MLB Rumors: Astros & Others Eyeing Former World Series Winner As Free Agent Pickup

After being designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs a week ago, many wondered if former Houston Astros World Series-winning closer Ryan Pressly was done. There is even some talk about him considering retirement.

But according to insider Bob Nightengale in USA Today, the team with which he celebrated his greatest moment in baseball has been considering bringing him back:

"The Astros are weighing the possibility of bringing back reliever Ryan Pressly after he was released by the Chicago Cubs," wrote Nightengale.

Houston re-acquired their longtime shortstop Carlos Correa at the trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins, so why not bring another World Series winner back as well?

Pressly pondering retirement, or return to a former team

Critics would look at Pressly's overall numbers this season with the Cubs, and scoff at a team like the Astros bringing him in. He had a 4.35 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. But EIGHT of the 20 earned runs he surrendered this year came in one blowout appearance back on May 6th. Aside from that, he has a 2.61 ERA this season.

In fact, the two-time All-Star went on a 23-appearance run in June & early July in which he posted a 0.83 ERA across 21.2 innings.

The Astros have a pretty good one-two punch at the back end of their bullpen this season with Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu. But we saw how so many playoff teams loaded up their 'pens with trades at the deadline. The 'Stros could do worse than having their former All-Star closer come out in the 7th inning.

The Astros did bring in reliever Enyel De Los Santos on a major league contract on Thursday, after he was outrighted by the Atlanta Braves earlier this week, so we do know that they're considering how to fill out their bullpen going forward.

Twins are also considering re-signing Pressly

The Minnesota Twins, however, who traded almost their entire bullpen at the deadline, are said to be the top suitor right now for Pressly, and are another team he's very familiar with. Pressly spent the first six years of his career in the Twin Cities before being dealt to Houston in 2018.

Whether the 36-year-old reliever chooses retirement, a return to Minny, or a return to the Astros, remains to be seen.