Astros option J.P. France, recall Jayden Murray after Imai exits
There wasn’t much time to let bullpen plans settle.
The Astros, reacting to Tatsuya Imai exiting his start with right arm fatigue, made two minor pitching moves—one sending a reliever to Triple-A, the other bringing up a fresh arm to the 40-man roster. Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that the team optioned right-hander J.P. France to Triple-A and recalled Jayden Murray to take his spot.
France’s situation changed quickly. His contract was selected from Triple-A just two days earlier, a move the team made largely to add a fresh bullpen arm. He ultimately went 2 2/3 innings in the Astros’ 9-6 loss to the Mariners yesterday—long relief, and not the kind that ends quietly. France didn’t earn the loss, but he walked four batters and allowed four earned runs, including the game’s deciding runs. After throwing 59 pitches, he was likely to be unavailable for a few days anyway. So, the Astros cycled in Murray as another fresh option.
What also stands out is that France remains on the 40-man roster. That’s generally a good sign, even if this isn’t a permanent stay. He was designated for assignment back in January, but now it looks like the Astros are prepared to give him more big league opportunities this time around. Part of that could be the uncertain status of Cristian Javier, who incurred a shoulder injury on Wednesday. The timing matters, too: France has also been healthy after missing significant time in 2024-25.
The numbers tell a mixed story, but one that fits the moment. In 24 innings at Triple-A last year, France posted a 6.59 ERA while striking out 21.9% of opponents and walking 17.2%. The walk rate and ERA weren’t great—still, some rust was expected after a long layoff, and the club seemed satisfied simply to get him pitching in games again. In 168 1/3 big-league innings, France’s line is more manageable: a 4.49 ERA with an 8.9% walk rate.
Meanwhile, Murray—29 years old—joins the active roster as the last man in the bullpen. He’s been mostly a Triple-A pitcher in his time with the Astros organization since joining in a 2022 trade with the Rays. In 50 relief appearances at Triple-A in 2025, he threw 64 innings, posting a 4.64 ERA and a 10.6% walk rate. He did get a major league debut last year, but it came with a small sample: 11 2/3 innings, including peripherals that were less impressive than his 1.54 ERA.
If there’s a pattern the Astros can follow, it’s this. With his age, a minimal track record, and three remaining option years, Murray is probably headed for the familiar routine of cycling on and off the roster when the club needs another fresh reliever.