Four options for the Astros with Javier and Urquidy Gone

In 2023, the Astros used exactly eight starting pitchers the entire season. This is truly a remarkable figure. Want to hear another one? In 2024, they already had seven starters on the injured list. This includes two pitchers who will miss the remainder of the season (and most of 2025) in Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy.

On Wednesday, the Astros announced that both starters would undergo elbow surgery this week and not return in 2024. It’s yet another blow to a rotation completely destroyed by injuries. Justin Verlander started the year on the IL and Framber Valdez spent time there. The team is still awaiting the return of Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers, Jr. from injuries suffered last season.

So what do they do now? Given their record, you might think a year in the tank would make the most sense, but with their roster and the fact that they play in the worst division in baseball with an expanded playoffs, it’s probably not in the cards. Here are some options for general manager Dana Brown to consider.

Roll with what they have.

This is the most likely option, but it leaves something to be desired. If they lose anyone else, they could be in serious trouble. Ronel Blanco, as good as he was, never pitched more than 100 innings in a season. Spencer Arrighetti has never thrown more than 124. Yes, it looks like Garcia and McCullers will return eventually, but how many will they actually be able to provide given how long they’ve been gone, especially McCullers. No matter how you approach it, it’s a difficult situation.

Enter the buyer’s market.

Dana Brown insisted the Astros won’t be sellers at the trade deadline. In fact, they might actually be buyers, especially for entry-level talent. The problem is that their minor league system is so depleted that it’s hard to imagine what assets they have to make a meaningful deal. If they’re not willing to deal from their major league roster, that leaves only the minors, but any additional deals from those ranks will make an already empty cupboard even emptier. Hard to see how they make this work.

Promote from within.

The Astros already did this with Arrighetti, probably before they really wanted to do it. But it paid off as the rookie pitcher was a solid part of the rotation. They also got lucky with Ronel Blanco, a player no one expected to be a starter this year. In the minors, there really isn’t anyone above AA ball willing to contribute, except for maybe AJ Blubaugh. The right-hander has been pretty good in Sugar Land this year after tearing up Corpus Christi in 2023. Additionally, Jake Bloss has exploded through the ranks and could be ready for AAA during this season. He currently has a 1.28 ERA with the Hooks in Corpus Christi. But would either offer real, substantial help? It feels like both are at least a year away from being ready for the majors.

Consider selling…seriously.

Brown and the Astros are adamant they won’t be sellers at the trade deadline, but that begs the question: why exactly? Considering the state of the AL West and the fact that the team remains pretty loaded with big league talent, it’s easy to understand the general level of optimism, but when you take into account how They have looked bad during the first third of the season, this hope must be tempered. And they will at some point face the need to rebuild. This is the least likely option, but it should be seriously considered.