A bold truth upfront: the Houston Astros have just landed a promising starting pitcher with major upside, signaling a notable shift for their rotation. But here’s where it gets interesting... Ryan Weiss has reached a one-year agreement worth $2.6 million with the Astros, with a potential path to more than $10 million over two years if options are exercised, according to multiple sources.
The deal, still subject to a routine physical, includes an option for 2027. If activated, this could extend his earnings significantly beyond the initial guarantee.
Weiss, 28, was originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018. After navigating a stint in Independent ball in 2023 and 2024, he signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. Last season he turned in an impressive 16-5 record with a 2.87 ERA over 30 starts, a performance that attracted interest from several MLB clubs this winter.
Houston will give Weiss a real chance to break into a crowded but unsettled rotation, especially with ace Framber Valdez potentially moving on as a free agent. Weiss has developed a repertoire that features a fastball, a curve, and a changeup, a blend he refined during his time in Korea. Late in the year he also added a kick change, a pitch many evaluators growing intrigued by.
The Hanwha Eagles had hoped to keep him for another season, yet the level of interest from the Astros was sufficient for Weiss to pass on a return to the KBO.
If all goes as planned, Weiss is set to make his Major League debut for the Astros next season.
