For some Houston Astros players, it was just another offseason, and trips and vacations came and went as if nothing unusual was happening back at the office.

To other players, getting away meant fleeing the darkening cloud of scandal accusal, and two months later, trying to forget the mid-January MLB “black Monday” hammer that lopped off the two-headed leadership of the team convicted of illegal sign-stealing.

The late January landing of new manager Dusty Baker helped bring some stability to Astro-land two weeks before spring camp opens.

For the moment, though, let’s exchange scandals for sandals and trade sanctions for “all-inclusive luxury” and see how our orange-clad heroes spent their million-dollar-infused offseasons.

“We Are the (AL) Champions”

Catcher Garrett Stubbs took a Halloween opportunity to dress up like Queen’s Freddie Mercury, complete with a sleeveless undershirt, fingerless black leather gloves, white jeans, and studded leather belt.

In early December, the San Diego native treated himself to a new pair of custom Adidas “paint-splattered” Yeezys and showed ’em off in a sundown pic one evening at Newport Beach. He was sporting a sweatshirt with the logo of Kickpin, the El Paso sneaker pop-up shop run by teen brothers growing in popularity with recording artists and athletes.

Two weeks later, Garrett, fellow catching Astro brother CJ, and their parents were seen dining at the posh, palm tree-lined Javier’s in La Jolla, celebrating Hannukah. CJ was colorfully clad in a striped designer t-shirt, while Garrett showed off his best Ramones look with plain white T under a black leather jacket.

Finally, Garrett rang in 2020 near the southern tip of the peninsula, at the exclusive resort Bahia de los Sueños (Bay of Dreams) at Baja California Sur, Mexico, 35 miles south of La Paz. Extravagant houses there go for about $1,400 a night, give or take. Happy New Year, indeed, Garrett! It could be an eventful season for you.

Josh’n’Jake’s Excellent Adventure

Right fielder Josh Reddick spent the week of January 20 big-game fishing with former teammate (and spanking New York Mets outfielder) Jake Marisnick playcationing in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on the west coast of the big island. Teddy Hoog, their yacht’s captain, reports that a “400-pounder” (presumably a fish) was quickly lost before the outfielders pulled in a sushi-grade ahi and a stripey snapper.

Back on the mainland, Reddick wasted little time in taking wife Jett and their four-month-old twins, Maverick and Ryder, to Disneyland on January 29. While it was the boys’ first visit to the ‘Happiest Place on Earth,’ ’twas Josh wearing the Goofy hat.

Pass the Tartar Sauce

Apparently on a separate trip, but doing what he does as often as he can, pitcher Brad Peacock took to the sea, January 7, for his own big game nuclear fishin’. He caught something called a golden tilefish, about two and a half feet of one. According to those who know, “Golden tilefish is low in fat and has a delicate, sweet flavor similar to lobster or crab.” While not on deck, I’m certainly on board.

Related: Catch Peacock’s Fish From Last Year + His Teammates’ 2018-2019 Offseason Adventures

Meanwhile, Marisnick’s Best Bud…..

George Springer and bride Charlise celebrated Christmas in New York State, with friends, enjoying the ski slopes at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Highmount, 88 miles southwest of Albany, while also spending time at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge just a couple hours away. Charlise actually shooshed down the hills with gal pals while George wisely avoided injury risk back at the lodge.

Lance, Antsy After Rehab…

Having undergone Tommy John surgery two Novembers ago, Lance McCullers Jr spent the whole of 2019 rehabbing, working out, and cheering on the Astros from the dugout. Lance and his Kara welcomed a new baby, Ava Rae, on New Year’s Eve.

Lance is anxious to get to Spring Training and will be expected to slip into the third starter spot in the Astros’ rotation behind Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke. “I’ve been dying,” Lance told MLB.com before Christmas. “I’m ready for the season to start tomorrow if it could. I’m very anxious and ready to keep going.”

Before settling down for full-time baby-tending, Lance visited New York City and bumped into The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, backstage at Madison Square Garden on November 2. It seems both were taking in UFC 244, where Jorge Masvidal defeated Nate Diaz via TKO.

