The Astros unsuccessfully tried last offseason to acquire a left-handed hitting outfielder. That remains one of the front office’s top priorities as they prepare for next month’s trade deadline, general manager Dana Brown told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The GM also added the club would be open to adding a right-handed pitcher who could slot into the bullpen.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported over the weekend that Houston had checked in on Colorado outfielders Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak, both of whom hit from the left side. They’re obvious fits for the Astros given the handedness and the Rockies’ status as one of the few clear sellers. There’s an argument for Houston to swing for a package deal since they could use two new outfielders.
The Astros demoted scuffling Jake Meyers on Saturday and are working with a primary outfield of LaMonte Wade Jr., Taylor Trammell and Cam Smith. They’re using right-handed hitters Zach Dezenzo and Brice Matthews as complements to the lefty-swinging Wade and Trammell. The two lefty hitters each began the season in Triple-A. Wade has played in seven big league contests this season; Trammell has a league average batting line in 41 games while striking out in a third of his plate appearances. Even Smith is only hitting .224/.301/.380 on the season, though his superlative right field defense will keep him in the lineup.
Of the Colorado players, McCarthy profiles as a potential low-end regular in center field. Moniak is more of a platoon corner outfielder but has bigger power. Other lefty-hitting outfielders who could be available include Lars Nootbaar, Daulton Varsho, Trevor Larnach, Colton Cowser, Jarren Duran, Carlos Cortes and TJ Friedl. The Nationals might be open to swapping Daylen Lile if they could land a controllable starting pitcher. Speculatively, there could be a match involving swingman AJ Blubaugh — on whom the Astros have gotten calls from other clubs.
Trading Blubaugh might be counterintuitive given their stated need for right-handed relief. Houston’s bullpen has stabilized since they got Josh Hader back from injury. It skews heavily to the left side, however. Hader, Bryan King and Steven Okert — arguably the team’s three best relievers — are all southpaws. Bryan Abreu was supposed to be an impact arm from the right side but has battled his command all season. Enyel De Los Santos should be in the middle innings. Blubaugh and rookie Alimber Santa don’t have a ton of high-leverage experience.
All that said, the Astros may need to consider dealing off the big league roster to do much of note. Baseball America ranks Houston’s farm system 26th in MLB. Low-A infielder Xavier Neyens is their only Top 100 prospect, according to BA. They don’t have a ton of upper minors talent or young big leaguers who aren’t already playing key roles aside from Matthews.
Houston might also be limited financially depending on owner Jim Crane’s willingness to go back into luxury tax territory. They have a CBT number around $239MM, courtesy of MLBTR contributor Ethan Hullihen, putting them $5MM below the base threshold. They could free a couple million dollars by trading Abreu or Meyers for salary relief.
The Astros had enough concern about Cristian Javier that they didn’t immediately plug him back into the rotation when he returned from a shoulder strain. Maybe they’d entertain paying down part of his $21MM salaries for this year and next to offload him — though Javier will probably draw back into the starting five now that they optioned Mike Burrows. If they’re looking for cheaper bullpen targets on the trade front, speculative possibilities include Yennier Cano, Huascar Brazobán, John Schreiber, Caleb Kilian, Jimmy Herget, Ryan Zeferjahn and Mark Leiter Jr.
