Former MLB All-Star catcher Omar Narvaez agreed to a minor-league contract with the Houston Astros on Wednesday, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Narvaez was released by the New York Mets earlier this month after hitting just .192/.254/.259 over 215 plate appearances since the beginning of the 2023 season. The left-handed-hitting catcher will offer experienced depth at Triple-A Sugar Land for now but could be a candidate to join the Astros' big-league roster soon with Victor Caratini (hip) expected to be out until after the All-Star break.

Narvaez inked a deal with the Mets in late 2022 following three years with the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s also suited up for the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox during his pro career.

The Astros hope that they will get the 2021 version of Narvaez, when he was named an All-Star while with the Brewers. That season, he hit .266 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI for a .743 OPS.

Narvaez suffered a calf strain during the first week of the 2023 season, which limited him to 49 games behind the plate.

Astros ready to replace Jose Abreu at first base?

Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu (79) reacts after a play during the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park.
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Though they still sit two games below .500, the Astros have gone 26-16 since mid-May, the fourth-best record in Major League Baseball in that 42-game span. But the team could still use a little more depth in order to compete for a National League playoff spot.

Houston fans thought José Abreu would still be the Astros' first baseman at this point, but now we know different. Abreu is not currently active, waiting to see if another team will give him an opportunity to rediscover his MVP form after earning his Astros release. And – at least as of now – it doesn't appear that Houston has yet found a better option.

Jon Singleton is in many ways the exact opposite of what teams look for in their first base spot: a bat without much power and a huge hole on defense. And Mauricio Dubón, who has played a solid amount of first base lately, is most useful as a utility player. The Astros need someone they can turn to every day.

This would be a great Vladimir Guerrero Jr. destination if the Astros were willing to fit the 25-year-old's $19.9 million salary under their payroll. Guerrero has rediscovered his power stroke of late, exhibited by his 471-foot moonshot onto the roof of a Fenway Park parking garage.

Houston also needs one more starting pitcher but, with a lack of meaningful arms on the market, they may need to settle for offensive upgrades instead. The fact that the Astros are playing so well after their miserable start is a good sign that Houston is still the team that most fans thought they were before the season got underway.

If the Astros keep getting contributions up and down the lineup and are able to add a meaningful bat to replace Abreu, we could see Houston playing in October yet again.