Coleman joins bullpen in deal with K.C.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Astros acquired reliever Dylan Coleman from the Royals in a trade for minor league pitcher Carlos Mateo on Wednesday, adding a potential contributor at an area of need on the major league roster.
Coleman is a 27-year-old righthander with a 3.88 ERA in 96 major league games. He posted a 2.78 ERA over 68 relief appearances for the Royals in 2022, then compiled an 8.84 ERA in 23 outings with Kansas City in 2023 and spent the balance of the season at Triple-A. Coleman has thrown a fourseam fastball, sweeping slider and cutter in the majors, totaling 99 strikeouts and 57 walks in 92 2⁄3 innings.
Reinforcing the bullpen is an offseason priority for the Astros after relievers Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek — who combined for 185 innings in 2023 — hit free agency. With their room to add payroll appearing limited, due to proximity to the luxury tax, Coleman could offer economical bullpen help. Coleman is not yet arbitration-eligible and has minor league options remaining.
Houston moved to address its other roster priority, backup catcher, Tuesday at the winter meetings, agreeing to a two-year deal with free agent Victor Caratini. Acquiring Coleman leaves the Astros with 39 players on their 40-man roster, not including Caratini, whose deal is still pending a physical.
Mateo, a 19-year-old righthander, spent the last two seasons in the Astros’ minor league system. He totaled 17 games pitched, including seven for Houston’s rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2023.
Also on Wednesday, the Astros added two pitchers and lost three players in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Houston did not select or lose any players in the major league phase of the draft.
In the minor league phase, the Astros selected righthanded pitchers Railin Perez, from Boston’s system, and Carlos Betancourt, from the Phillies’ system. Perez, 22, had a 3.70 ERA in 56 innings for the Red Sox’s Class A affiliate in 2023. Betancourt, 22, had a 3.69 ERA in 78 innings for the Phillies’ High-A affiliate.
Both pitchers have worked mostly in relief in affiliated ball. Perez is a ground-ball pitcher and Betancourt more of a flyball pitcher who might have potential to unlock more velocity, said Matt Hogan, the Astros’ director of player personnel.
Houston had three players selected from its system in the minor league phase: pitcher Tyler Brown (by the Guardians), pitcher Kervin Castro (Yankees) and outfielder Marty Costes. All were on the Double-A Corpus Christi roster.