Houston Astros Move to Sell Fayetteville Woodpeckers Minor League Team

The Houston Astros are preparing to make a major change in their Minor League Baseball footprint. The franchise announced plans to sell the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, their Low-A affiliate based in North Carolina. While the Astros have not yet named a buyer, the team confirmed that the move is part of a broader re-evaluation of their player development system.

The Woodpeckers have been a key part of the Astros' farm system since 2019, playing at Segra Stadium in downtown Fayetteville. The club was initially purchased and developed by Houston as a long-term investment in their minor league operations. Now, the Astros say they are ready to pass the franchise to new ownership while maintaining a strong future relationship.

Why the Astros Are Making the Move

According to team leadership, the decision reflects ongoing industry-wide shifts in MLB’s approach to minor league management. Selling the Woodpeckers allows the Astros to direct more resources toward player development facilities closer to Houston and better aligned with their evolving organizational strategy.

The Astros emphasized that the sale will not impact player assignments or the day-to-day function of the Woodpeckers. The team is expected to remain a Houston affiliate under any new ownership group, though that agreement will ultimately depend on MLB’s approval process.

What’s Next for the Woodpeckers and Houston Fans

Fayetteville city officials have signaled strong support for new ownership and expect a seamless transition. Segra Stadium has become a regional success, drawing fans from across the Carolinas and creating an energetic baseball culture that should attract serious bidders.

For Houston fans, the sale is mostly symbolic—affiliated operations should continue as usual. Still, it marks the end of a unique chapter in the Astros’ recent history. Owning a minor league team outright gave the organization unusual control over on-site development, stadium operations, and fan engagement. Now the Astros will return to a more traditional MLB–MiLB relationship as tenant rather than owner.

MLB must approve the transaction before it becomes final. The Astros have not released a target date but expect formal steps to begin soon.

This article is a summary of reporting by CityView NC. Read the full story here.