contract, perhaps with mutual options tacked on. Given the state of Houston’s rotation post-Valdez, that kind of flyer has real upside.
Beyond his stuff, Gallen brings reliability. He’s been a durable presence on the mound, capable of logging 180+ innings year after year-something the Astros desperately need to stabilize a rotation that gets thin fast after Hunter Brown.
There’s no question Houston is entering a new phase. The dominant core that carried them through October for years is evolving, aging, or moving on.
But the Astros aren’t looking to rebuild-they’re retooling, and starting pitching will drive that process. If it’s not Valdez in 2026, someone has to take the ball every fifth day and give them a chance to win.
Zac Gallen, even coming off a down year, could be that guy. Don’t be surprised if his name starts popping up in connection to Houston again and again as the offseason unfolds. The fit makes too much sense, especially for a club looking to turn the page without rewriting the entire book.
