Houston Astros Open to Using Jose Urquidy as a Trade Chip

Recent reports say that the Houston Astros are open to using Jose Urquidy in a trade at the deadline next week.

The Houston Astros announced they are open to hearing trade offers on Jose Urquidy as the trade deadline is quickly approaches. As a result, I would assume they are not planning on using him as a trade piece for rentals like Josh Bell or Luis Castillo and instead want to use him to acquire someone with team control. Of all the starting pitchers the Astros have, Urquidy makes the most sense since he owns one of the highest ERAs on the team at 3.93 and he is under team control past this season, which is more appealing to teams than someone like Jake Odorizzi, who is an impending free agent and doesn’t hold much value as a trade chip.

The 27-year-old Urquidy still has a long career ahead of him with 2022 being his first true full season, as his prior season-high in innings pitched is just 107 innings.  Urquidy already has 100 innings pitched before August so he will easily surpass his career high. He will test how his durability holds up this season and perhaps show it off for another team after next week.

Even though someone like Luis Garcia probably has a much higher trade value, it’s safe to assume that only an especially big  trade might include his name due to his higher upside. Still, other teams will probably ask about him as he is only 25 and in his second full season for his career, currently owning a 3.81 ERA.

The reason any Astros pitcher is available (we know Urquidy is at the least ) is that their rotation is simply stacked.  Lance McCullers, Jr. looks to return in August to the rotation and with that, the Astros will have the following starters on their big league roster: Verlander, McCullers, Valdez, Garcia, Urquidy, Odorizzi, and Javier. As well, AAA star and top prospect Hunter Brown could also see time.

No team needs 7 starters, especially with one or more AAA up-and-comers.  Look for the Astros to deal at least one of the 7 rostered starters at the trade deadline in a package for an offensive player, which will make the starting rotation look different but not necessarily worse. Urquidy sure makes one great trade chip for the Astros to put in play.