While the Astros and Yainer Diaz find themselves in an arbitration standoff, the 27-year old remains firmly entrenched as the club’s primary catcher in 2026, but as the start of spring training nears, the question of who will back him up remains unanswered. Victor Caratini is the incumbent, but appears to be headed elsewhere in […]
While the Astros and Yainer Diaz find themselves in an arbitration standoff, the 27-year old remains firmly entrenched as the club’s primary catcher in 2026, but as the start of spring training nears, the question of who will back him up remains unanswered.
Victor Caratini is the incumbent, but appears to be headed elsewhere in free agency after two seasons where he outplayed the two-year, $12 million contract the Astros gave him. Caratini will likely find more playing time and more money elsewhere, so here are a few possibilities to replace him.
Cesar Salazar
Salazar is the only other catcher currently on the Astros 40-man roster, and the only catcher Joe Espada has used outside of Diaz and Caratini since becoming manager. The 29-year old is well-liked and respected inside the Astros clubhouse, but the team has been hesitant to give him meaningful playing time.
Salazar has started just 13 games in his Major League career, despite accruing more than a full season of service time, and despite spending a good portion of 2025 on the Major League roster, Salazar did not enter a game closer than eight runs until he made a start against the Rockies on August 27.
One reason for this was the good health of Diaz and Caratini, but Salazar, a switch hitter, could’ve been used as a pinch hitter in high-leverage spots, but never was.
With the Astros teetering on the edge of the CBT for a third straight year, Salazar’s minimum salary would make him appealing, as does his familiarity with the team’s pitching staff, but would the Astros be comfortable with Salazar as their primary catcher if something happened to Diaz?
Salazar, who has had a solid winter ball campaign in Mexico, is out of minor league options, so he’d have to be exposed to waivers if he doesn’t make the team out of spring training, something else working in his favor.
Collin Price
The 2022 sixth round pick appeared in 111 games for Sugar Land last season and started 63 games behind the dish after being a non-roster invitee to spring training. He finished with an .813 OPS on the road in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, while his OPS dropped to .696 at the pitcher-friendly Constellation Field.
It would be shocking if he vaulted ahead of Salazar, but Price, who is not listed on any public prospect lists, is seemingly the only other internal option they have who could break camp on the 26-man roster.
Christian Vázquez
Vázquez, a member of the 2022 Astros championship team, is a free agent after completing a three-year, $30 million contract with the Twins. He finished with a 60 OPS+ in 884 plate appearances as a Twin, with that number cratering to 52 in 201 plate appearances last season.
Despite his struggles at the plate, Vázquez, 35, remains a solid defender at the position, and he has relationships with a handful of Astros’ pitchers, along with Diaz, Espada, and pitching coach Josh Miller. He would also give the Astros a veteran presence at the position, which they no longer have.
Elias Díaz
Díaz received a $2 million buyout from the Padres after his $7 million option was declined following a .204/.270/.337 season in 2025. Much like Vázquez, Díaz is a solid defender and does a good job controlling the run game, something the Astros have struggled with the last few seasons, and with over nine years of service time, Díaz is a solid veteran presence behind the plate.
Reese McGuire
A former first round pick and top 100 prospect, McGuire spent last season serving as Carson Kelly’s backup with the Cubs. The 30-year old finished with a 94 OPS+, while playing well defensively. McGuire’s time with the Blue Jays overlapped with Astros GM Dana Brown.
Jonah Heim
Three years ago, Heim was an All-Star and a Gold Glove winner as the everyday catcher for a World Series championship team, but the Rangers non-tendered him after his offense and defense fell off a cliff, but playing well on a one-year deal with a team expected to compete is a good way to build your value back up.
Heim is only 30, and both sides know each other quite well, and if he can recapture the swing that led to a 106 OPS+ in 2023, the switch-hitting Heim could be a valuable contributor as a pinch hitter.
Category: General Sports
