Astros Crawfish Boil: March 8, 2023

Houston Astros News

Offseason In Review: Houston Astros (mlbtraderumors.com)

Houston Astros’ Projected Opening Day Roster, Part I: Pitchers (si.com)

Houston Astros in Active Extension Talks With Two Star Players (si.com)

Jose Altuve proud to bat against Astros on Wednesday (houstonchronicle.com)

Last wave of Astros stars departs for Classic (mlb.com)

Non-Houston Astros AL West News

Bryce Harper Believes Las Vegas Needs an MLB Expansion Team, Not the A’s (si.com)

After A’s weekend visit, Las Vegas believes they’ll leave Oakland and be back to stay (sfchronicle.com)

Is torrid spring by Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic for real? Why it may be (sports.mynorthwest.com)

Here are the Mariners’ 2023 Top 30 prospects (mlb.com)

Rangers 20-year-old prospect on what he considers “classic rock” (dallasnews.com)

Could Cole Ragans Be Part of Rangers Six-Man Rotation? (si.com)

3 surprise Angels players who’ve dominated early in Spring Training (halohangout.com)

Spring training update: Adrian Morejon labors in Padres’ loss to Angels (sandiegouniontribune.com)

Non-AL West MLB News

Report: Houston Astros fan favorite Yuli Gurriel in talks with NL team (chron.com)

Yankees using playoff loss to Astros as motivational fuel (nypost.com)

Rodgers Out, Moustakas In as Rockies Are Forced to Rearrange the Infield (blogs.fangraphs.com)

A Definitive List of League Losers – The Hitters (fantasy.fangraphs.com)

Giants’ Davis has 3 goals for himself in ‘23 (mlb.com)

MLB shift limits raising batter spirits and averages so far (apnews.com)

MLB Insider ‘Basically Heard’ Oswald Peraza Will be Yankees Opening Day Shortstop (si.com)

Non-MLB Baseball News

Samurai Japan’s WBC Squad Brings the Best of NPB (and MLB) (fangraphs.com)

As the WBC Gets Under Way, Here Are a Few Names You Should Know (blogs.fangraphs.com)

2023 World Baseball Classic: Five bold predictions, including early Team USA exit and Matt Harvey comeback

Netherlands open the WBC with 4-2 win over Cuba. (gameday)

Astros Birthdays

Right-handed relief pitcher Jim Dougherty (55) pitched 80 ²⁄₃ innings for the Houston Astros in 1995 and 1996. He was 8-6 with a 5.58 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and a 1.562 WHIP.

Fellow right-handed reliever Joshua James (30) pitched 106 ²⁄₃ innings for the Astros between 2018 and 2021. Of particular note was his 13.3 K/9. He also put up a 1.322 WHIP, going 8-1 with a 4.64 ERA. He’s currently a free agent.