The Stars Need to Consider These 5 Free Agents Raising at Minute Maid Park

The Houston Astros entered uncharted territory this season.

For the first time in eight years, they were not one of two teams involved in the American League Championship Series.

The Astros were eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Detroit Tigers. They failed to win a playoff series for the first time since losing to the NLDS in 2001.

Houston will now shift their focus to the offseason and they have a lot of questions to answer this winter. With several superstars, including star third baseman Alex Bregman, on expiring contracts, the organization will have to make some tough decisions when building its roster for next year.

If they hope to return to the postseason for the ninth consecutive time in 2025, they will need to improve their roster to compete with the other American League contenders.

What better place to start than with players who have had success in a place where half their games will be played?

Of the 76 pending unrestricted free agents this offseason, only a few have found consistent success competing at Minute Maid Park, the Astros’ home stadium.

Here are the top players looking for a new team this winter who performed at their best in Houston, regardless of position or team need.

Highest OPS: Adam Duvall

Although Duvall played in the MLB for 11 seasons, he only found himself at Minute Maid Park nine games into his career. However, when he got into the box against the Astros, he did well. Duvall posted a 1.377 OPS in his 34 games against Houston at home, including four home runs and 10 RBI.

It wasn’t the best season for Duvall, as he was dropped from the Atlanta Braves’ postseason roster at the end of the year. However, a change of scenery could be just what the veteran outfielder needs. He could be a great depth piece for the Astros on a team that already has great players patrolling the outfield. A player with good numbers at Minute Maid Park would be great for Houston off the bench.

Best batting average: Tommy Pham

Another popular name on the list with great previous performances at Minute Maid Park. In 13 games, Pham recorded an impressive .364 batting average in 61 games. He had seven extra-base hits in that span, including two home runs.

Pham was on three different teams last season, but not because of poor performance. The veteran outfielder started with the Chicago White Sox after signing after the campaign had already begun. The struggling team moved him at the trade deadline to the St. Louis Cardinals. Once they were also out of playoff contention, the Cardinals released him to allow him to sign with a contender before the September deadline. He found a spot on the Kansas City Royals’ roster as they contended for the postseason for the first time since 2015.

Like Duvall, Pham would be a huge asset to the Astros’ roster, although he already has a good handle on the outfield positions. He could compete for one of the outfield spots next spring training and be a solid piece off the bench.

Most home runs: Yuli Gurriel

Not counting Bregman, since he was on the roster in 2024, another former player leads this category. Gurriel, the former Houston Gold Glove winner, hit 94 home runs in his seven seasons with the club, including 51 at Minute Maid Park.

Gurriel did not appear in the Majors in 2024 until late in the year following an injury to Royals Vinnie Pasquantino. They acquired him from the Braves who stashed him at Triple-A. In 18 games of the year, he helped Kansas City secure an American League Wild Card berth by hitting .241/.338/.296 with three extra-base hits.

Could a reunion with the former Astros player be in the works?

Assuming he plans to play in 2025, the 40-year-old Gurriel could be a potential piece for Houston to solve one of its biggest problems at first base.

Best of the rest: Yasmani Grandal

Grandal has found success in his 14 Minute Maid games in his long MLB career. In 49 plate appearances, he hit .333/.338/.677 with seven extra-base hits, including four long balls. Not a bad stat line for a catcher.

Grandal found himself with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year deal in 2024. The 35-year-old catcher played in 72 games and hit .228/.304/.400 with nine homers and 27 RBI. He was around league average with a 95 OPS+ for the season.

With the catching position looking assured for 2025 with backup Victor Caratini under contract, adding a veteran like Grandal may not be a good fit for the current roster, but if a spot becomes available, he would be a smart choice.

Best of the rest: Anthony Santander

Santander is the youngest player on this list who performed well in Houston. In 16 games, he posted an .818 OPS, including three homers and seven RBI.

Santander had his best season since making his MLB debut in 2017. The 30-year-old hit a career-high 44 home runs as the Baltimore Orioles returned to the postseason for the second year in a row.

Would Santander work in Houston?

As mentioned above, the outfield is not this lineup’s weak point. However, if a team has a chance to bring in a powerful bat like Santander to line up alongside other sluggers like Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez, they may need to find a way to make it work.