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Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Image 2 of 9 CATCHER

Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might finally get a chance to secure a regular spot in the 25-man roster now that Hank Conger has been traded. Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might finally get a chance to secure a regular spot in the 25-man roster now that Hank Conger has been traded. less CATCHER

Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 3 of 9 OUTFIELD

Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick can excel defensively throughout the outfield, and left fielder Preston Tucker can provide lefthanded pop off the bench. Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick can excel defensively throughout the outfield, and left fielder Preston Tucker can provide lefthanded pop off the bench. less OUTFIELD

Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 9 STARTING ROTATION

Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing righthander Lance McCullers could be a front-line starter soon. Mike Fiers, who threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers last year, is a solid starter at the back end of the rotation.

The Astros are still searching for another starter. Scott Feldman was one of the top pitchers in the AL last August, but his season was derailed by a right shoulder injury. Feldman’s health status is a major reason the Astros are trying to add a starting pitcher this winter. Michael Feliz might get a chance to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation if the Astros somehow don't add a starter. Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing righthander Lance McCullers could be a front-line starter soon. Mike Fiers, who threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers last year, is a solid starter at the back end of the rotation.The Astros are still searching for another starter. Scott Feldman was one of the top pitchers in the AL last August, but his season was derailed by a right shoulder injury. Feldman’s health status is a major reason the Astros are trying to add a starting pitcher this winter. Michael Feliz might get a chance to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation if the Astros somehow don't add a starter. less STARTING ROTATION

Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle Image 5 of 9 Image 6 of 9 BULLPEN

Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge was traded to the Phillies and the first to consistently hit 100 mph since Billy Wagner in 2003. Lidge and Wagner were both dealt to the Phillies, and now Philadelphia has returned the favor, so to speak. With Giles closing.

Former closer Luke Gregerson will give manager A.J. Hinch a stud setup man who can close. Will Harris, Pat Neshek , Tony Sipp and Josh Fields round out what could be a dominant bullpen. Michael Feliz could be an option in the bullpen as well, but the Astros still believe he can start consistently. LHP Kevin Chapman could challenge for a spot as a second lefty. Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge was traded to the Phillies and the first to consistently hit 100 mph since Billy Wagner in 2003. Lidge and Wagner were both dealt to the Phillies, and now Philadelphia has returned the favor, so to speak. With Giles closing.Former closer Luke Gregerson will give manager A.J. Hinch a stud setup man who can close. Will Harris, Pat Neshek , Tony Sipp and Josh Fields round out what could be a dominant bullpen. Michael Feliz could be an option in the bullpen as well, but the Astros still believe he can start consistently. LHP Kevin Chapman could challenge for a spot as a second lefty. less BULLPEN

Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge ... more Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images Image 7 of 9 DEPARTED

1B Chris Carter, RHP Chad Qualls, C Hank Conger, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Vince Velasquez, SS Jonathan Villar, SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Oliver Perez, OF Robbie Grossman, OF L.J. Hoes. 1B Chris Carter, RHP Chad Qualls, C Hank Conger, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Vince Velasquez, SS Jonathan Villar, SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Oliver Perez, OF Robbie Grossman, OF L.J. Hoes. less DEPARTED

1B Chris Carter, RHP Chad Qualls, C Hank Conger, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Vince Velasquez, SS Jonathan Villar, SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Oliver Perez, OF Robbie Grossman, OF L.J. 1B Chris Carter, RHP Chad Qualls, C Hank Conger, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Vince Velasquez, SS Jonathan Villar, SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Oliver Perez, OF Robbie Grossman, OF L.J. ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle Image 8 of 9 <b>ADDED</b> <br> RHP Ken Giles, RHP Brendan McCurry, RHP Cy Sneed. <b>ADDED</b> <br> RHP Ken Giles, RHP Brendan McCurry, RHP Cy Sneed. Photo: Hunter Martin / Getty Images Image 9 of 9 Colby Rasmus wants to finish career with Astros 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

On the final day of the Astros’ season, when they were eliminated by the Royals in Kansas City, Colby Rasmus spoke of his enjoyment of his lone year in Houston but wasn’t exactly emphatic about wanting to return.

Sometimes, showing too much affection for one place can be viewed as a bad thing for free agents, because theoretically it could make the club you speak so highly of think you’ll come at a reduced price.

Now that Rasmus is back with the Astros for one more year (at $15,8 million), he has opened up — and he doesn’t want to go anywhere else.

“As I stand here right now, I’d like to see myself in Houston for the rest of my playing days,” Rasmus said Tuesday to reporters in San Antonio, including the Chronicle’s Brian Smith. “I would really like that. I think that would be great for my family. I enjoy it here. I think there’s great people, great atmosphere that they’re trying to create — the organization as a whole wanting to win and putting good players on the field.

“I feel it would be a good place to be and I’d really love to stay as long as I could and play the best I can for the Astros and Astros fans. Because I felt last year that everybody was good to me and it was a great situation. I look forward to staying here.”

The outfield free-agent market should be better from a player standpoint next year, without big names like Alex Gordon, Jason Heyward and Justin Upton.