Astros: Trevor Bauer may be a starting pitcher to consider

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 06: /

Trevor Bauer had a breakout season with the Cleveland Indians last year. He could be a starting pitcher the Astros might consider adding to their 2019 rotation.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, Trevor Bauer may be the pitcher the Indians are more likely to offer up in trade talks. When taking into consideration age and cost, Bauer may be an option the Astros should contemplate to fill one of the open starting slots.

Teams talking to the Cleveland #Indians say the Indians are much more inclined to trade Trevor Bauer than Corey Kluber or Carlos Carrasco. Bauer has 2 years of club control left, but the only one of the starters with cost uncertainty. He has two arbitration years left before FA.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 27, 2018

Most of the trade talk rumors involving Cleveland pitchers have been limited to Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, until recently. Bauer’s name has recently popped up as the pitcher the Indians are more apt to give up. Bauer, 27, is the youngest of the trio, with Carrasco and Kluber turning 32 and 33 respectively at the onset of the upcoming season.

Bauer may also be the more economical choice. Kluber is in the midst of a five-year contract that will pay him $15 million in 2019-20 and $16 million in 2021. Carrasco is halfway through his four-year contract earning him $9.75 million next season and $9.5 million in 2020. Trevor Bauer is in his third year of arbitration after making slightly above $6.5 million last year. That will most likely rise with his recent success, but how much is an unknown.

Bauer has an ERA of 3.94 over his seven-year career. With only a few appearances in his first two seasons, he really didn’t become a full-time starter until 2014. Since that season Bauer’s ERA has been on a steady decline, dropping to an impressive 2.21 in 2018. He was credited with twelve wins last season while getting tagged for just six losses. He struck out 221 batters and only gave up nine HRs in the process. Those stellar numbers earned him a spot on the 2018 All-Star team and sixth place in the voting for the Cy Young Award.

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James Paxton has gone to the New York Yankees and is now off the market. The Yankees and Phillies are the apparent front-runners for Patrick Corbin, who was recently spotted in Philidelphia. Charlie Morton has yet to make a decision on the offer extended by Houston. The Astros will have to make a move soon, as the number of pitchers on the market dwindles. Bauer could be a viable option, without the burden of a huge salary or giving up one of their untouchable prospects.

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