With the 2025 regular season about to start, planning for next year’s offseason has already commenced. The teams will get their calculators to choose players and analyze them. So, which teams remain in the spotlight for the next year? The Houston Astros are one of them. Why? They are all set to stay below the 2025 luxury tax threshold. It would make them get reduced taxation next year. Thus, there remains more financial scope to get world-class names and fill the existing gaps in the team. A+ advantage, right?

Safe to say that there are a few gaps with the Astros this year, and the next off-season is the nearest option to fill them. Moreover, the amount of talent lost by the Astros this off-season is second to none. The void created by Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker leaving the franchise will take time to recover. Therefore, the bullpen is another area where the Astros are starting weakly this year.

The Astros depend on a few “no name“ relievers to support the bullpen in the spring. For the unversed, Ryan Pressly is gone. Now, when the stakes are high, who will take Pressly’s place?

The next off-season might clear these gaps, considering how the Houston Astros are well below the luxury tax threshold. According to the MLB insider Patrick Creighton, “The Astros are slightly less than $12M below the first tax line. All penalties will reset for next season, when they will have over $66M come off the books.”

The Astros are still $12 million below the line, which they can use next year. Additionally, the contracts of Rafael Montero, Framber Valdez, and Victor Caratini are set to expire this year.

That’s a clear advantage of over $70 million to begin the new year. Astros will look to get some players in; you must think!

The Astros are way ahead for 2026

Are there any chances for the Astros to get a few big names on the team next year? Well, it hangs in the balance.

There will be a few prominent names going to hit free agency this year. The top of the class will be Vladimir Guerrero Jr. After Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million free agent contract with the Mets “changed the game” this season, the 160-career home run slugger is anticipated to look for a deal worth upwards of $500 million, according to veteran MLB insider journalist Jon Heyman.

With Christian Walker as their only established first baseman, are the Astros likely to seek another player for that position? 

The next option for the Astros should always be to go behind Alex Bregman. He has the option to opt-out after this season, and if he does, then the Astros should be the front-runners. Moreover, the current 3B of the Astros looks weak with Isaac Paredes and the rookie Cam Smith. The high AAV expected by Bregman can be well-offered with the tax benefits the Astros are gaining. Veteran Carlos Estévez is also hitting free agency and can be a potent option to take the place of Ryan Pressly to the Astros. Thus, there are options, and it’s just how the Houston Astros will come up. 

Getting the tax benefit is a reasonable way for the Astros to go big next year. Fans can expect a better turnaround in the next off-season with a few big names arriving to the team.

What do you think about the Astros’ chances next year? Share your thoughts with us below.