The trade deadline is fast approaching and the Astros name is out there as much as any other team in the rumors. Today over at The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal details some of the possibilities for the Astros. Here is some of what he says about the Astros potential at the deadline, and the team trading away one of their starting pitchers.
"The Astros are willing to trade a starter because they already are employing a six-man rotation, and right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will become a seventh option if he returns, as expected, from a forearm strain in August. Such depth can be fleeting. But as things stand, the best way for the Astros to make their roster more functional would be to move a starter for a position player who would fill an existing need.
Who might that player be? Good question. The trade market is not deep in catchers or center fielders. The obvious potential targets — Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins, Pirates center fielder Bryan Reynolds, Athletics catcher Sean Murphy — do not play for teams hellbent on making the playoffs. So, the motivation for those clubs to meet the Astros’ price for an established starter would not be especially strong."
Rosenthal goes on to say that some teams are also interested in trading for Jose Siri as well. Whatever happens, it is going to be a very interesting deadline for the Astros.
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