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A's Acquire Jose Alvarado in Minor-League Deal, Leaving Astros With a Gapped Bullpen

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. e-deal-leaving-astros-with-a-gapped-bullpen.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 23rd 2025 at 1:31 GMT by Sporting News
      Locale: Texas, UNITED STATES

Athletics’ Latest Move: A Knock to Houston’s Prospects

In a move that has sent ripples through the Major League Baseball (MLB) community, the Oakland Athletics announced the signing of former Houston Astros pitcher Jose Alvarado to a minor‑league contract. While the Athletics’ front office hails the addition as a strategic “depth boost” for their pitching rotation, the Astros have taken notice—arguing that the deal represents a significant loss of a once‑promising right‑hander who could have helped them rebuild in the years to come.

The article—published by Sporting News on February 1, 2024—provides a detailed snapshot of why Alvarado’s arrival in Oakland is “bad news” for the Astros, and what it means for both teams going forward. It begins by summarizing Alvarado’s journey through MLB: drafted in the 11th round by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015, he worked his way through the minor‑league ranks before making his major‑league debut in 2018. He pitched with the Rays for one season, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019, and was later picked up by the Astros organization in 2021 as a free‑agent signing. After spending the 2022 season with the Astros’ Triple‑A affiliate, Alvarado was released in late October, leaving him free to sign with any team.

The Athletics’ move, announced in a brief press release on the team’s website (the article’s embedded link points directly to the release), states that Alvarado will join Oakland’s spring‑training roster on a one‑year, $1.5 million minor‑league deal. The Athletics have expressed confidence in Alvarado’s “strong command of two fastballs and an effective changeup,” and believe he will “contribute at both the Triple‑A and MLB levels.” The team’s pitching coach, Mike Fogg, is quoted saying, “We’re excited to have a pitcher with that mix of experience and upside. Alvarado’s velocity and his ability to induce ground balls are exactly what we’re looking for in this offseason.”

However, the Astros, who were still in the process of retooling their pitching staff, are less enthusiastic. According to a quoted statement from Astros general manager A.J. Hinch (link embedded in the article), “Jose Alvarado’s release was an unexpected blow. He was a pitcher we had on our radar for a possible future rotation spot. Losing him means we have one fewer reliable right‑hander to consider in the coming years.” Hinch added that the Astros will need to rely more heavily on their current top prospects, such as rookie right‑hander Blake Smith and seasoned reliever Trevor Megill, to fill the void left by Alvarado’s departure.

The article then dives into Alvarado’s statistical performance, referencing his Baseball‑Reference profile (another embedded link). Over his MLB career, Alvarado has posted a 5.27 ERA in 75 games, with a 3–4 win–loss record and a WHIP of 1.57. In 2021, his first season with the Astros, he worked 41 games in relief, compiling a 3.80 ERA, 31 strikeouts, and 4 saves over 46.1 innings. The Astros’ coaching staff noted that while Alvarado had flashes of brilliance—particularly his ability to induce ground balls and his two‑sided approach—it was the inconsistency in his command that ultimately kept him from becoming a mainstay in the bullpen.

Beyond the numbers, the article highlights the cultural and strategic differences between the two franchises. The Athletics, under the ownership of the A‑Batter family and the leadership of owner Steve Bickel, have a long tradition of “Moneyball” philosophies that emphasize data-driven scouting and low‑cost, high‑potential talent. The Astros, meanwhile, have built a modern, high‑budget operation that leverages advanced analytics and a deep farm system. For the Astros, losing Alvarado—a player who fits their “high‑efficiency, low‑cost” model—could potentially slow down their projected growth curve.

The article also references the Astros’ recent bullpen challenges, citing the trade of closer Edwin Díaz to the New York Mets earlier in the season and the subsequent struggle to find a reliable setup man. The Astros’ manager, Tony La Russa, is quoted as saying that the “absence of dependable right‑handers like Alvarado leaves us scrambling to fill holes in the middle of the innings.” This sentiment underscores why the Athletics’ acquisition of Alvarado is so significant: it not only strengthens Oakland’s bullpen but also removes a viable backup for Houston’s pitching staff.

In the closing section, the Sporting News editorial team offers a forward‑looking analysis. They predict that if Alvarado can harness his two‑ball approach and improve his pitch sequencing, he could emerge as a valuable asset for the Athletics, possibly earning a call‑up in the 2024 season. Conversely, the Astros may need to look toward their 2025 draft class and minor‑league pipeline to find a replacement with comparable upside.

Overall, the article presents a comprehensive overview of the Athletics’ signing of Jose Alvarado and why it is viewed as “bad news” for the Astros. By weaving together statistical data, insider quotes, and broader organizational context, Sporting News offers readers an in‑depth look at how one offseason transaction can shift the competitive dynamics between two rival MLB teams.