MLB Trade Rumors: Could the Houston Astros trade for Zach Britton?

As we get closer to the MLB Trade Deadline, many contenders have already made deals to strengthen their roster. The Houston Astros have yet to, but could a big move be in their future?

The Houston Astros are running through the American League West so far this season. They already have a 15.5-game lead in their division, so it’s time for them to think about the postseason and how to best construct the roster to get to their first World Series since 2005.

We’ve seen the difference a strong bullpen can make throughout the MLB postseason over the past few years. We’ve seen teams bolster their bullpens in big ways at the trade deadline. The Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs made big trades before the deadline last year in getting Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller respectively.

We’ve already see teams do just that in recent days. The Washington Nationals added Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson from the Oakland A’s, while the New York Yankees brought back David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from the Chicago White Sox.

We haven’t seen the Astros do anything quite yet, and they may just try a pull off a bigger trade for a reliever — and an elite one at that.

Britton has been limited to just 14 games this season because of injury; however, in the previous two seasons, he was an All-Star. Last season, he saved 47 games and had an 0.54 ERA. He’s the kind of arm that can be a game changer out of a bullpen.

The Astros have Ken Giles already at closer, but they could use Britton as more of a Miller type weapon who can come in at any point and keep Giles in his role. Britton and Chris Devenski in front of Giles could help carry the Astros in the postseason.

Now what would it take to get him? Well, consider the packages the Yankees got for Miller since Britton won’t be a free agent until after next season. The Yankees got Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield plus two other prospects. Both are currently in the Yankees’ top five prospects according to MLBpipeline.com.

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Astros top propsect Frances Martes would be the start to the package. The Baltimore Orioles need starting pitching and controllable ones and Martes represents that. The Astros would probably have to throw in a bat  as well. Outfielders Derek Fisher or Teoscar Hernandez would represent that, both among the top 10 of the Astros’ prospects. The Astros would also have to include one or two other ones not in their top 30.

Can the Astros pull this off, or will they go and look for a starter instead? We have 11 days to find out.