The Houston Astros' needs this offseason revolve around more bullpen help, a left-handed hitter, and, most importantly, more help in the starting rotation.
With a lot of starters either injured, or like Framber Valdez and heading elsewhere in free agency, the Astros need to add at least a couple of starting pitching options.
According to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, the Astros are signing a free agent starter who spent the 2025 season in the KBO with the Hanwha Eagles. Ryan Weiss flashed in Korea and now enters the Major Leagues for the Astros rotation.
Astros sign KBO 2.87 ERA starter to bolster rotation
"Source: The Astros have agreed to a deal with RHP Ryan Weiss, pending a physical," McTaggart reports. "He pitched the last two years in Korea and will be a starter."
Weiss is 28 years old, but will be 29 at the start of the 2026 MLB season. He was a 2018 draft pick in the fourth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but couldn't make it to the Major Leagues.
The highest he got in the Diamondbacks, or any farm system, was Triple-A. In those 70 Triple-A appearances, he struggled mightily, pitching to a 6.72 ERA with all but one appearance coming as a reliever.
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But now, after a season in the KBO, Weiss returns to the United States to pitch as a starter for the Astros. His 2.87 ERA in 2025 was impressive, as he went 16-5 for the Eagles across 30 starts and 178.2 innings pitched with 207 strikeouts.
Across two seasons for the Eagles in the KBO, Weiss had a 3.16 ERA with 305 strikeouts across 46 starts. After a stint overseas, Weiss is signing with the Astros to try and bolster the Astros' injury-laden rotation.
According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, Weiss's deal with the Astros will guarantee him $2.6 million in 2026, with an option for 2027, which could elevate his total earnings to $10 million over those two seasons.
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