Astros: 2 roster moves with Aledmys Diaz missing 6-8 weeks

The Astros will be without Aledmys Diaz for 6-8 weeks, so here are two roster moves we should see soon.

While the Houston Astros will be down another reliable bat in Aledmys Diaz, it leaves a gaping hole in the roster for a utility man. Robel Garcia is on the 26-man roster, but the switch-hitter hasn’t progressed well in the role. With Diaz down, it makes sense that Garcia will be tested heavily as the next man up.

Diaz’s injury has come at the worst time with Michael Brantley anticipated to return next week. As the lineup is getting healthier, the Astros will be without .278/.341/.435 at the plate and a multitude of gloves in the field. The bench will be short until a corresponding move is made, as Diaz will most likely go to the 10-day injured list.

Move #1: Replace Diaz with Brantley on the roster

While Taylor Jones looked to be the odd man out on the roster, the big right-hander should be staying around. It is given that once the next series starts that Brantley will most likely replace Diaz.

This leaves Jones and Garcia living to see another day of major league baseball, but their offensive production has been lackluster. Both players are hitting below the Mendoza Line, but they do offer a variety of different gloves in the field, as they can cover the infield and left field combined.

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Move #2: Recall Abraham Toro at some point

We haven’t seen Abraham Toro at the major-league level since April 24 of this season. The switch-hitter’s value mirrors that of Garcia. The big difference is the streaks of power behind Garcia’s swing, that we haven’t seen this season.

Both utility men have struggled in the major leagues, so why not make it a competition for both of them to keep the job? The two infielders are on their last optionable year, so their Astros’ tenure is slipping away unless they make some noise at the plate.

Toro was recently activated by the Sugar Land Skeeters after being on the 7-day IL with a leg injury. In only seven Triple-A games this year, he is slashing .273/.429/.364 in a minimal sample size.