HOUSTON -- Veteran catcher Brian McCann, who caught nearly every inning in the playoffs last year during the Astros' run to the World Series championship, became a free agent Wednesday when the club declined his $15 million option for 2019.
Also becoming a free agent was right-handed pitcher Jandel Gustave, who was outrighted off the 40-man roster. Gustave was on the team's Opening Day roster in 2017 but didn't pitch again for the Astros after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June '17. He underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery this summer, which ruled him out for the season.