The Astros have been connected to another big-name free agent, but the expectation remains he’ll go somewhere else.

Peter Gammons wrote on Twitter that three executives said Sunday to watch the Astros when it comes to slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Cespedes has waited longer than a player of his caliber often does to sign, but he nonetheless has a solid market and is still expected to land a long-term deal, as Ken Rosenthal reported Sunday and as was confirmed to the Chronicle. Rosenthal named the Mets, White Sox and Angels among the suitors.

A person familiar with the Astros’ thinking said on Sunday they had not previously heard of a connection between the Astros and Cespedes and made his signing in Houston sound unlikely.

What would make Cespedes more appealing than other remaining free agents is that the Astros wouldn’t have to surrender their first-round draft pick this year to sign him because he doesn’t have a qualifying offer attached to him. At the same time, the Astros have a crowded outfield, although they hypothetically could trade one of the incumbents.

Still, it comes down to the team’s m.o. and money.

There’s no precedent for this front office and ownership group in agreeing to the kind of $100-plus million contract Cespedes is looking for. The Astros earlier this offseason were tied to Chris Davis, but multiple sources said they were not in pursuit.

General manager Jeff Luhnow on Friday afternoon reiterated that he feels the team does not need to make further moves this offseason. Yet, it’s clear the Astros don’t consider their winter over.

“We’re still in the same spot we’ve been in,” Luhnow said. “We’re monitoring the players that are available and trying to figure out if there’s a fit, and when I say available, I don’t mean only via free agency. There’s discussions with other teams about trade possibilities as well. Chasing down a lot of avenues.”

The rotation is the clearest area of need, but Luhnow has said the club may be creative in what it does the rest of the way, possibly adding to an area that’s already a strength.

The Astros continue to carry one of the smallest payrolls in baseball in a mid-size market, despite the return of their local television revenue stream.