Last year, the Houston Astros failed in their title defence when the Texas Rangers, their rivals, defeated them at home.
They still have a team capable of contending for a third World Series championship, with its core group of elite players returning for the 2024 season.
This was further demonstrated when they signed Josh Hader to a record-breaking deal, which made him the highest-paid reliever in MLB history based on present-day value.
In an effort to improve their chances of winning the pennant, the Astros have added players during the trade deadline in the previous few years. In 2022, this strategy proved successful as Trey Mancini, Christian Vasquez, and Will Smith were added.
Those pieces completed a World Series winning squad, even though their impact wasn’t quite as great as that of previous parts from the past.
Following his trade with the Baltimore Orioles, Mancini struggled, hitting just.176/.258/.364 with eight home runs and 22 RBI. Due to his even worse performance in the postseason, Houston declined his 2023 club option.
The slugger agreed to a two-year, $14 million contract with the Chicago Cubs to play first base, but they designated him for assignment in August due to his persistent problems at the plate.
The Miami Marlins and Mancini have now agreed to a minor league deal, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. He’ll get a Spring Training invite and have an opportunity to make the Major League team at some time if he can produce.
The 31-year-old was a consistent 20-plus home run hitter with a career slash line of.263/.328/.448. Before receiving a Stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis in 2019, he had the best season of his career. As a result, he missed the entire 2020 season.
He won AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 after overcoming cancer, but he hasn’t been as successful as he was before that disease.
