By reaching deals with six of their seven arbitration-eligible players on Thursday, the Astros will have one arbitration case to resolve in the coming weeks. The team couldn’t come to agreement with utility player Mauricio Dubón, who filed for $3.5 million and was offered $3 million by the Astros.

The six players who came to agreements -- left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez ($12.1 million); outfielders Kyle Tucker ($12 million) and Chas McCormick ($2.85 million); and right-handed pitchers José Urquidy ($3.75 million), Luis Garcia ($1.85 million) and Bryan Abreu ($1.75 million) -- will cost the Astros $34.3 million against their 2024 payroll, which now comes into clearer focus.

According to the latest estimates by FanGraphs, the Astros’ 2024 payroll is projecting to be under the Competitive Balance Tax threshold of $237 million, though the actual number is determined after the season. Astros owner Jim Crane is willing to go over the threshold, so the club still has some flexibility to add to the bullpen.

The three relief pitchers from the 2023 team who are free agents -- Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek -- combined to throw 185 innings last year, which accounted for about one-third of Houston’s bullpen workload. Astros general manager Dana Brown said last month that he’s “not interested in overpaying in the reliever market,” and that the team will have to rely on internal options to fill some key bullpen roles.

Even if the Astros add one more reliever to the back end to join Ryan Pressly, Abreu, Rafael Montero and Kendall Graveman, multiple pitchers already on the roster will need to step up. The Astros had an interest in hard-throwing Jordan Hicks, a Houston-area product, but weren’t willing to go beyond two years. Hicks agreed to a four-year, $44 million deal with the Giants, a source told MLB.com executive reporter Mark Feinsand. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Hicks will be used as a starter.

The Astros added a reliever -- right-hander Dylan Coleman -- in a trade with the Royals at the Winter Meetings, so he’ll be in the competition for bullpen innings, along with righties Ronel Blanco, Seth Martinez, Forrest Whitley, Shawn Dubin and Oliver Ortega, and lefties Matt Gage, Bennett Sousa and Parker Mushinski.

Of that group, Whitley is a name to watch. The team’s former top prospect and a 2016 first-round Draft pick, Whitley has thrown only 267 innings in his Minor League career, thanks to a suspension, the pandemic and a series of injuries, including Tommy John surgery two years ago and a shoulder injury last season. He still throws heat and could be a weapon if things come together.

Depending on how the rotation shakes out, J.P. France or Urquidy could wind up in the bullpen to start the season, and the Astros could always address upgrades to the bullpen at the Trade Deadline, as they did in 2023 (Graveman), 2022 (Will Smith) and 2021 (Graveman, Montero and Maton). 

Though the sides are permitted to continue to negotiate, the Astros are likely headed to an arbitration hearing for the second year in a row after not being able to come to an agreement with Dubón. Last year, the Astros won their case against Tucker, who sought a $7.5 million salary for 2023 and instead got $5 million.

Dubón had a breakout season for the Astros, hitting .278 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs and winning his first Gold Glove. He began the season as the starting second baseman for the injured Jose Altuve and had a 20-game hitting streak in April.

Dubón set career highs in nearly every offensive category while making 66 starts at second base, 24 in center field, nine at shortstop, six in left field and two at first base. The Astros probably wouldn’t have come close to a division championship last year without Dubón’s contributions.

MLB Network began unveiling the Top 10 players at each position this week, with the Astros figuring to have a presence at most positions.

Starting pitchers were featured when this year’s series began on Tuesday, and Astros right-hander Justin Verlander was ranked fourth, behind 2023 AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole of the Yankees, Corbin Burnes of the Brewers and Zac Gallen of the D-backs.

Interestingly, Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, who spent last year as a backup to Martín Maldonado, was ranked eighth when the catchers were announced Wednesday. Diaz, who’s taking over as the starter this year, hit .282 with 23 homers and 60 RBIs in only 104 games.

Jeremy Peña didn’t make the list at shortstop, which was unveiled on Thursday.

Here is the schedule for the remaining positions:

• Tuesday: Right fielders
• Wednesday: Second basemen
• Thursday: First basemen
• Jan. 24: Left fielders
• Jan. 25: Center fielders
• Jan. 31: Third basemen
• Feb. 1: Relief pitchers

The Astros will hold their first official Spring Training workout for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 14 at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. The first official full-squad workout will take place on Feb. 19. Astros workouts will be open to fans at no charge beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 14.

The Astros will begin Grapefruit League play on Feb. 24, when they face the Nationals, who will be the home team. The first spring home game for the Astros will be against the Cardinals on Feb. 25. (The Astros will play a split-squad game that day against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla.)

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