%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201055.1%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201055.1%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%230E203C%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23EC4324%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M58.3%2C200.3h82.4c12.4%2C0%2C21.7-1.5%2C28-4.5c20.2-9.6%2C30.2-26.1%2C30.2-49.3c0-3.2-0.2-9.3-0.6-18.3h-65.1v14.9%0A%09%09c-0.9%2C3.9-3.4%2C5.8-7.5%2C5.8H73.2c-5%2C0-7.5-2.5-7.5-7.5V59.2c0-5%2C2.5-7.5%2C7.5-7.5h52.5c5%2C0%2C7.5%2C2.1%2C7.5%2C6.4v10.8h65.7V55.7%0A%09%09c0-16.3-3.8-28.3-11.4-36.1c-8.8-12.9-24.7-19.3-47.4-19.3H58.9C47%2C0.3%2C38%2C1.7%2C32%2C4.3c-21.3%2C9-32%2C26.1-32%2C51.4v88%0A%09%09c0%2C16.5%2C3.6%2C28.7%2C10.9%2C36.6C20.1%2C193.7%2C35.9%2C200.3%2C58.3%2C200.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22596.6%2C64%20596.6%2C0.8%20400.1%2C0.8%20400.1%2C64%20442.7%2C64%20442.7%2C51.3%20466.1%2C51.3%20466.1%2C148.1%20442.1%2C148.1%20%0A%09%09442.1%2C199.9%20554.8%2C199.9%20554.8%2C148.1%20531.5%2C148.1%20531.5%2C51.4%20554.8%2C51.4%20554.8%2C64%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22942.4%2C148.5%20942.4%2C200.2%201055.1%2C200.2%201055.1%2C148.5%201031.8%2C148.5%201031.8%2C51.2%201055.1%2C51.2%201055.1%2C0.8%20%0A%09%09943.1%2C0.8%20943.1%2C51.3%20966.3%2C51.3%20966.3%2C80%20888.9%2C80%20888.9%2C51.3%20912.6%2C51.3%20912.6%2C0.5%20800.1%2C0.8%20800.1%2C51.4%20823.5%2C51.4%20823.5%2C148.6%20%0A%09%09800.1%2C148.6%20800.1%2C200.1%20912.6%2C200.1%20912.6%2C148.6%20888.9%2C148.6%20888.9%2C116.4%20966.3%2C116.4%20966.3%2C148.5%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22315.5%2C83.9%20299.6%2C34.9%20283.7%2C83.9%20232.2%2C83.9%20273.9%2C114.1%20258%2C163.1%20299.6%2C132.8%20341.3%2C163.1%20%0A%09%09325.4%2C114.1%20367%2C83.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22715.6%2C83.9%20699.7%2C34.9%20683.8%2C83.9%20632.3%2C83.9%20674%2C114.1%20658%2C163.1%20699.7%2C132.8%20741.3%2C163.1%20%0A%09%09725.4%2C114.1%20767.1%2C83.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
4 moves the Astros need to make immediately after the All-Star break
The Houston Astros need to make some changes to their roster right after the All-Star to save their 2023 season.
We have finally reached the All-Star break and the Houston Astros find themselves two games back of the Rangers in the American League West and in a strong position in the wild card race thanks to finishing the first half strong. The Astros are 7-3 in their last 10 games and they have the third best run differential in the American League. Not too shabby at all.
Houston has been able to stick around despite the fact that they have been ravaged by injuries including their best hitter, Yordan Alvarez, who is dealing with an oblique strain. When they get healthy, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the second half.
However, this is not a perfect team by any stretch and the Rangers do not seem like they are going to be taking their foot off the gas anytime soon. Rather than waiting until right up until the trade deadline, the Astros need to act decisively to fill their roster needs right after the All-Star break.
These are the moves the Houston Astros need to make right after the All-Star break
We have touched on the Astros' needs at the trade deadline previously and not much has changed there. What has changed (or at least has solidified in some cases) is the complexion of the trade market as we now have a better sense of who the buyers and sellers are going to be and what they need. It is now or never for Houston, so hopefully they don't waste any time.
