Somehow, despite the Houston Astros losing Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker this offseason, they are still the top dogs in the AL West. It’s even more wild when you look at their division rival Seattle Mariners’ talent, and specifically what Cal Raleigh is doing.
Nevertheless, the Astros have a four-game lead over Seattle and are continuing to fight off Father Time. Given these circumstances, the franchise is rumored to be trying to pull off some blockbuster deals before tomorrow’s deadline.
Astros’ Trade Rumors
One of the Astros’ biggest needs at the deadline is at third base, with Isaac Paredes potentially missing the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury. The Astros are being linked to multiple infielders, one of whom is homegrown talent Carlos Correa. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier that Houston is interested in both Correa and ten-time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado.
Outside of the infield, the team is looking to add pitching. The team has multiple pitchers on the injured list that are expected to return to the big leagues shortly. Even so, they will need to bolster the rotation to feel confident in making a playoff run. The biggest name on their wish list is Dylan Cease, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Potential Carlos Correa Reunion
As the deadline gets closer, the Correa-to-the-Astros rumors continue to heat up. According to Nightengale, Correa will waive his no-trade clause for Houston and is open to playing third base. At this point, it certainly seems that the rumor has merit.
It makes sense that the Twins would consider trading the three-time All-Star, as he is having one of the worst years of his career. Correa is finally healthy after battling injuries for the majority of his Minnesota tenure. However, it looks like he may be slowing down. Correa’s numbers have dropped significantly since leaving Houston. This year has been no different, with him putting up just a .705 OPS and negative two OAA (outs above average) on the defensive side. On top of the mediocre play, the Twins are on the hook for his massive contract, as he is set to make over $30 million over each of the next three seasons.
If the Astros do want Correa, it would make perfect sense that the Twins are fine with giving him up. A deal would most certainly consist of Minnesota eating the majority of his remaining contract. The Astros also have a weak farm system and wouldn’t need to give much capital up to acquire the 30-year-old. All in all, this trade would be a bona fide salary dump in which the Astros are banking on a resurgence from Carlos Correa.
Chances the Astros Acquire Dylan Cease
Dylan Cease was one of the best pitchers in the National League last season and finished fourth in Cy Young voting. Unfortunately, he has heavily struggled this year with a 4.79 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. Despite the poor performance, Cease has an expected ERA of 3.54 and a strikeout rate in the top 10% of the MLB. The advanced numbers say he’s due for positive regression. Still, the Padres are looking to move him, as they need upgrades in left field and at the catcher position, and are looking to shed salary.
Being realistic, the Astros don’t have a ton to offer. Victor Caratini, Taylor Trammell, and Chas McCormick are the major leaguers who may be of interest to San Diego. Still, that’s not a ton of trade capital to acquire someone with Cease’s resume. If the Padres’ financial situation causes them to feel forced to move Cease, then maybe they can work something out. If not, the Astros will have to pony up some of their top prospects to get the Padres to bite on a deal.
Trade Deadline Predictions
The Astros bringing back Carlos Correa looks to be the most realistic deal they pull off before the deadline. That trade checks out for both parties, and the Astros probably value Correa more than any team in the MLB. The Cease deal is a bit trickier, but there’s still a possibility it goes down. If the Astros are unable to land the Padres starter, expect them to go after other names on the market.
As long as the Astros are in the playoff mix, they will do whatever it takes to have a chance at winning another World Series.
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