The Houston Astros are entering 2026 with a chip on their shoulder-and plenty of questions to answer. After a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw them miss the postseason for the first time since 2016, the club is looking to reset. Injuries played a major role in last year’s stumble, but now the focus shifts to how this team responds-and whether the revamped coaching staff and a few key additions can help get them back to October.
Let’s start with the staff shakeup. The Astros didn’t waste time retooling behind the scenes.
Victor Rodriguez steps in as the new lead hitting coach, bringing a fresh voice to a lineup that underperformed in stretches last season. Ethan Katz joins as an assistant pitching coach, while Tim Cossins will take over as the catching instructor.
Anthony Iapoce also enters the fold as an assistant coach. It’s a group with experience and a clear mandate: sharpen the fundamentals and get this team back to its winning ways.
On the roster side, the Astros didn’t make a splashy free-agent signing, but they’ve added some intriguing pieces. Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai was brought in to bolster the rotation.
Mike Burrows arrives via trade from the Pirates, while infielder Nick Allen comes over from Atlanta. Ryan Weiss is another addition, signing a one-year deal to provide depth, likely in the bullpen.
But here’s where things get interesting.
There’s growing buzz around a potential trade that could reshape Houston’s outfield-and maybe even their entire lineup. The name being floated?
Steven Kwan. The Cleveland Guardians’ four-time Gold Glove outfielder would instantly upgrade what is currently one of the more uncertain outfields among contenders.
The proposed deal would send Brice Matthews, Spencer Arrighetti, and Walker Janek to Cleveland. That’s a hefty price, especially considering Houston’s farm system is already viewed as one of the thinnest in the league.
Matthews and Arrighetti are two of the organization’s top prospects, and Janek has shown promise behind the plate. Giving up that kind of talent would be a bold move-but it might be the kind of swing the Astros need to take.
Kwan’s defensive prowess is well-documented, and his ability to get on base and set the table would fit nicely atop Houston’s lineup. He doesn’t bring a ton of power, but with sluggers already in place, that’s not what the Astros would be asking of him. What they’d get is a steady presence in left field, elite glove work, and a contact-first approach that could help balance their offense.
If Houston were to land Kwan, it would also open the door for another move: trading Isaac Paredes. With the infield already crowded, moving Paredes could help address other needs or bring back additional prospect capital. It’s a domino effect that starts with shoring up the outfield and ends with giving the roster a more complete, flexible look.
Of course, nothing’s official yet. But the fact that these kinds of conversations are happening tells you something about where the Astros are mentally.
They’re not content to chalk up 2025 as a fluke. They’re looking to act, to adjust, and to push back into the contender conversation.
This isn’t a rebuild-it’s a recalibration. And if the front office decides to go all-in on a player like Kwan, it would send a clear message: the Astros are still swinging for the postseason, and they’re not afraid to make bold moves to get there.
