The catcher position is one of the under-the-radar conundrums the Houston Astros face in 2026 and beyond. While most of the focus is on the backup catcher situation, something that is an urgent hole with no clear solution, the position as a whole faces deeper questions.
Yainer Diaz was an issue in 2025, whether or not the Astros would like to admit it. While he looked like a budding star during his rookie campaign in 2023, he hit worse in 2024 while making no progress in shoring up his deficiencies. Then, last year, he saw his wRC+ plummet from 116 in 2024 to a below-average mark of 92.