Dec. 7: Astros sign free agent C Victor Caratini to a two-year deal
Caratini signed a two-year, $12-million contract to back up Yainer Diaz, who takes over as the starter after a terrific rookie season backing up Martín Maldonado. Caratini, 30, is a veteran of seven Major League seasons with the Cubs (2017-20), Padres (2021) and Brewers (2022-23). For his career, he’s batted .236 with 38 home runs, 171 RBIs, 142 walks, 53 doubles and a .674 OPS, including a .259 batting average and .711 OPS last season.

Dec. 6: Astros acquire RHP Dylan Coleman in exchange for RHP Carlos Mateo
Coleman will help fill out the Astros’ bullpen depth, which the club hopes he can do by recapturing his 2022 form. That season, he went 5-2 in 68 appearances with a 2.78 ERA while allowing just 47 hits in 68 innings. His velocity dropped a couple of mph last season, and he wound up splitting time between Triple-A Omaha and the Majors, appearing in 23 games overall for the Royals (8.84 ERA in 18 innings).

Nov. 17: Astros tender contracts to RHP Bryan Abreu, IF/OF Mauricio Dubón, RHP Luis Garcia, OF Chas McCormick, RF Kyle Tucker, RHP José Urquidy and LHP Framber Valdez
The Astros tendered contracts to all seven of their arbitration-eligible players ahead of Friday’s deadline, meaning those players are signed for the 2024 season at a salary to be determined in the arbitration process.

Nov. 14: OF Kenedy Corona added to 40-man roster
Corona, the Astros’ No. 11-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, will be protected from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft by being added to the 40-man roster. Acquired from the Mets for Jake Marisnick in December 2019, Corona had to wait to make his Astros organizational debut until 2021 because of the pandemic, then didn’t stand out during his full-season debut in 2021. But he’s gotten continuously better over the past two years. He broke out in 2022, hitting 19 homers and stealing 28 bases across two levels of A-ball, then upping his power/speed to 22 homers and 32 steals this season, mostly with Double-A Corpus Christi. Corona won a 2023 Gold Glove Award in the Minor Leagues.

• All Astros transactions

INJURY UPDATES

RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: 2024
McCullers, sidelined since aggravating his forearm injury during a bullpen session in February, did not return in 2023 following surgery performed on June 13 to repair his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. The right-hander had rehabbed to the point that he was close to facing hitters in mid-May, but another setback ultimately led to surgery. He should return at some point early in 2024. (Last updated: Nov. 3) More>>

RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery on May 19 and missed the rest of the season. He posted a 2-2 record in six starts in 2023 with a 4.00 ERA with 10 walks and 31 strikeouts and 27 innings. He’s likely to return in the middle of next season. (Last updated: Nov. 3) More >>

RHP Oliver Ortega (left lumbar strain)
Expected return: 2024
The Twins placed Ortega on the 15-day IL on Aug. 24, two days after he exited during the middle of a plate appearance in the seventh inning of the club’s eventual loss to Milwaukee. The Astros plucked him off waiters Oct. 25. (Last updated: Nov. 3)