Stone Cold Stros: A Houston Astros Podcast

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.

Houston's surging ace-in-the-making Hunter Brown continues to roll. What it means for the Astros rotation in the short and long-term.

It's official: the Astros have fought their way back to the top of the division but now the challenge will be to hold onto their thin lead as the schedule stiffens up in August. The waiting game begins as all eyes focus on Dana Brown as he looks to plug pitching holes at the trade deadline.

The All-Star Break provides opportunity to assess positive strides made while also prioritizing much-needed reinforcements and what those could be. Sifting through the latest batch of Astros trade rumors. Remembering our dear friend and colleague, Ken Hoffman.

With the Astros closing in on Seattle atop the division, the Astros are riding a wave of positive results, close calls, and ominous updates ahead of their showdown with Texas.

The Astros end June as MLB's hottest team but how do they continue to walk this razor's edge with such a thin pitching staff and no Kyle Tucker?

The Astros are reported to have strong interest in Toronto's Vlad Guerrero, Jr, but the high price and obvious pitching needs begs the question of what's really behind these reports.

After clawing their way back into the wildcard and division pictures, Houston's trajectory balances on a razor's edge with the depths of their pitching staff being tested like never before. The Astros have major long-term questions to answer regarding both 1st and 3rd base.

With the Astros so thin in the starting rotation, can the young guns of Blanco and Brown be the final pieces that stabilize this staff? Why is the national media giving updates on Dana Brown's job status?

Jose Abreu's time with the Astros comes to a premature end less than halfway into his 3 year contract. Where does Houston go from here?

With another Astros insider saying Joe Espada's hands are tied in the Jose Abreu situation, that only leaves so many voices to intervene and influence change. A player-led intervention could be one of the team's last hopes.

Houston's pen takes its lumps and if they don't act now, then when? And the puppet masters start to take focus.

After losing back-to-back series, Houston has a lot of tough questions to answer as they drift further from playoff contention.

Troubling setbacks for the pitching staff. Jose Abreu makes his controversial return to the team during a critical stretch. Is Houston playing their best players or chasing sunken cost? What's motivating Joe Espada's lineups?

Kyle Tucker has become a one-man wrecking crew but the impending return of Jose Abreu has everyone asking "why?"

Why the next 17 games could decide the season and who is funneling info to a USA Today reporter?

The Astros have an even deeper hole to dig themselves out of and has Jim Crane learned his lesson? And more importantly, what is it?

Astros get well south of the border, a minor league slugger gets the call, and one writer can't get past Dusty Baker.

Charlie, Josh, and Brandon react to picks 42 & 59 of the NFL Draft night #2.