The Astros just shocked the baseball world — and not in the way fans hoped. Coming off their first postseason miss since 2016, Houston has decided to overhaul key parts of its coaching staff, front office, and even athletic training department. But here's where it gets controversial: some of these departures involve long-tenured staff who were part of the team’s greatest successes.
Sources revealed to MLB.com on Thursday that hitting coaches Alex Cintrón and Troy Snitker will not have their contracts renewed, alongside Major League coach Michael Collins, who worked closely with the catchers. The shake-up extends beyond the dugout — assistant general manager Andrew Ball is out after his fourth season, and head athletic trainer Jeremiah Randall won’t be back in 2026. None of these moves have been officially confirmed by the team.
The timing stings. This year’s Astros were battered by injuries, faltering badly in the second half and missing the playoffs by just one game. They finished 87-75, tied with Detroit for the third American League Wild Card spot, but lost out due to a tiebreaker. That ended an incredible eight-year streak of postseason appearances.
Almost all other coaches are expected to return next season, but as of now, only third-base coach Tony Perezchica (with two years left on his contract) and quality assurance coach Jason Bell are locked in. Manager Joe Espada, whose return for 2026 was confirmed in the final week of the regular season, will be entering the last year of his three-year deal, while GM Dana Brown will also enter the ending year of his contract.
Cintrón’s history with Houston runs deep. After playing nine MLB seasons, he joined the Astros in 2017 as a Spanish translator and assistant coach before quickly climbing the ranks to first-base coach in 2018 and hitting coach in 2019 — right before Houston posted a league-record slugging percentage. Snitker, son of former Braves manager Brian Snitker, joined in ’19, and both were integral to the team’s 2022 World Series triumph. Collins, an Australian native, came aboard in 2018, providing specialized support for catchers.
Ironically, the Astros entered 2025 after leading the AL in batting average just a year earlier, yet their offense collapsed this season. Injuries were a huge factor, but the numbers tell a harsh story: 21st in MLB in runs scored, tied for 16th in home runs, 26th in walks, tied for 14th in OPS, and 23rd in batting average with runners in scoring position. Even more telling — they ranked near the bottom (28th) in pitches seen per plate appearance.
The injury toll was staggering: 28 players landed on the injured list, eight of them multiple times. According to FanGraphs, Houston lost a projected 17.6 WAR to injuries — the highest in the league. At one point, 18 players were sidelined, including star slugger Yordan Alvarez, who missed 100 games with a broken hand and the final 11 with a sprained ankle. Four pitchers — Ronel Blanco, Hayden Wesneski, Brandon Walter, and Luis Garcia — underwent Tommy John surgery, with Garcia’s second procedure taking place on October 1.
As assistant GM, Ball was directly involved in overseeing sports medicine and performance programs, making his departure even more notable in light of the injury crisis. Randall, who led the Astros' training staff for a decade and was once honored as MLB’s Athletic Training Staff of the Year (2017), also exits.
The changes leave fans wondering: are the Astros truly addressing their performance issues, or is this a harsh reset that risks losing institutional experience? What do you think — was this a necessary shake-up or a risky overreaction to one bad season? Sound off in the comments.
