Right‑hander Jason Alexander cleared waivers after the Astros designated him for assignment and was outrighted to Triple‑A. He may reject the move to become a free agent, or stay as depth if injuries hit the playoff roster. Can he bounce back when the club needs him?
The 33‑year‑old logged 18 1/3 innings for Houston in 2026, his third stint in the big leagues. Opponents hammered him for 19 runs, pushing his career ERA to 5.54 over 167 1/3 innings. He strikes out 16.9% of batters while walking 8.4%, boasts a solid 47.5% ground‑ball rate, yet yields 1.67 homers per nine innings and often struggles to strand runners.
At Triple‑A, he logged a 5.03 ERA over 91 1/3 innings, mixing a 91‑92 mph fastball with an 85 mph changeup and occasional cutter and slider.
Heading into free agency, other clubs will likely eye him as a seasoned swingman on a minor‑league deal. In my view, Alexander could provide valuable depth for a team chasing a postseason berth. Will he secure a roster spot or face another DFA next year?