How can the Astros improve their pitching rotation?

HOUSTON — Even after another season of contention, the Astros enter the offseason with a familiar objective: fortify the starting rotation without compromising long-term flexibility.

With only Hunter Brown penciled in near the top, Houston’s rotation picture quickly becomes less certain. Injuries, innings limits, and natural regression have made starting pitching depth a front-office priority, prompting the Astros to canvass a free-agent market that offers experience, upside, and varying price points.

Here’s a look at several types of starting pitchers the Astros could reasonably target — and why each profile makes sense in Houston.

The Astros have consistently valued pitchers who can handle big moments and provide dependable innings, even if their peak years are behind them.

Justin Verlander remains the most obvious reunion candidate. While no longer the ace he once was, Verlander’s familiarity with Houston’s system, his postseason pedigree, and his ability to mentor younger arms could make him an attractive short-term option. Verlander had a robust second half in San Fransico last season.

Other veterans who could fit this mold include mid-rotation arms willing to accept shorter deals with incentives — pitchers who may not dominate but can give the Astros five to six competitive innings while preserving the bullpen. For a team with championship aspirations, reliability still carries premium value.

Houston has built a reputation for revitalizing pitchers who have underlying metrics that outpace their surface-level results. This category often includes starters coming off down seasons due to injury, bad luck, or mechanical issues — arms with solid strikeout rates or spin profiles that Houston’s pitching group believes it can unlock.

The Astros’ track record in this space makes them a logical landing spot for pitchers looking to re-establish value. These signings typically come with modest guarantees and high upside, fitting the club’s desire to manage payroll while still chasing impact.

Another lane Houston may explore is the one- or two-year gamble on a pitcher with frontline traits but durability questions. They just signed KBO pitcher Ryan Weiss. Weiss was a former starter in the majors and has turned it around in the KBO. Astros GM Dana Brown loves to find these kind of deals.

These arms can offer swing-and-miss stuff and top-of-the-rotation flashes when healthy, but require workload management. With an analytically driven approach and a strong development staff, the Astros are well-positioned to maximize this type of talent — especially if paired with internal depth options. The goal here isn’t necessarily volume, but impact when it matters most.

Not every signing needs to headline the rotation. The Astros often target starters who can provide depth at Triple-A or slide into the back end of the rotation as needed. These pitchers frequently come with minor-league options or non-guaranteed deals, allowing the club to remain nimble throughout the season. Given Houston’s recent injury history among starters, these moves can quietly become just as important as a bigger-name acquisition.

Any starting pitcher signing will be viewed through a familiar Astros lens: short-term value, postseason viability, and financial discipline.

With younger arms nearing readiness and key contributors returning from injury, Houston doesn’t need to overhaul its rotation — but it does need insulation. The front office is expected to be active, creative, and selective, aiming to supplement rather than reinvent.

As the offseason unfolds, the Astros may not make the loudest move on the market. But if history is any indication, the pitchers they do bring in will be ones they believe can matter most — in October, not headlines, all while staying under the luxury tax!