Houston Astros pick up right-handed reliever Roddery Muñoz in Rule 5 draft, stoking bullpen ambitions for 2026
ORLANDO, Fla.— The Houston Astros bolstered their pitching depth by selecting Roddery Muñoz, a right-hander with Major League experience, in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 draft during the winter meetings on Wednesday.
Muñoz, 25, was taken from the Cincinnati Reds, who had just signed him to a minor-league deal earlier this month. Across his MLB career, he has appeared in 27 games, including 17 starts, and owns a 6.73 ERA in those appearances.
To complete the selection, Houston must pay $100,000 to the Reds and keep Muñoz on its 26-man roster for the entire 2026 season. If they choose to remove him from the roster and he clears waivers, the Astros would owe Cincinnati an additional $50,000 and could only send Muñoz to the minors if Cincinnati declines to reacquire him.
Muñoz split 2024 between the Miami Marlins and their system, logging 17 starts and one relief appearance with a 6.53 ERA over 82 ⅔ innings. In 2025, he worked exclusively as a reliever, posting an 8.18 ERA in nine MLB games and posting a 3.28 ERA across 38 appearances at Triple-A for the Cardinals’ organization.
In his brief 2025 MLB stint, Muñoz averaged a fastball at 95.7 mph, a velocity that placed him in the 72nd percentile among pitchers. He recorded an above-average 27.5% strikeout rate and a 30.7% whiff rate, though he also walked nine batters and allowed four home runs in 11 innings.
Muñoz could fit Houston’s bullpen plans, as the Astros have signaled a desire to strengthen that area this winter. With the addition, Houston’s 40-man roster now sits at capacity.
Would Muñoz’s track record and velo translate into a reliable late-inning option for a team chasing division supremacy, or does his inconsistent MLB stint leave more questions than answers for a high-leverage role? Share your thoughts below.
