(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros have won the 2022 World Series … but not all of them will be back in 2023.
For the second time in franchise history, the Houston Astros have won the World Series as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 4-1 on Saturday in Game 6 of the World Series.
For much of the season, the Astros would the most rounded team in the sport and they showed it in the postseason as well.
They have made it at least to the ALCS in each of the last six seasons, despite losing some big names in free agency in the last few years. The biggest, of course, was shortstop Carlos Correa leaving the team after last season.
Jeremy Peña replaced him at shortstop and he was phenomenal, as he had a great regular season in his rookie season, won the ALCS MVP, and won the World Series MVP.
This year, the Astros have a handful of players that will be or could be free agents. Here are three of them that will not re-sign with the Astros and where they’ll go.
3 Houston Astros free agents who won’t return to the team in 2023
1) Michael Brantley – Baltimore Orioles
When he is healthy, Michael Brantley is a very good hitter. The problem is that he has struggled with injuries throughout much of his career.
In 2022, he only played in 64 games for the Astros and last played in late June after having shoulder surgery.
Before this season, though, he was an All-Star in the last four seasons that there was an All-Star Game. In 2021, he played in 121 games and he hit .311/.362/.437 with a 119 OPS+, 146 hits, 29 doubles, eight home runs, and 47 RBI.
The Baltimore Orioles would be a perfect fit for him. With his age (turning 36 in May) and his injury history, he will likely only get a one-year deal. He may not even be ready for Opening Day. But for the Orioles, he would fill the need for a DH. Their primary DH was Trey Mancini, who they traded to Houston at the trade deadline.
The Orioles GM is also Mike Elias. Elias was with Houston right before they signed Brantley and some of their coaching staff is familiar with Brantley from his time with Cleveland (third base coach Tony Mansolino, in particular).