The Houston Astros have been the best team in the American League, but expect the club to try to acquire a starting pitcher before the MLB trade deadline.
The Houston Astros raced out to a 16.5-game lead in the American League West before the All-Star break, which was the largest division lead in baseball at the midway point. Houston improved to 62-30 after taking two of three games from the Twins in their first series of the second half, which is the best record in the AL by a wide margin and second best in the majors behind the red-hot Dodgers.
The Astros have excelled in large part because of the highest scoring lineup in baseball, in addition to a terrific bullpen and a pair of Cy Young candidates in the starting rotation, Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers. However, the roster still has one glaring weak spot.
Last month, we took a look at five players the Astros should acquire before the MLB trade deadline. The first name we listed was the first linked to the Astros during the winter: Jose Quintana. Of course, after months of rumors and speculation, Quintana was taken off the board during the All-Star break when the Cubs traded a quartet of prospects to the White Sox for the lefty. Three of the other four names were starting pitchers, and adding depth in the starting rotation is still Houston’s biggest need.
Though the Astros weren’t willing to meet Chicago’s price for Quintana, there’s still a very good chance Houston will try to strike a deal for a starting pitcher before the July 31 deadline. Expect the ‘Stros to stay active in trade talks this summer in order to put themselves in the best position to win the first World Series title in franchise history.
Needs
Starting Pitching Depth
The Houston lineup really has no weaknesses, and there is plenty of depth on the bench and at the higher levels of the minor leagues. Simply put, the Astros won’t need to add a bat before the trade deadline. However, Keuchel has struggled with injury and despite recent positive results, Mike Fiers has a history of inconsistency. Overall, the starting rotation depth is lacking, and Houston should attempt to upgrade the rotation.
Defensive Replacements
Simply put, the Astros have been poor defensively this season. Obviously, the club has pitched and hit well enough to put together the best record in the American League, but according to Fangraphs, Houston has the third worst defensive team in the major leagues. First base and third base have been particularly poor, with each position ranking in the bottom three in the big leagues. Also, the ‘Stros outfield ranks 23rd in UZR (-5.6). Adding a smooth fielder to play third or center in the late innings would be nice – though not a top priority.
Assets
Baseball Prospectus Organizational Talent Ranking: 11
MLB.com Top 100 Prospects: 6
MLB.com Top 10 Prospects
- Francis Martes, RHP
- Kyle Tucker, OF
- David Paulino, RHP
- Derek Fisher, OF
- Forrest Whitley, RHP
- Franklin Perez, RHP
- Teoscar Hernandez, OF
- Ramon Laureano, OF
- Daz Cameron, OF
- Miguelangel Sierra, SS/2B
The Astros began the season just outside the Top 10 in Baseball Prospectus’ farm system rankings, and would probably climb closer to the Top 5 today if the rankings were updated. MLB.com lists six Astros minor leaguers among their Top 100 prospects, giving Houston plenty of ammunition if the club wants to pull the trigger on a major deal.
The Astros lost out on Jose Quintana, with whom the team had been linked since the offseason. Nevertheless, there are still a handful of starters available to help solidify the rotation. Because the farm system is so good, and because Houston may want to make its very best effort to win the first World Series in franchise history, we will concentrate on five starters that could be available for the right price.