The Houston Astros are playing some of the best baseball of the early campaign. Now, do they go for broke by making a move?
As baseball nears the quarter pole of the 2017 season, the Houston Astros lead all of baseball with 28 wins, matching the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 start that led to a title. Much like the Cubs, the Astros are not resting on their early success, and appear eager to add the most coveted of assets, starting pitching.
Ken Rosenthal, plugged in and well-respected writer for FOX Sports, points out in his most recent work a name that may make sense for the Astros is Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole.
The Pirates currently have the worst record in the NL Central at 16-23, a division with the aforementioned Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. With ‘star’ outfielder Andrew McCutchen struggling and possibly not returning next season (Pirates hold a $14.5 million option with a $1 million buyout). All this combined with the PED suspension of Sterling Marte, and the recent news that pitcher Jameson Taillon was being treated for possible testicular cancer, the Pirates certainly appear to be headed nowhere.
The question is why would the Pirates be interested in moving Cole, a good pitcher under club control through the 2019 season? The answer is the return from a team such as Houston would be massive. No better way to re-tool a franchise farm system them to empty out another teams system, especially a system as deep as the Astros.
Why would Houston make a move like this? After making the postseason in 2015, the Astros missed the playoffs completely in 2016. With current starters Mike Fiers and Joe Musgrove struggling, the desire to add starting pitching is at the forefront of thought in the Astros front office.
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While it’s still very early, it certainly appears the Astros are intent on making a move at or before the deadline to add pitching. The question, which pitcher will it be. Only time will tell.