"A waiver claim at the end of the '23 campaign, Sousa quietly developed into a key bullpen piece last year. He fired 50 2/3 innings of 2.84 ERA ball while striking out almost 30% of batters faced. By the second half, no Houston pitcher was being called upon in higher-leverage situations on average."
"Sousa has struggled to stay healthy over the past few years. He missed the entire 2024 season due to thoracic outlet surgery. Sousa came back stronger than ever but went down at the end of August with elbow inflammation - ultimately ending his season."
"Losing Sousa obviously isn't as impactful as beginning the season without Hader, but it's nevertheless a real blow to Espada's relief corps. The bullpen is much less imposing from the right side, especially if they're reluctant to use Abreu earlier in games."
Bennett Sousa, a Houston Astros relief pitcher, will start the season on the 15-day injured list due to a left oblique strain sustained last week. Manager Joe Espada indicated the recovery will take considerable time, with Sousa completely shut down from throwing until pain-free. Sousa emerged as a crucial bullpen contributor in the previous season, posting a 2.84 ERA across 50 2/3 innings with nearly 30% strikeout rate. His absence compounds bullpen challenges alongside other injured arms. Sousa has experienced recurring health issues, missing the entire 2024 season following thoracic outlet surgery and suffering elbow inflammation the previous August. The Astros must rely on alternative relief options including Bryan Abreu as primary closer and other available pitchers.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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