Astros Trade Rumors: Bullpen Lefty is the Only Need

What LHP relievers should Houston be targeting?

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 24: Brad Hand #52 and Austin Hedges #18 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after the final out against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 24, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Brad Hand, San Diego Padres (2.36 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, .174 BA LHB)

Justin Wilson, Detroit Tigers (2.48 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, .212 BA LHB)

Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s (3.93 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, .000 BA LHB)

Of these three, Doolittle is the only one under contract, which is a very team friendly one at that. He is making roughly $2.6 MM this year and is owed $4.4 MM in 2018, followed by two team-option seasons. Considering Tony Sipp is making $6 MM this year and next, that is a steal.

Hand is under team control until 2020, and Wilson until 2019. It’s hard to say which one of these would be the best, as they are all great targets. I would lean toward Doolittle as the price may be lower and he adds a bit more of a veteran presence at 30 years of age.

Wilson is the hardest thrower with an average fastball of 96.5 mph, and also has the best whiff rate of the three. Hand offers the best balance of pitch usage as he is basically split between fastballs and sliders, while Doolittle and Wilson mostly rely on their heater.

So take your pick, you would have any of these three for at least next season as well.

What LHP relievers should Houston be targeting?

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