Overview

• Houston finished 87-75 and lost the final AL wild-card spot to Detroit on a head-to-head tiebreaker, ending eight straight postseason berths.
• GM Dana Brown declined to discuss a reported 2026 club option but said he expects to remain, and he reiterated that manager Joe Espada is under contract for next season.
• Brown announced a deep evaluation of baseball operations focused on health, coaching and player development after an MLB-high injury burden that at one point reached 18 players on the IL.
• Closer Josh Hader, shut down in mid-August with a shoulder capsule issue, has undergone ongoing imaging and has not yet resumed throwing as the team monitors his timeline.
• Framber Valdez heads a consequential free-agent class as Houston weighs rotation needs, potential pitching additions via trade, and decisions on catcher Victor Caratini and a large arbitration group under CBT constraints.