What the Houston Astros Have to Be Thankful For – And What They’d Probably Like to Return

The holiday season is here, and while most folks are prepping turkey and arguing over the best side dish (it’s stuffing, by the way), baseball fans in Houston are reflecting on a season that didn’t quite go according to plan. For the first time in a decade, the Astros missed the playoffs – a rare stumble for a team that’s been a fixture in October baseball. But even in a down year, there are reasons for optimism… and a few areas that still sting.

Let’s break it down: three things the Astros should be thankful for, and two that are still giving them heartburn.

Three Things the Astros Should Be Thankful For

1. The Rise of the Next Wave

The faces of the Astros’ golden era – Correa, Springer, Verlander, Tucker, Bregman – have either moved on or are no longer the centerpieces they once were. It’s been a changing of the guard in Houston, but the good news? The next generation is already stepping up.

Hunter Brown’s emergence as a legitimate ace candidate – capped by a top-three Cy Young finish – was a massive development. Not only did he deliver on his electric potential, but he also gave the Astros a new frontline starter to build around. That’s not easy to find.

Jeremy Peña, meanwhile, took a major step forward at the plate. His Silver Slugger nomination wasn’t just a nod to potential – it was a recognition of production. After years of flashes, Peña finally put together a season that matched the hype.

Isaac Paredes was on a similar trajectory before a hamstring injury cut his year short. And while Cam Smith is still more projection than production, the tools are there. If he puts it all together, Houston’s next core might already be forming.

2. Yordan Alvarez Is Still Yordan Alvarez

It’s easy to forget just how dominant Yordan Alvarez is when he’s healthy – mostly because he wasn’t for much of 2025. A fractured hand slowed him early, and just when he found his groove, an ankle injury ended his season in September.

But in between? He reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.

In 19 second-half games, Alvarez slashed .369/.462/.569. That’s not just “good,” that’s MVP-caliber production over a small sample.

Since 2021, he’s posted a 160 wRC+, trailing only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. That’s elite company.

The Astros managed to stay afloat for much of the season without him – a testament to the rest of the roster – but his absence down the stretch was a blow they couldn’t absorb. When he’s in the lineup, Houston’s offense feels entirely different. That’s something to be thankful for, even if 2025 didn’t offer much of it.

3. A Bullpen Built for October – If It’s Healthy

On paper, the Astros’ bullpen was solid in 2025. A 3.70 ERA and a top-10 finish league-wide is nothing to sneeze at. But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Through August 8 – the last time Josh Hader pitched before a shoulder injury shut him down – Houston’s bullpen ERA was 3.30, second-best in baseball. Their strikeout rate?

A blistering 27.9%, the highest in the league. When this group was at full strength, they were flat-out dominant.

Hader’s absence hurt, no doubt. But the bullpen wasn’t a one-man show.

Bryan Abreu continued to shine in high-leverage spots. Bryan King emerged as a valuable piece.

And there were contributions up and down the depth chart.

If this group can stay healthy in 2026, it’s a legitimate weapon – one that can shorten games and carry a team deep into October. That’s a luxury few teams can claim.

Two Things the Astros Definitely Aren’t Thankful For

1. The Self-Imposed Spending Cap

Let’s be clear: the Astros aren’t in dire straits. They’ve got star power, a strong bullpen, and a few young pieces on the rise.

But if they want to go from fringe playoff contender to full-blown World Series threat, they need reinforcements. A co-ace to pair with Hunter Brown.

Another left-handed bat. Depth around the diamond.

Maybe a mid-rotation veteran to eat innings.

All of that is doable – if ownership is willing to spend. But that’s the catch.

Jim Crane’s commitment to staying under the $244 million luxury tax threshold is more than just a financial strategy. It’s a roster-building roadblock.

With that hard cap in place, the Astros won’t be able to address every need. In fact, solving even one or two of them could be a stretch.

The frustrating part? The core is still good enough to win.

But without the flexibility to add meaningful support, Houston’s ceiling gets lower. That’s not a roster problem – that’s a philosophy problem.

2. A Farm System That’s Running on Fumes

When you’re consistently competing for titles, the farm system tends to take a hit. That’s been the case in Houston, where trades, late draft picks, and penalties from the sign-stealing scandal have left the pipeline looking thin.

Right now, the Astros don’t have the kind of minor league depth that can plug holes or produce impact players on demand. That’s a tough spot to be in – especially when the big-league roster needs help and the budget is tight.

GM Dana Brown is working to rebuild the system, and that process is underway. But it takes time.

Prospects don’t become contributors overnight, and Houston’s current group isn’t ready to fill the gaps. Until that changes, the team is stuck in a bit of a holding pattern – too talented to rebuild, but not deep enough to reload.

Final Thoughts

So where does that leave the Astros heading into 2026? Somewhere in the middle – a team with enough talent to compete, but enough flaws to fall short.

The good news is that the foundation is still strong. The bad news?

Without a willingness to spend or a farm system ready to step in, the margin for error is razor-thin.

There’s plenty to be thankful for in Houston. But there’s also plenty of work to do.