Stone Cold Stros: A Houston Astros Podcast

Why you should be bullish on Houston's rotation. How the media looks to be sleeping on the Astros. Zach Dezenzo is giving Houston another tough choice to make.

Astros GM challenges Cam Smith to compete for right field. Spencer Arrighetti reveals his secret weapon and he hopes to take a Hunter Brown-sized step forward. Some important implications of second base remaining one of the Astros biggest question marks.

Houston's new third baseman Christian Walker gets some good news. Competition heats up for final position and bullpen spots ahead of the season. Unfortunate Yankees health updates could upend the balance of power in the American League.

Concern levels for Christian Walker's injury. Spencer Arrighetti teases a new pitch. Cam Smith's breakout Spring performances have fans buzzing. Is the main challenge with Jake Meyers just a lack of perspective?

What's the true value of defense in left field and how does that impact Altuve's position change? Is there another free agent outfield option in plain site? Latest updates on Houston pitching performances in Spring Training.

Injury updates, who's looking good and who's still exhibiting bad habits with the bat, and how Houston will work in pitchers and hitters on the bubble.

Nolen Arenado once again declines a potential trade to Houston, Jim Crane gives beat writers the silent treatment in Florida, how Houston's schedule positions them for early success, and the potential impact of robo-umps as baseball draws closer to the ABS challenge system.

Altuve looks destined for left field, but is his spot in the lineup also in the air? Can Forrest Whitely make the most of what could be a do-or-die season? Does Houston have the depth to weather troubled waters?

Lance McCullers looks like he's on a realistic path back but how much should fans expect from him this season? Is Jose Altuve playing left field still in play with Alex Bregman off the table? Do the contradictions from the Astros players and front office point to a communication breakdown or are they strategic?

With Alex Bregman's departure from Houston now being official, what are the short-term and long-term implications for the Astros organization that has been historically shy of large free agency deals while also having one of the lowest-graded farm systems in baseball?

As every update seems to rule out Houston as a landing spot, murky reports about Astros negotiations just add confusion. Who will step up for Houston's bullpen? Do win-loss projections already point to a semi-successful offseason?

As the door seems shut on a Bregman return to Houston, Dana Brown doubles down on some big defensive changes. Astros could see some pitching infusion in the near future.

As Breggy Watch drags on, Astros fans hang on every update as the farm system continues to be less than encouraging. How does Houston's offseason grade out so far?

As the Alex Bregman waiting game drags on, does Houston gain the upper hand? Is Dana Brown using Jorge Polanco to answer Scott Boras' game of guts poker? Did Brown overshare about his relationship with Ryan Pressly following the trade?

With Ryan Pressly being traded to the Cubs, the Alex Bregman rumors have hit a new high. But is it realistic or wise? Same with moving Jose Altuve to left field. Dana Brown gives positive updates on Lance McCullers and Luis Garcia's rehab updates.

What are behind Joe Espada's comments about Alex Bregman? With over a billion in deferred salary, will MLB be finally pressured to address the Dodgers spending spree? Astros on deck for 3rd Hall of Famer.

With Anthony Santander's market softening, could Astros still be in play? What other options are available for Houston's outfield? Are the Rangers now the favorites in the AL West? Examining Justin Verlander's Astros legacy.

What was behind Reggie Jackson's tweet about Alex Bregman? Are Astros really players for Anthony Santander? Will Scott Boras prevent an early Hunter Brown extension? Does trading Ryan Pressly really help the team?

Jeff Passan makes some divisive remarks about free agency spending, Scott Boras takes shots at the Astros, and how one free agency contract could shift Framber's market value.

With Alex Bregman free agency updates going quiet, did Scott Boras overestimate the market? After Rangers additions, are Astros the favorites in the West? After campaigning for Bregman, what's Altuve thinking after losing another piece of the championship core?

The Christian Walker signing essentially ends Alex Bregman's time in Houston. Have the Astros upgraded their infield and how does their lineup stack up against the rest of the Division?

Do you feel any different about the Tucker trade? Is there reason to be excited about Nolen Arenado on the Astros? Is Alex Bregman headed to the Bronx? Is Houston dragging out the retool by not trading Framber Valdez?

The Astros have traded Kyle Tucker to Cubs for IF Isaac Paredes, RHP Hayden Wesneki, and 3B prospect Cam Smith. Whatever happens from this point on, Bregman or not, the Astros have undeniably entered a new phase of this team. What's next for the Astros as Dana Brown continues his efforts to keep Houston's championship window open against all odds?

Reactions to the Juan Soto mega-contract. Is the AL wide open with Soto gone? How does this impact the Bregman deal?

With the massive money being thrown around by teams like the Dodgers and Mets, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal believes MLB ownership could push hard for a hard salary cap. Would that help or hurt a team like the Astros? Will Scott Boras' winter vindication keep Alex Bregman dug in for maximum money? Which of the other notable free agents are linked to Houston?