At MSG, McCullers was rubbing political elbows with fellow UFC fans, President Donald Trump, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who were also in attendance, as was Astros’ shortstop Carlos Correa and his new bride, Daniella. The four also enjoyed the pan-Asian cuisine at the City’s Buddakan Restaurant.

In mid-December, Lance and Kara feted former Navy SEAL 3 Dan Crenshaw as they took in the televised Army-Navy football game at Houston’s Little Woodrow’s, Midtown. The McCullers gifted Crenshaw, now a freshman Congressman, with a #3 Astros jersey.

Baby, One More Time

Not one to have his nose pressed against the window, southpaw Cionel Perez also jumped into a new world of diaper wipes, Mommy’s nights out, and all things Gerber. Just a few days after the McCullers’ cherub came a-knockin’, Cionel and his lady welcomed home a little girl of their own into their Tampa, Florida Casa de Perez.

The Altuves Infanticipating

Second baseman Jose Altuve and wife Nina announced in November that their three-year-old daughter, Melanie, will be helping mom and dad diaper and feed a new baby girl. Friends and family of the Altuves gathered two weeks after the 2019 World Series ended for a gender reveal party with poppers and streamers shooting pink confetti and powder into the air.

The Future Mr. Reagan Howard, Meet the Future Mrs. Alex Bregman

Bolting to the beach, mid-November, with Ms. Reagan Howard just a few days after the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal was originally reported, third baseman Alex Bregman happily announced his engagement to his lady, January 27. Bregs brought Reagan along on a family trip to snowy Aspen, Colorado for the announcement, with no wedding date revealed.

Timing is Everything

Meanwhile, Correa married Daniella Rodriguez in a Houston courthouse on November 11, the day before the scandal news broke. A month later, the newlyweds celebrated wedded bliss at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Wanting the “wedding of her dreams,” the couple took to the island nation for what Carlos described as the “best night of our lives,” in an Instagram photo caption. “A moment that we will always cherish. I’m so happy and blessed to have found the love of my life.”

Astro fans will recall watching the iconic moment of Correa proposing to Daniella after the final out of Game 7 the World Series, won by Houston in Los Angeles.

Toro Canadian Player of the Year! ¡Olé!

Also taking his vacay in Punta Cana, but about a month after Carlos and Daniella’s Dominican shindig, Astro infielder Abraham Toro pawed the sand near the new couple’s posh resort. Where’d he stay? He’s not telling, but it’s likely he stayed with friends.

Plus, did you know Toro, a Canadian native, was named the Canadian Offensive Minor League Player of the Year in early December? The Randall Echlin Award, as it’s called, was announced by the Canadian Baseball Network, December 3.

Toro, a most cosmopolitan gent by any standards… why not celebrate a Canadian Award on an island paradise?

Ryan Has Left the Building, But Not Without His New Bride

Sandwiched between the Correas’ November court wedding and December Dominican celebration, Astros’ reliever Ryan Pressly married his fiancée, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, Kat Rogers, December 5. The two tied the knot in a courthouse ceremony in Denton, just north of Dallas (his hometown), 35 miles south of the Oklahoma border.

La Piña in the Sunshine State

Houston first baseman Yuli Gurriel, a native of Cuba, hosted his family in his Miami home over the holidays. On January 16, the men of the family were spotted at noted Miami Beach hot spot Estefan Kitchen, specializing in Cuban cuisine.

For Urquidy, A quí A Key

He’ll be vying for a starting rotation gig come Spring Training, but Jose Urquidy kicked open the new year when the city of Mazatlán, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, awarded the right-hander with the key to the city! A native of Mexico, Urquidy expressed his gratitude on social media: “Que gran honor recibir las llaves de la ciudad de Mazatlan, muchas gracias.” Translated: “What a great honor to receive the keys to the city of Mazatlan. Thank you very much.”

Like kids coming off of summer vacation to answer the school’s opening bell, pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training at the Astros’ West Palm Beach FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches February 11.