Potential Trade Deadline Targets for the Astros

The trade deadline is approaching quickly and the Astros could either be big spenders or a team that does very little. With some injury concerns at the moment, you have to wonder if grabbing a bat is in play for the Astros. Let's take a look at some options that could be available for them on the market.

Juan Soto- Washington Nationals

I detailed why the Astros have to chase him yesterday and the reasons why will remain the same. When you have a chance to go over the top like this when you are as good as the Astros are, while also filling a need for possibly the rest of this season, but also next season, you have to try as hard as you can. Remember how much the Yankees were kicking themselves in 2019 for not trading for Gerrit Cole and letting the Astros do it? Remember that when you debate this deal. Getting a guy like Juan Soto is something every big team wants to do. You would always rather be the team that ends up with the player, especially when you can have him for three postseason runs.

Josh Bell- Washington Nationals

This is the option from the Nationals that is far more realistic to get, but still should not come too cheaply despite being a true rental option. Picking up Bell creates a weird fit. You would have to play him some at first base, but given that I still think the Astros are fairly committed to Yuli Gurriel this season, you would have to play him plenty as your DH. Going the Bell route virtually locks you into playing Yordan Alvarez as an everyday left fielder as long as his health holds up. The Astros have to try here however. He’s having a great season and is doing big things from both sides of the plate. 

Andrew Benintendi- Kansas City Royals

Another true rental, the question is are you comfortable giving up a controllable player for a guy that mostly slaps singles all over the place. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a high contact high average guy to add to your club. It is just the question of is a few months of him worth giving up a decent prospect for. The other issue with landing him is his vaccination status. Because he does not have the vaccine, if you were to play the Blue Jays in the postseason, he could not play in the games in Canada. That is something that I do think will turn off many American League clubs. 

Trey Mancini- Baltimore Orioles

Dealing with the Orioles might be easier for the Astros than most given that their GM Mike Elias knows the Astros farm system more than most. Mancini is a really solid player, but not a spectacular one. He is a defensive liability and you could theoretically hide him in left at Minute Maid Park. You could be getting him for one more year if you both agree that this relationship is one that works as he has a mutual option for 2023 at 10 million.

Brandon Drury- Cincinnati Reds

He is having a career year for the Reds after signing a minor league deal this past offseason. He kind of fits the Aledmys Diaz mold because he can play all over the field. The question with him will be is he capable of sustaining this success he is having this season or will the numbers come crashing back down at some point. 

David Peralta- Arizona Diamondbacks

This is not an option that moves the needle for you or me. But he is a solid veteran with a little pop and has had some big numbers before, so you have to at least consider him as one of your cheaper options in a trade market that is not very good. 

Ian Happ- Chicago Cubs

First time All-Star in 2022, this switch hitter is having his best big league season yet as he has found what appears to be a more consistent approach at the plate. He plays left field almost exclusively these days, but has bounced around plenty, even spending some time at second base and third base in his career. Despite being an All-Star this year and having another year of arbitration left, the price should not be too pricey to pick him up from a Cubs team that once again should be selling hard again at the trade deadline. 

Whit Merrifield- Kansas City Royals

Another option that can play multiple spots, the Royals would be selling him at the time his stock is the lowest. Typically one of the majors best hits producers, he is without a doubt having his worst big league season yet. Not my favorite option by any means, but one that you have to at least consider given his overall track record in his career. 

Ramon Laureano- Oakland A’s

Would the Astros go down this road? I personally cannot see it given the bad blood he had with the Astros just a couple of years ago. The former Astros draft pick is a solid outfielder that has been moved mostly to corner outfield duty. He does come with the wrinkle of now being a guy that has been popped for PEDs. If you are acquiring him you are basically replacing Chas McCormick in his role of being a guy that only plays against left handed pitchers. 

Cedric Mullins- Baltimore Orioles

This might disappoint some of you, but I am not even remotely interested in going down this road. He is not the 30 home run hitter he was a year ago and the market opinion of him publicly is far too much. The Orioles will move him because someone will completely overpay for him or they will just sit and continue to play him everyday. If he ended up in Houston, I would hope for the best for him, I just do not think the talent overall matches the odd hype he gets from people on Twitter.

Bryan Reynolds- Pittsburgh Pirates

A really solid bat, with some deficiency in the field. The price will likely be steep for the best piece the Pirates can trade off given multiple years of control the club would still have with him. Competition for his services should be tough, it would surprise me if the Astros were willing to meet the Pirates demands to give him up or that the Pirates will even trade him.

Joc Pederson- San Francisco Giants

This one would be really tough to stomach for Astros fans, but he would be a very solid rental option for the club. The Giants are nowhere near as good as they were a year ago and should be looking to sell off pieces like Pederson. The issue with picking him up is that you are grabbing another left handed bat and getting one that does not hit left handed pitching well at all. It is not the worst option in the world, but not one that anyone in Houston would love.

This market is not wonderful, there is no denying that. There is likely more names out there that we have not heard a peep about. But trade season is finally here. It will be extremely interesting to see how it plays out for the Astros.