With that in mind, here are the four moves the Astros need to make right after the All-Star break.
The Astros need to strike early in the starting pitching trade market
The Astros' rotation has done really good work for them this year, but there is a real question of depth here. Framber Valdez has been amazing, Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier have done their jobs, and Jose Urquidy should be back soon. However, season-ending injuries to Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia means the back end of the rotation has been a bit of a challenge and you don't want to be thin at starting pitching in the second half.
However, the Astros don't necessarily need to swing for the fences for a starting pitcher that has multiple years of team control. Those guys are going to be expensive at the trade deadline anyways and assuming all of their injured arms stay on track to getting healthy, they can better evaluate their position for next year once free agency opens after the season.
That means we look to the rental starter department where there are a number of options. Lucas Giolito is going to be the hottest name there as he has pitched pretty well this year and everyone knows that the White Sox are going to be selling. Jordan Montgomery is a name that the Astros should look at as well with the Cardinals' first half collapse all but complete. Kyle Hendricks and Rich Hill are a couple interesting options as well.
Houston needs to find a power hitting left fielder ASAP
This has been a need for the Astros for a while now. The offense has improved a bit thanks to Jose Abreu having a good June, but the Astros still need another bat and left field seems to be the best option. The Astros have already signaled that Chas McCormick or Jake Meyers could get moved at the deadline, so the Astros seem to agree that they need to upgrade out there.
Unfortunately, this isn't a great trade market for outfielders. Tommy Pham may be made available by the Mets as bad as they have been and he can hit a bit, but he is a pretty poor defender and has some personality quirks that may not be the Astros' speed. Adam Duvall could be a trade target as the Red Sox are too far back to be realistic contenders in the AL East and the wild card looks rough for them as well. Lane Thomas is a controllable option, but the Nationals aren't just going to give him away.
One internal option that could be interesting is Justin Dirden. He has put up an .834 OPS in Triple-A this season and he has always hit for power in the minors. However, it may be a bit risky to hope that a rookie will give a contending Astros team an offensive boost in the second half.
The Astros need to be aggressive in getting the bullpen depth they want
The Houston bullpen has been very good this season to be sure. However, every single contending team should be looking to get some more bullpen depth for the stretch run. If anything, giving Dusty Baker another option so that he will stop running Rafael Montero out there in competitive games as much would be a win.
The problem is that the bullpen market is where the most competition from other teams for the best options exists and it has already begun. The Rangers traded for arguably the top bullpen arm on the market, Aroldis Chapman, before we even got to the month of July.
Houston needs to act quickly to get the bullpen arms they want. If fairness, it takes two to tango and many sellers are going to want to wait until as close to the deadline as possible to drive up the price and urgency. However, the Astros should be able to at least force the issue on grab one arm that they feel good about. Keynan Middleton, Chris Stratton, Michael Fulmer, and Jason Foley are all names that should be interesting here.
The Astros need to make a decision on Korey Lee, Martin Maldonado, and their catching situation
The Astros' catching situation has had to be put on the backburner with Yordan Alvarez out and Yainer Diaz in the lineup at DH in his absence. However, Alvarez appears to be on the road to recovery and once he is DHing again, Houston is finally going to have their hands forced regarding their catching situation and Martin Maldonado.
Look, we get it. Maldonado is very popular guy in the Houston organization. However, he has been very, very bad this season on both sides of the ball. Diaz needs to get the lion's share of the time at catcher once everything returns to normal. We would even go one step further and say that Maldonado needs to not be playing at all. Korey Lee is doing good work down in the minor leagues right now and while his defense may not be great, he could use some reps in the big leagues this year to see what Houston has instead of just letting him rot in the minors.
This is about the future of this team and at this point, Houston is leaving runs and outs on the table continuing to try and find room for Maldonado. He has been one of the worst players in baseball this season and even if Lee isn't a long-term option, giving him some playing time will give the Astros the information they need to make that decision instead of kicking the can down the road.
More Astros News from Climbing Tal's Hill
manual