The Houston Astros are making moves to put last season’s injury-plagued disaster behind them. The club’s already shaken up their training staff and coaching ranks, and now they’re cutting ties with some familiar faces on the roster.
Chas McCormick, the outfielder who made one of the most memorable catches in recent World Series history, was placed on outright waivers along with four other players. The Athletic’s Chandler Rome broke the news.
“The Astros have placed Chas McCormick on outright waivers, source tells The Athletic, along with John Rooney, Kenedy Corona, Luis Garcia and Pedro Leon.”
McCormick’s best known for that spectacular wall-climbing catch against the Phillies in the 2022 World Series. He robbed J.T. Realmuto of at least a double in a one-run game, essentially saving Houston’s championship run right there.
But that feels like a lifetime ago now.
The reality is McCormick’s had trouble staying healthy, and the Astros have plenty of young outfield talent pushing for playing time. From where I’m sitting, this move makes sense even if it stings a bit for fans who remember that catch.
Bigger Changes Coming
The McCormick move is just part of Houston’s offseason overhaul. The organization decided not to renew Jeremiah Randall’s contract as head athletic trainer – which tells you everything about how they felt about last year’s injury issues.
They’re also searching for a new hitting coach after letting go of Alex Cintron and Troy Snitker. When you’re making that many changes to your support staff, it’s clear the front office thinks the problems went deeper than just bad luck.
Now the question becomes whether any team claims McCormick off waivers. He’s got that World Series pedigree and can play all three outfield spots when healthy. The key word being “when.”
All things considered, this feels like the Astros acknowledging they need to get younger and more durable. McCormick’s 30 now and his injury history doesn’t inspire confidence for a team trying to bounce back from their worst season in years.
