Astros demote Chase McCormick to Triple-A, shuffling outfield to clear room for veteran Jason Heyward

The Houston Astros added veteran outfielder Jason Heyward to their active roster on Thursday, and in the same order, demoted fellow outfielder Chas McCormick to Triple-A.

The 29-year-old McCormick has so far failed to carry over what looked like a great season into 2023. Across 87 games this season, he hit .192/.256/.292 (56 OPS+), including five home runs and eight stolen bases. These numbers are well below the numbers he put up last year, which included a 130 OPS+, 22 home runs and 19 stolen bases.

The Astros can only hope that spending some time on the farm and away from the big league spotlight will help McCormick regain his old form.

Heyward, 35, was recently released by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit .208/.289/.393 (91 OPS+) with six home runs and four stolen bases in 63 games. It’s worth noting that Heyward will be eligible for the postseason if he is indeed added to the roster on Thursday, meaning he joins the Houston organization before the Sept. 1 deadline. He’s the latest in a series of players the Astros have tested to replace injured star Kyle Tucker. As our Dan Perry noted a few days ago:

Heyward’s signing marks the Astros’ latest attempt to replace the production lost in right field by Kyle Tucker. Tucker, who looked like an American League MVP candidate over the first two months of the season, has not played since June 3 after suffering a shin injury after fouling a ball off his foot. Tucker’s recovery has been slow and erratic, and the Astros are not sure he will be able to play again this season, though the club is hoping for a return in September. This season, Houston right fielders other than Tucker have hit only .224/.276/.346 with five home runs. That includes Chas McCormick, Trey Cabezas, Joey Loperfido, Mauricio Dubon, Pedro Leon and Ben Gamel.

The Astros enter Thursday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals — a preview of a potential American League Championship Series — with a 3 1/2-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the American League West.