McTaggart Predicts The Astros Will Be 'Buyers' As Trade Deadline Approaches

Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins The Matt Thomas Show to break down how injuries to the roster will affect the Astros chances to make the postseason, as well as how the organization will position themselves with the trade deadline approaching. General manager Dana Brown announced Wednesday that starting pitchers Cristian Javier and José Urquidy are both scheduled to have right elbow surgery and will be out for the rest of this season and part of next season. This is another blow to an already damaged rotation. "There is no depth," McTaggart said. "Their roster is a little thin," and "the Triple-A talent is not the greatest." According to McTaggart, Luis Garcia is expected to return "after the All-Star break," and Lance McCullers will be "five weeks behind Garcia." The MLB trade deadline falls on July 30, and McTaggart predicts the Astros "will be buyers" in the first baseman and starting pitching market. "Neither [Jon] Singleton nor [Jose] Abreu have been very good defensively," so "the longer you don't address first base...it's only going to get harder."