What's next for Astros rotation following Kikuchi's departure? Everything points to the clock ticking on Jake Meyers. Justin Verlander could be in the mix. MLB.com identifies the top 3 landings spots for Alex Bregman, but the money/years is a hangup for all 3 teams.

Minute Maid park undergoes a name change. Altuve snags another award. MLB insiders latest reports on the Astros-Bregman negotiations and other alternatives.

Did the Astros make an error in fixing Kikuchi? Ryan Pressly is reportedly on the trade block. The latest on Lance McCullers. Is Houston in the mix for Roki Sasaki?

Astros GM Dana Brown had some interesting things to say about Houston's hitting coaches and the future of the outfield. Does Bregman now hold all the leverage? What does the departure of Reggie Jackson mean for the front office in the big picture?

With the World Series in the rearview, Houston fans anxiously await to see where Alex Bregman lands. A former MLB exec has some thoughts. Will the Astros scouting report match the Yankees in one key area in 2025? What does Hunter Brown signing with Scott Boras mean for Houston?

Early 2025 World Series odds, examining the likelihood of either Framber Valdez or Kyle Tucker being dealt in a trade, one underlying x-factor in Alex Bregman's free agency, and Yankees GM's latest loser comments about Houston.

Check out the latest episode of Stone Cold Stros with Brandon Strange, Charlie Pallilo, and Josh Jordan!

With the contracts of Verlander and Kikuchi expiring and entering the last season of Framber's arbitration, Houston has some important decisions this offseason. How much will Houston's pitchers on the mend play into their offseason moves and could we see the front office make a shrewd trade (or two) to remedy some holes in this roster for 2025?

With the 2024 season in the rearview, what are Houston's options to rework the roster to fix what ails the Astros offense for 2025?

The Astros get swept out of the Wild Card Series by the Detroit Tigers. A lot of old demons came home to roost in the finale. How does Houston's front office respond to get their organization back into contention in 2025?

Detroit outlasts Houston in a drama-filled 9th inning to take Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. How does Houston fight back to force a Game 3?

The postseason is here! The Detroit Tigers come to Houston looking to derail the Astros postseason machine. Can Houston overcome a red-hot Detroit team managed by former Astros skipper, AJ Hinch?

As the season enters the final week, the Astros close in on another division title. What does it mean in the big picture? Are Houston's bullpen concerns overblown? While they await the final bracket seeding, Joe Espada probably has a good idea of who will and won't be on their postseason roster.

With around a dozen regular season games left, Houston's pitching remains strong while their offense remains top-heavy. Has Verlander done enough to sneak onto a Wild Card roster? Who are the Astros most dangerous potential Wild Card Series foes?

Houston's bipolar season continues and has Astros in a favorable position for a postseason berth. However, questions in the starting rotation have risen as well as how Joe Espada can deploy his lineup with key cogs having limited availability. Was Matt Chapman's deal the deathknell of Bregman's future in Houston? How can Justin Verlander prove he's postseason-ready in just 3 remaining starts?

Houston's dominant rotation raises some important questions about the postseason. It's time to give Dana Brown his due for navigating this season. The implications of Kyle Tucker's injury revelation.

The Astros pitching staff has been dealing. Can they make up for the recent shortfall in offense? Has the emergence of Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti, and Yainer Diaz changed your mind about Houston's championship window?

The Astros are reportedly adding reliever Hector Neris to their bullpen to provide much-needed depth. Alex Bregman's elbow will force Joe Espada to get creative with the lineup.

The Astros find themselves with their largest division lead of the season but which players will be healthy enough to join the postseason campaign remain unclear.

Seeing how Joe Espada has managed his team back into contention with the help of Yainer Diaz, it's hard not to wonder what could have been in 2023, and how this now impacts Houston's championship window for 2024 and beyond.

After a sweep in Fenway, the Astros pitching and power hitting is seeing a renaissance which they'll need given the tight division race and challenging schedule. Some critical factors that could weigh heavily in this final stretch will be potential contributions from returning players from the IL.

With Yainer Diaz continuing his torrid hitting pace, it begs the question whether a simple roster tweak could boost Houston's offense. Luis Garcia's setback could say a lot about next season's rotation.

The dog days of summer have landed squarely on Houston's offense. As Kyle Tucker and Justin Verlander are still on the mend, Astros GM Dana Brown says reinforcements are on the way. Has Houston's front office learned anything from 2023's offseason missteps?

After paying a hefty price for Yusei Kukuchi, are the Astros better positioned for a postseason run or have they overly mortgaged their future for minimal gain?

Houston brings the drama over the weekend series against the Dodgers but Seattle shifts the AL West landscape with a huge trade for Astros-killer Randy Arozarena.