The Astros had a really energetic day on Monday, bringing in a pair of veteran place gamers in Trey Mancini and Christian Vázquez and reportedly agreeing to swap Jake Odorizzi with the Braves’ Will Smith. Houston isn’t completed attempting to bolster the roster earlier than the deadline, nevertheless, as Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic stories (Twitter link) they’re on the hunt for middle discipline assist.
Houston basic supervisor James Click on has already checked off what very properly could have been the membership’s three greatest wants this summer time — first base, catcher and left-handed reduction. Middle discipline is arguably the ultimate space the entrance workplace ought to goal, because the membership has gotten only a .200/.262/.342 exhibiting out of the place. Jake Meyers has struggled since coming back from the injured listing, and José Siri underwhelmed earlier than he was dealt to the Rays as a part of the three-team deal that introduced again Mancini. Chas McCormick has performed properly for a second straight season, however he’s seen a bit extra time within the nook outfield than in middle this 12 months.
The Astros have reportedly inquired about Pirates star Bryan Reynolds prior to now, and Rosenthal just lately floated the idea of Houston dangling a few of their controllable starters to the Orioles in an try and pry away Cedric Mullins. Each gamers appear unlikely to maneuver over the subsequent 16 hours, however the Astros potential curiosity in each demonstrates the membership has explored the opportunity of an impression middle discipline pickup for some time.
Assuming each Reynolds and Mullins keep put, the commerce market on the place isn’t particularly sturdy. Oakland’s Ramón Laureano could be the highest participant who’s more likely to be out there, nevertheless it’s onerous to ascertain the Astros making a run at him. Not solely may the intra-division rivalry complicate a commerce, the Astros dealt away Laureano as a prospect for a minimal return, and there’s been no love misplaced between the A’s and Astros over the previous few years.
Kansas Metropolis’s Michael A. Taylor and the Cubs Rafael Ortega are the one different middle fielders who positioned amongst MLBTR’s top deadline trade candidates. Different gamers who may conceivably be out there embody the Nationals Víctor Robles and, if the Giants resolve to retool on the deadline, Mike Yastrzemski.
