Spending top dollar in free agency hasn't been the preferred method for the Houston Astros in recent seasons, and this offseason will likely be no different. While Dylan Cease-to-the-Astros rumors have already started, the Astros' 2026 payroll outlook makes it difficult to see how Houston can afford a top free agent this time around.
It's why the Astros weren't mentioned as a suitor for any top free agent in the USA Today's offseason predictions, and it's why ESPN's Jeff Passan points out a perfect move that avoids the top of the market.