The Houston Astros have officially outrighted catcher Cesar Salazar to Triple-A Sugar Land, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Salazar passed through waivers unclaimed and accepted the assignment after being designated for assignment earlier this week. The move gives the Astros flexibility behind the plate as they continue to manage their catching rotation.
This is the second time this season Salazar has gone through the DFA process. The first time, he had the option to reject the outright assignment and return to free agency. This time, he chose to stay with the organization that has been his only professional home since 2019. The 30-year-old has spent parts of four MLB seasons with the Astros, playing 45 games and hitting .189/.295/.216 overall.
Salazar entered the majors in May after Yainer Diaz suffered an oblique injury. During his brief call-up, he split time behind the plate with Christian Vazquez and went 1-for-18 in his at-bats. The Astros eventually opted to replace Salazar with Collin Price, who has taken over as the backup to Vazquez.
With no remaining minor league options, the Astros can now keep Salazar on their Triple-A roster as catching depth. He remains under contract and will be available if either Vazquez or Price suffers an injury or underperforms. Houston’s catching situation has been in flux this season, with Diaz on the injured list and Price stepping into a more prominent role.
Salazar’s .189 batting average and .216 slugging percentage make him a defensive backup rather than a regular offensive contributor. His 45-game MLB career includes just 18 hits and 12 RBIs. Despite the limited offensive production, he has shown value as a game manager and pitch-caller when called upon.
The Astros are not expected to add a new catcher in the near future, but they will monitor the trade market as the July 30 deadline approaches. For now, Salazar’s presence in the minors gives the club insurance in case of further injuries or roster changes.
Salazar is expected to report to Triple-A Sugar Land in the coming days. The Astros will continue to evaluate their catching depth as they head into the second half of the season.
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