12up Logo

3 Players Who Won't Be on the Astros Roster After 2020 Season

By Brendan Balsamo

With George Springer's contract expiring, it's hard to imagine him returning to the Houston Astros after 2020.
With George Springer's contract expiring, it's hard to imagine him returning to the Houston Astros after 2020. / Rich Schultz/Getty Images

The Houston Astros are headed in the wrong direction after 2020. They have a number of players hitting free agency after this season and it's likely the team won't be able to afford all of them (or have room for some of them with prospects coming up the pipeline). As a result, we can expect this roster to look fairly different come 2021.

On the surface, here are three Astros we can expect not to be back in Houston after this season.

3. Josh Reddick

Josh Reddick's contract is expiring after 2020, and he's not putting up the stats to get another deal.
Josh Reddick's contract is expiring after 2020, and he's not putting up the stats to get another deal. / Elsa/Getty Images

Prior to the 2017 season, the Astros signed veteran outfielder Josh Reddick to a four-year, $52 million deal. The deal is set to expire after the 2020 season, so Reddick should be set to say goodbye to Houston considering he's largely regressed since 2017. He hasn't hit close to .300 or crossed the 60 RBI mark since that year (which, by the way, was found to be the season in which, according to evidence, the Astros took part in their sign-stealing scandal). Reddick is entering his age-33 season, and with Kyle Tucker quickly on the rise, the veteran is as good as gone in Houston.

2. Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley's situation isn't dependent on production, but rather his age.
Michael Brantley's situation isn't dependent on production, but rather his age. / Elsa/Getty Images

Brantley is in a different position than Reddick. The former Indians slugger has been an All-Star for the past three seasons and is definitely earning the two-year, $32 million contract he signed back in Dec. 2018. He's earning $16 million in 2020 and has consistently hit .290 or higher in five of his last six seasons. You can bet another team is going to throw money at the veteran if he has another productive season, and the Astros probably won't get into a bidding war.

1. George Springer

George Springer is finally hitting free agency, so he is more than likely gone from Houston.
George Springer is finally hitting free agency, so he is more than likely gone from Houston. / Elsa/Getty Images

Springer has done nothing but produce at a stellar clip for the Astros. As the 11th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, he made his debut in 2014 and has been one of the best centerfielders in baseball ever since. The 2017 World Series MVP has been an All-Star for the past three seasons and has received MVP votes in two of the last three years. He'll be hitting free agency after his age-30 season, so he'll be looking to secure the bag. The Astros may not want to dish out that kind of money to Springer, so we can see a future in which Myles Straw takes over in centerfield at Minute Maid Park after 2020.