Early in the season, the Houston Astros were struggling and generated MLB trade rumors surrounding their All-Star hitters, such as Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. However, the team has rebounded impressively over the summer, reviving their playoff hopes and altering their trade deadline strategy.
By the end of May, Houston was languishing with a 25-33 record, but as of now, they boast the best record in baseball since June 1, standing at 27-14. This impressive turnaround has not only brought them back into playoff contention but also propelled them to the top of the AL West.
The Astros’ resurgence has been a team effort. During this 41-game span, their pitching staff posted a 3.55 ERA and limited opponents to a .224 batting average, the second-best in MLB. The offense has been equally crucial, hitting .265/.319/.438 and scoring the fifth-most runs (216) since June.
Despite this progress, Houston acknowledges the need for further improvements. The rotation has faced setbacks with Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez spending significant time on the injured list, and former starters Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. not pitching at all this season.
Astros general manager Dana Brown, speaking on MLB Network Radio, mentioned that the team’s priority is to pursue high-profile starters to bolster their rotation. If those efforts fail, they will then consider mid-level starters. “We aim high first to see if we can secure a significant deal for the organization. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll shift to mid-level options and hope for success there. It never hurts to ask; sometimes, asking leads to results. We want to try for a major addition and, if necessary, settle for a mid-level one.”
Brown also highlighted the need for a dependable starter due to the extended recovery times for the injured players, which might lead Houston to consider a six-man rotation at times.
In terms of potential trade targets, if the Astros are serious about being aggressive, they might look at names like Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal or Chicago White Sox’ ace Garrett Crochet, who are reportedly available.
