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Astros Offseason Notebook: Leadership vacuum, third-base questions and prospects in the fall leagues

Jeremy Peña in 2025. Photo: Johnmaxmena2 / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Houston still has no new general manager or manager. Brad Ausmus has been floated as a managerial candidate, and the GM hire is expected to come first. The club reportedly won't begin its searches until after the World Series. Meanwhile, Joe Espada posted a goodbye to Houston on Instagram, thanking the organization and fans after nine years with the club (SI).

Joe Espada in 2024. Photo: Austin Thomas / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Payroll and the next GM's to-do list

Chandler Rome broke down the Astros' 2027 payroll and where the next GM could trim (Chandler Rome on X).

Peña or Paredes on the move?

Offseason trade talk centers on Jeremy Peña, a year from free agency and now represented by Scott Boras, and Isaac Paredes (Yahoo Sports). Third base is back in play: Paredes posted 25 homers, 94 RBI and 4.0 bWAR, Carlos Correa's ankle should be fully healed by December, and both are under control for 2027, so either Peña or Paredes could be moved (Houston Chronicle via Yahoo).

Isaac Paredes in 2025. Photo: Johnmaxmena2 / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Carlos Correa in 2018. Photo: Keith Allison / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

A familiar face in Detroit

Martín Maldonado is joining the Tigers as a quality control coach, reuniting with A.J. Hinch and Framber Valdez (X).

Martín Maldonado in 2019. Photo: Ken Lund / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Prospect watch

Nick Monistere is getting extra at-bats in the Arizona Fall League after his first full pro season was cut short (MLB.com). Catcher Jason Schiavone, the club's No. 6 prospect, made his Dominican winter-ball debut with Leones del Escogido and says he's there to learn (World Baseball).

Astros Rumor Roundup: Espada Expects a Mariners Decision Sunday or Monday

El Nuevo Dia reports Joe Espada was in Seattle Tuesday through Thursday and expects to learn Sunday or Monday whether he is Seattle's next manager. Plus updates on the Reifert trade, Dana Brown and Monday's Flores intro.

Astros Acquire Reliever Evan Reifert From Rays in First Trade of Randy Flores Era

Multiple reports say Houston acquired Triple-A right-hander Evan Reifert from Tampa Bay for cash on Saturday night, the first move attributed to new GM Randy Flores.

Former Astros GM Dana Brown Returns to the Braves as a Scouting Adviser

Two months after he and the Astros parted ways, Dana Brown is headed back to Atlanta as a senior adviser for amateur scouting, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Saturday.

Astros Rumor Roundup: Mariners Add a Hitting Coach Before Choosing Espada or Kanzler, and St. Louis Reacts to Losing Randy Flores

Seattle hired CJ Gillman as its hitting coach before naming Joe Espada or Jason Kanzler as manager. Plus how St. Louis is taking Randy Flores' move to Houston, and why Cardinals coaches are getting mentioned for the Astros' manager job.