2016 Houston Astros season
The 2016 Houston Astros season was the 55th season for the Major League Baseball franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 52nd as the Astros, fourth in both the American League and AL West division, and 17th at Minute Maid Park. They entered the season having posted an 86–76 record, in second place and 2 games behind the division-champion Texas Rangers. The Astros qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card team; however, their season ended in defeat to the eventual World Series champion Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series.
On April 5 at Yankee Stadium, Dallas Keuchel made his second consecutive Opening Day start for Houston, who defeated New York, 5–3. After a 7–17 start in the month of April, the Astros produced a winning record over their next four months, highlighted by an 18–8 record in June. The Astros' first round draft pick in the amateur draft was pitcher Forrest Whitley, at 17th overall.
Second baseman Jose Altuve and pitcher Will Harris represented the Astros and played for the American League at the MLB All-Star Game. It was Altuve's fourth career selection and the first for Harris. After going 12–15 in September, the Astros were eliminated from playoff contention.
The Astros concluded the season with a final record of 84–78, for third place and eleven games behind Texas, who repeated as division champions. In the Wild Card race, the Astros trailed the Toronto Blue Jays by five games for the second opening. For the first time since 2005—2006, the Astros posted consecutive winning seasons. The 2016 season was the final year in which Houston did not advance to at least the American League Championship Series until 2024, and the final time that they did not win the AL West over a full 162-game schedule until 2025.
Altuve, who claimed a second AL batting championship and third consecutive hits title, was named The Sporting News Player of the Year, and the MLBPA Players Choice Awards each for Major League Player of the Year, AL Outstanding Player, and Majestic Athletic Always Game Award. He also won his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award. Additionally, pitcher Dallas Keuchel won his third consecutive Gold Glove, and third baseman Alex Bregman was selected to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team.
Offseason
- 11/13/15 – Astros re-signed OF Colby Rasmus to the team's qualifying offer of one year, $15.8 million.
- 11/19/15 – Astros traded IF Jonathan Villar to the Milwaukee Brewers for RHP Cy Sneed.
- 11/25/15 – Astros traded IF Jed Lowrie to the Oakland Athletics for RHP Brendan McCurry.
- 12/2/15 – Astros traded C Hank Conger to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations.
- 12/2/15 – Astros non-tendered 1B Chris Carter, making him a free agent.
- 12/11/15 – Astros re-signed LHP Tony Sipp to three year, $18 million deal.
- 12/12/15 – Astros traded RHP Vince Velasquez, RHP Mark Appel, LHP Brett Oberholtzer, RHP Harold Arauz, and RHP Thomas Eshelman to the Philadelphia Phillies for RHP Ken Giles and IF Jonathan Araúz.
- 1/28/16 – Astros signed free agent RHP Doug Fister to one year, $7 million deal.
Transactions
Free agents
| RHP | Ronel Blanco |  Spring training2016 marked the final year the Astros played their spring training ball at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida, where Houston had played since 1985. In 2017, the Astros moved to The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches, a brand new stadium located in West Palm Beach, Florida that Houston shares with the Washington Nationals.Houston finished fifth in the Grapefruit League with an 18–11 record, four games back of the champion Nationals. Regular seasonSummaryApril;Opening Day starting lineupTyler White, who made his major league debut on Opening Day April 5 and singled as a pinch hitter, batted.556, two doubles, three home runs, 9 runs batted in,.597 on-base percentage, and 1.167 slugging percentage over his first six games. Hence, White was named Player of the Week to cap a memorable first week in the major leagues. During Game 2 of the regular season, on April 6, George Springer slugged his first career grand slam, taking Michael Pineda deep to left-center field in top of the second at Yankee Stadium. Carlos Correa added two jacks. However, New York teed off on Collin McHugh for six in the bottom of the first and never looked back, routing the Astros, 16–6. MayAstros pitching established a major league strikeout record on May 26, whiffing 52 in a series against the Baltimore Orioles, for most over a three-game series. During the first game of the series, the pitchers fanned 19, the followed up with 18 the next game. The strikeouts over the first two established a two-game record with 37.Performance overviewThough the Astros missed the playoffs, they posted successive winning seasons for the first time since 2005–2006.Outfielder George Springer became the first player in club history to hammer three grand slams in a single season. Following the season, Altuve was recognized with numerous awards, including The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year, by which he joined Jeff Bagwell as the second Astro to receive the award; Altuve was also the recipient of three MLBPA Players Choice Awards as Major League Player of the Year, AL Outstanding Player, and the Majestic Athletic Always Game Award. Further, Altuve became the third Astro to receive the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, succeeding Buddy Bell and Glenn Davis, and received his second Luis Aparicio Award. Statistics''Through 2016 season''Batting
PitchingNote: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Total runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
Major League Baseball draft
Awards and achievementsAwards
American League leaders;Batting leaders;Pitching leaders |