The Houston Astros have had a busy offseason, and it doesn’t appear that they are done constructing their roster. While fans are hoping that they will be able to re-sign star third baseman Alex Bregman, the team made a smaller move on Wednesday night to re-sign veteran outfielder Ben Gamel.
Gamel will split his time in 2024 between the New York Mets and the Houston Astros, remaining a versatile veteran outfielder who can come off the bench in a pinch. After a protracted stint on the free agent market, Gamel re-signed with the Astros on Wednesday night, signing a one-year contract worth $1.2 million.
“Sources tell ESPN that outfielder Ben Gamel and the Houston Astros have agreed on a one-year, $1.2 million contract. Gamel’s contract is a major league contract that includes a $200,000 signing bonus, with the remaining $1 million non-guaranteed,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan said on X, formerly Twitter.
Astros shore up outfield depth by re-signing Ben Gamel
Gamel appeared in only 20 games for Houston last season, hitting.259 with one home run and four RBIs. Mauricio Dubon, Jake Meyers, and Chas McCormick are now penciled in as the starting outfielders, but after dealing Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs, the necessity for additional depth in the outfield required this Gamel trade.
There’s a chance Gamel won’t stick with the major league team, but he’s familiar with the Astros, and his ability to play all three outfield positions offers him an advantage in finding a way to stick around. This isn’t a breakthrough move for Houston, but depth is important over the course of a whole 162-game season, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Gamel makes some sort of contribution now that he’s back with the Astros.
