Veteran right-hander has made the Astros Opening Day roster, Ari Alexander of Houstons KPRC-2. Lefty has also made the cut, . Righty has also made the club, per Alexander. Lefty will also break camp, while non-roster righty will head to Triple-A. McTaggart adds that first baseman has been informed that he will not make the team. Both Montero and Okert were non-roster invitees in camp, meaning both will need to be selected to the 40-man roster. of opened one vacancy on the 40-man for the Astros, and it seems another will be created by designating Singleton for a signment, trading him or releasing him. Singleton is on the 40-man roster but out of minor league options, so one way or another hell be coming off between now and Opening Day. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, he could potentially remain with the organization by accepting an outright a signment but hed also have the right to reject that a signment in favor of free agency. Montero, 34, is in the final season of an ill-fated signed when the Astros were operating without a general manager in place. Owner Jim Crane and advisor Jeff Bagwell were reported to be running baseball operations at the time, having parted ways with James Click following the 2022 season. That period produced regrettable agreements with both Montero and the since-released , to whom the Stros still owe $19.5MM this season. Monteros deal quickly blew up in similar fashion to that of Abreu. He pitched to a 5.08 ERA in 2023, allowing an average of 1.47 homers per nine frames along the way, and was tagged for a 4.70 mark in 38 1/3 innings in 2024, proving even more homer-prone that season. Houston pa sed Montero through waivers last summer, and he opted to accept a minor league a signment despite the fact that he couldve elected free agency and retained his entire salary. The hard-throwing Montero will now return to Houstons bullpen, at least for the start of the season. He allowed five runs (four earned) Patrik Elias Jersey on six hits and seven walks with 10 strikeouts in 8 2/3 spring innings. Statistically speaking, Montero didnt have the best spring of Astros NRIs (particularly with regard to that 18.4% walk rate), but the Astros are paying him $11.5MM regardle s, so theyll try to recoup some value and hope he can trend closer to his outstanding 2022 form. Okert, 33, is another story entirely. He signed a minor league deal back in November and promptly gave the Stros no choice but to carry him on the roster. In 11 spring frames, Okert held opponents scorele s. The veteran southpaw allowed only four baserunners two hits, two walks and fanned 17 of the 36 batters he faced (47.2%). His minor league deal carries a $1.2MM base salary. Okert was a productive reliever with the Marlins in 2022-23 but struggled through 35 1/3 innings with the Twins in 2024. His lone season in Minnesota resulted in a 5.09 ERA with a 20.6% strikeout rate (second-lowest of his career) and 10% walk rate. On top of a diminished strikeout rate and shaky command, Okert yielded a career-high 1.53 HR/9. The 28-year-old Contreras, like Okert, made it hard for the Astros to leave him off the roster. Hes already on the 40-man and couldve been optioned, but he rattled off 9 2/3 shutout frames during camp, fanning 32.5% of his opponents. His 10% walk rate could stand to come down, but if Contreras can continue to mi s bats at that level, he could get by with a higher-than average rate of dishing out free pa ses. He made his big league debut for Houston last year but was tagged for six runs in six innings. His strong spring will earn him another look, though. As for Singleton, this wave of decisions will cost him his 40-man roster spot. The former top prospect returned to the Astros in 2023 after a brief appearance with the Brewers. That MLB comeback came on the heels of an eight-year absence. He wound up serving as Houstons primary first baseman in 2024, after the club cut Abreu. Singleton hit .234/.321/.386 and popped 13 home runs but struggled with the glove and on the basepaths. He hit just .171/.239/.195 in 46 spring plate appearances. Those struggles, plus the offseason signing of to play first base, left Singleton with a tough path to the roster and a limited role if hed made it. Samuel Laberge Jersey