After their series loss to the San Diego Padres over the weekend, the Houston Astros are staying out West to face the San Francisco Giants in a new series this week.
Before the Giants series, the Astros announced two relevant pieces of roster news, and one of the transactions involved cutting ties with 3-year player Shay Whitcomb.
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Astros DFA Shay Whitcomb; Acquire Nelson Velazquez
GettyANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 10: Shay Whitcomb #14 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the dugout with teammates after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 10, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images)
Chandler Rome of The Athletic announced the two roster moves the Astros made before their series with the Giants:
“The Astros claimed Nelson Velázquez off waivers from the Cardinals and designated Shay Whitcomb for assignment. Velázquez is a right-handed hitting outfielder with a career .739 OPS against left-handed pitching.”
Focusing on the Shay Whitcomb news, he has played parts of three MLB seasons with the Houston Astros, but he will now enter DFA limbo, where he, like Velázquez, could be claimed by another MLB team before clearing waivers and being outrighted to the minors.
Whitcomb, 27, has appeared in 17 games for the Astros this season and has recorded three hits in 23 at-bats.
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Taking a Look at Shay Whitcomb’s MLB Career
GettyANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 10: Shay Whitcomb #14 of the Houston Astros throws the ball to second base during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 10, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images)
Shay Whitcomb hasn’t played much for the Houston Astros over his three-year career, but he was still chilling on the 40-man roster. He has not recorded an at-bat since June 10.
He debuted with the Stros in 2024 and has played just 57 games since joining the club that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB draft.
Across 96 total at-bats in the show, Whitcomb has batted .167 with three home runs, 16 total hits, and an OPS+ of 42.
It’s unlikely that someone will claim him, so Whitcomb will likely either just accept the assignment to the minors or could be outright released before that option comes.
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