Astros rumors: 3 trade deadline targets we should be scouting

2) Astros can bolster their bullpen with a relief pitcher like Michael Fulmer

The switch from starter to reliever may have saved Michael Fulmer’s career. He is off to another fine start this year in the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen. After delivering a successful season for the club in 2021 with all but four of his 52 games coming as a reliever, it’s looking like this man who in 2016 won the American League Rookie of the Year as a starting pitcher has wisely accepted a bullpen role and made the most of it.

Fulmer is a free agent at the end of this season and someone the Tigers should expect to get a ton of phone calls about. While not a closer, he does have the stuff to get the job done. He managed to pick up 14 saves for the Tigers last year. In a high-leverage situation, he can be trusted. On a team like the Astros, he might even find himself getting them through some earlier innings.

With some recent closer experience and plenty of later innings this year with the Tigers, the Astros would also get themselves a guy to provide them with a safety net in the closer spot. It’s not unusual for teams to trade for the closers on bad teams at the trade deadline only to use them in the seventh or eighth inning more regularly. This isn’t the exact situation with Fulmer. He could start off as a sixth inning guy and eventually work his way closer to the back depending on need and performance.

Because he has also pitched as a starter in the recent past, Fulmer should even be able to give them multiple innings of needed. If anyone can turn him into a dangerous weapon, it’s the Astros.

Houston’s bullpen hasn’t been poor this year, however, they could benefit from scouting some other options. And when they take a look at Fulmer, there is one of his teammates they should check in on, too.