5 players the Houston Astros could trade this offseason
3. OF George Springer
Springer stands as perhaps the greatest symbol of the Astros’ renaissance. He was a first-round pick in 2011, made a successful debut (20 home runs in 78 games) on the 2014 team that edged onto the right side of the 100-loss mark (70-92) and has now made three straight All-Star teams.
He has also been a stellar postseason performer (15 home runs, .924 OPS), and set career-highs in batting average (.292), OPS (.947), home runs (39) and RBI (96) during the 2019 regular season.
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But Springer is also entering his final year of arbitration eligibility, and set to make over $21 million based on MLB Trade Rumors’ salary projections. Contract extension talks may very well start in the neighborhood of $25 million per year. Or Springer may be content to play out the 2020 season and hit free agency next winter at 31, in search of what would be a huge long-term payday.
The Astros have already given Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman lucrative long-term deals, with others besides Springer in the pipeline coming up for new deals soon. It wouldn’t be a move for the faint of heart, but if Houston wants to move a big name, entertaining offers for Springer feels strangely logical.