Astros put catcher César Salazar on outright assignment to Sugar Land

Houston designated the catcher for assignment last week, cleared waivers, and sent him to Triple-A as the club continues to reshuffle its catching depth.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Houston Astros sent catcher César Salazar outright to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, June 6, after he cleared waivers following a designation for assignment two days earlier. The move finalized a roster reset that included calling up another catcher, Collin Price, to cover the Astros’ immediate need behind the plate.

’s transaction log shows Salazar’s timeline clearly: he was designated for assignment on June 4, then sent outright to Sugar Land Space Cowboys on June 6. On the same June 4 date, Houston selected Price’s contract from Triple-A, giving the Astros a fresh major-league option for the backup role.

Salazar’s outright also capped a second trip through Houston’s DFA process this season. Earlier in 2026, shows he was sent outright to Sugar Land on March 27, meaning the Astros have had to work through waiver logistics with him more than once already. In the most recent instance, MLB Trade Rumors reported that Salazar had the option to elect free agency, but chose to accept the assignment instead.

The Astros’ catching room has changed quickly around those moves. On June 4, the Houston Chronicle reported Price was promoted to serve as backup catcher while Christian Vázquez handled the primary catching duties, with Yainer Díaz on the injured list during that stretch. That context matters because the Astros are not just managing a single roster spot, they are managing a short-term depth chart in a position where major-league innings can’t be postponed for long.

MLB Trade Rumors characterized Salazar as out of minor-league options, which is one reason Houston’s only internal path was DFA rather than a simple demotion. With him now back in the organization’s Triple-A system, Houston keeps him available as catching depth, even if he is not immediately in the big-league mix. ’s player transaction history supports that it is the same Sugar Land destination each time Houston has moved him off the 40-man roster.

For Salazar, Saturday’s outcome means he remains under contract with Houston and can report to Sugar Land. For the Astros, the next question is how long Price stays in the majors and whether the club needs to use Salazar as a short-notice replacement, either by recall or by another roster maneuver as the catching position continues to be in flux.

Why It Matters

Roster depth at catcher can swing quickly when a primary option is sidelined, and Houston is actively managing its backup situation in real time.
A second DFA this season indicates the Astros have been working around roster constraints rather than relying on long-term stability at the position.
Outright assignments also shape who might be available for another organization to claim, even when the player ultimately returns to the same Triple-A affiliate.
Keeping Salazar in Sugar Land preserves catching depth for spot starts and emergency recalls if Price’s role or the rest of the staff changes again.
For Price, the move sets up an immediate major-league window that could expand or contract depending on how the Astros’ receiving stability evolves.

Sources

Key Facts

The Astros sent catcher César Salazar outright to Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys on June 6, 2026 after he cleared waivers.
Houston designated Salazar for assignment on June 4, 2026.
On June 4, the Astros selected catcher Collin Price’s contract from Sugar Land, creating a backup-catching option behind Christian Vázquez.
This was the second DFA cycle for Salazar in 2026; shows an earlier outright to Sugar Land on March 27.
MLB Trade Rumors reported Salazar could have elected free agency after clearing waivers, but accepted the assignment.
MLB Trade Rumors said Salazar was out of minor-league options, which affected how Houston could move him.