Astros prepare to defend title
A little more than three months after the franchise won its second title in six years, Baker told his team it was time to start over. Last year, Baker galvanized this group, which was seeking the vindication of hoisting a World Series trophy untainted by the signature theft scandal that hung over its 2017 title, and gave himself a chance to win his first World Series ring in 25 years as manager.
After the meeting, he was asked how it felt to begin his first spring as manager of a World Series-winning team. “This is like a king with his army around him,” Baker said in the Florida sunshine. “I like my army, even though I’m a Marine.”
But even when they first met, it wasn’t long before the conversation shifted to 2023.
“When you leave last season on such a positive note, it’s easy to come back and see all the smiling faces, but at some point you realize it’s the last year and we have to get back to work,” senior Michael Brantley said. “I just know that we’re never complacent here.”
Now, as the Astros try to become the first champions in consecutive MLB years since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, it’s time for a new mission, with some new faces.
The most notable addition in the outfield is at first base, where Jose Abreu takes over after signing a three-year, $58.5 million contract this offseason. Abreu won the American League Most Valuable Player award with the Chicago White Sox in 2020 and led the league in RBIs in 2019 and 2020. He’s known as a leader in the clubhouse who thrives in RBI situations, but something is missing from his resume: a World Series title.
“Over the last six years, I think the Houston Astros have created a great culture, a great family here and I want to be a part of that,” Abreu said after signing. “And also, most importantly, I want to win.”
Having a highly regarded newcomer in search of his first World Series title could give them a new rallying cry in the coming months in the same way that winning one for Baker helped propel the team last year. On day one, Abreu endeared himself to his new teammates, giving hitting tips to Alvarez, catcher Martin Maldonado and several other Astros in the clubhouse.
“As the season goes on, you find things to play for,” Alex Bregman said. “Things that are very meaningful to you, very meaningful to your teammates. There are definitely guys here that haven’t won one before, like Jose. I’d love to do that for him.”
Yordan Alvarez agreed.
“From the first day [Abreu] got here, one of the conversations we’ve had is that he wants to win a championship,” Alvarez said through the team’s interpreter. “I told him he made the right decision.”
But some of the challenges that have made back-to-back championship seasons so rare in recent years are already emerging for the Astros this spring. For the third time in five years, they have a new general manager, after front-office turmoil that festered during last season’s pennant race resulted in general manager James Click being replaced by Dana Brown.
And Click isn’t the only notable departure. Ace Justin Verlander signed with the New York Mets this winter, though the Astros believe their pitching depth will be able to make up for their loss. They will also have to start the season without starter Lance McCullers Jr. who was unable to pitch this week due to a strained muscle in his pitching arm. Alvarez, an MVP candidate, will also miss the start of spring training due to a hand injury suffered last season.
However, despite the recent history of the defending champions coming up short the following season and the early hurdles in Houston’s bullpen, the man who will take over Verlander’s role as the ace of the rotation is not lacking confidence that the Astros will play in a third straight World Series in October.
“I don’t think it’s that hard to accomplish,” Framber Valdez said through the team’s interpreter. “It’s something we’ve done twice. We know that road and what it takes to get there. Even when we go through tough times, we know what we have to do to get there. We don’t fret in that regard.”
The experience he’s made regular deep postseasons in Houston is something the team believes will help him prepare for the rigors of another long campaign. They’ve done it before, having made the playoffs in six consecutive seasons.
