The Houston Astros are coming down the final stretch of the 2025 season and are hoping to make a run in the playoffs. But their return to the playoffs has become a turbulent one as several injuries and disappointing performances have Houston holding on for dear life at the top of the American League West.
One of those disappointing performances has come from outfielder Chas McCormick. Once a reliable member of the Astros outfield that racked up 7.4 wins above replacement this season, McCormick has battled injuries over the past two seasons to derail his career.
The hits kept coming on Wednesday as McCormick was optioned to the minor leagues and left with a crossroads over the final weeks of the regular season.
Chas McCormick Could Be Approaching His Final Weeks with Astros
The Astros announced on Wednesday that they have reinstated catcher Victor Caratini from the seven day injured list and optioned McCormick to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. The move isn’t shocking after McCormick hit .210/.279/.290 with one homer and five RBI in 64 games this season. But it is cause for concern as he makes a trip to the minor leagues.
McCormick had a career-best season back in 2023 when he hit .273/.353/.489 with 22 homers, 70 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 25 attempts. While it looked like he would be in Houston for the foreseeable future, the injuries started piling up when he hurt his hamstring in 2024.
The injury limited McCormick to hit .211/.271/.306 with five homers and 27 RBI in 94 games. Things have gotten worse this season as he’s battled a left oblique strain and McCormick was joined by trade deadline acquisition Jesús Sánchez in the Houston outfield.
Sánchez hasn’t been great for the Astros since being acquired from the Miami Marlins, hitting .244/.301/.407 with a pair of home runs and six RBI in 26 games. But he’s under team control through the 2027 season, which could leave him at a cheaper price point than McCormick over the next two seasons.
With McCormick scuffling, there’s a great chance the Astros move on and leaves McCormick trying to change their mind or convince another team to take a shot on him over the next month.