Houston Astros shake up their roster with cost-saving moves, trading Mauricio Dubón and DFA’ing fan favorites like Chas McCormick and Luis Garcia. With $15.8 million cleared and the luxury tax threshold in focus, could these strategic shifts signal a major pitching acquisition? Rumors heat up as Justin Verlander is spotted in Houston, sparking debate over his possible return and the team’s willingness to reinvest the saved funds. Eric Huysman and Brandon delCastillo break down the Astros’ options ahead of the non-tender deadline, highlighting likely cuts for Jesús Sánchez and Enoli De Los Santos, while weighing the futures of Jake Myers and rising prospect Zach Cole. The discussion centers on how Dana Brown and Jim Crane will prioritize pitching upgrades and left-handed bats, examining trade value, arbitration moves, and their impact on the team’s AL West contention. Will the Astros’ financial flexibility turn into a blockbuster signing or a fresh rebuild? 0:00 — Dubon Trade Reaction 5:40 — Astros Payroll & Savings 13:38 — Non-Tender Deadline Preview Locked On Astros is your daily Houston Astros podcast, hosted by Eric Huysman and Brett Chancey. As part of the Locked On Podcast Network, we bring you the latest Astros news, in-depth game analysis, player updates, and exclusive insights — every single weekday. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual listener, stay connected with everything happening in Astros baseball. Tune in on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, never to miss an episode. 🎧 Subscribe today and make Locked On Astros part of your daily routine — perfect for your commute, workout, or coffee break. 📺 We’re growing fast on YouTube — help us reach 20,000 subscribers by subscribing now and joining the best Houston Astros community online! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9fXhBb2-ZTiPwk7WNwYjzQ https://linktr.ee/LockedOnAstros Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOAstros?sid=YouTube Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnMLB #Astros #HoustonAstros #MLB Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rugiet Ready to level up your confidence ? Head to https://rugiet.com and use promo code LOCKEDONMLB for 15% off your first order. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONMLB at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonmlb for 50% off your first year. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
