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What Changes Should the Astros Make to Their Bullpen This Offseason
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- What Changes Should the Astros Make to Their Bullpen This Offseason
(Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)
Image 1: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images, Image 2-4: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Houston Astros dealt with their fair share of injuries and setbacks this past season. One of their biggest weaknesses was pitching. Many of the Astros' starters struggled, whether they couldn't settle into the starting role or just couldn't give the team the length they needed.
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On top of the rotation's struggles, the Astros were also without their clutch closer, Josh Hader , who was sidelined with left biceps tendinitis. Bryan Abreu stepped into the closer role, but he struggled to deliver the same level of consistency that Hader brought to the mound.
As the Astros' starters returned to the rotation and Hader came back, the team looked like a different animal on the mound. Hader is the guy to close things out with a save.
Despite all these struggles, they held on by a thread. That kind of wear and tear is not sustainable. The bullpen wasn't always holding things together either. On more than one occasion, it turned into an unexpected bullpen game.
So the question is: What does the Astros' bullpen need for 2027? Better arms, more consistent arms, or simply less wear and tear on the bullpen and more length from their starters?
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First, let's look at what went right. That would be Hader and his performance; he had 26 saves on the season.
Here is a look at his 2026 regular-season stats:
4–2 W–L, 1.01 ERA, 45 G, 26 SV, 44.2 IP, 55 SO, 0.76 WHIP.
Hader might be excellent, but he can't do it alone. They really need another clutch reliever like Hader. Abreu struggled when Hader was out, but once Hader returned, Abreu showed some improvement. Abreu had an up-and-down season; if he can develop consistency during the offseason, that could be a game-changer for the Astros bullpen.
Then they have AJ Blubaugh. Despite his brutal outing in the first game of the postseason, Blubaugh actually had a strong season. He pitched more innings than any other reliever in MLB. Unfortunately, some of his bad moments overshadowed his strong ones. His worst outing came as an opener in the Wild Card series, so keeping him as a reliever seems like the move.
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Then, there is Steven Okert, who had the best season of his career. It was unfortunate that his season ended with injury, but he was throwing from the mound at the end of the regular season, so he should be back up and running for 2027.
Miguel Ullola made his major league debut this season, earlier than expected due to so many injuries. Still, it allowed him to prove he can hold his own on the major league mound. The young player, once one of the Astros' top prospects, is definitely an arm to watch.
As for the rest of the bullpen, they are either young or just had a rough season. They're worth evaluating and definitely have room for improvement, but they could make their mark or stage a comeback depending on the situation.
So what should Houston prioritize with the bullpen this offseason? Possibly adding a strong middle reliever and improving the talent they already have. A little consistency goes a long way and could completely change the Astros bullpen.
