5 Astros starting pitching targets that need to be at the top of their wish list

#2 Sonny Gray

Astros fans should be familiar with Sonny Gray after watching Houston beat the doors off of him in Game 3 of the ALDS. And while that memory may be bleak, Gray, though not possessing as high of a ceiling as Yamamoto, is just what the Astros need.

In 279 appearances in his career, Gray hols a 3.47 career ERA. He's durable, and aside from a nightmare 2016 season in Oakland and a brutal two-year spell with the Yankees where all careers go to die, he's been much better than the 3.47 mark.

In two years with the Twins, Gray has a 2.90 ERA. Over his last five seasons, Gray holds a 3.22 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 9.8 SO9.

Not only does he hold good numbers, but he posts. Gray made 32 starts this season. He's started at least 26 games eight of the last 10 seasons. Injuries aren't a huge concern for Gray.

With an aging Justin Verlander, young arms like Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown getting acclimated to an increased workload, lasting durability questions around an arm like Lance McCullers, an unsure return timeline for Luis Garcia, and an erratic Framber Valdez possibly wearing down after an outrageous workload the last three seasons, the Astros need an arm they can trust to post every fifth/sixth day.

He may not go as deep into games with consistency as an arm like Verlander, but there is great value in consistent starts.

Gray is projected to receive three years and $64 million according to The Athletic. This would be a good use of funds for Houston.

#3 Seth Lugo

Seth Lugo is the type of swiss-army-knife arm with eye-popping spin rates that has long been linked to the Astros. His name isn't as flashy as Yamamoto or Gray, but he gets the job done and would be cheaper than both.

Lugo does hold a player option with the Padres, but he will likely decline it after starting again in 2023 for the first time since 2017. Lugo finished this year with a 3.57 ERA, 115 ERA+, 3.83 FIP, and only 2.2 BB9. His strikeouts have trended down in recent years, but he still knows how to get outs.

Lugo could start for Houston while LMJ and Luis Garcia rehab, then slide back into a relief role when they're back. Signing Lugo would fill both a rotation need and a bullpen need with Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek all hitting free agency.

The Astros could sign the 33-year-old for a two-year deal and kill two birds with one stone. While it may not move the needle as much as the first two, this is a much likelier move.

#4 Freddy Peralta

Freddy Peralta would be a very intriguing trade target. Corbin Burnes name was thrown around quite a bit last year as a trade target, especially after the Brewers fractured their relationship in arbitration. If the Brewers did decide to move Burnes, Houston doesn't have the prospect capital to land him.

But they might for Peralta. Peralta is under contract for the 2024 season with club options for 2024 and 2025. After losing Brandon Woodruff to injury for all of 2024, and with David Stearns now calling the shots for the Mets and attempting to lure Craig Counsell, could we see the Brewers tear it down?

The Brewers will either go all-in for a piece like Pete Alonso, or look to build a true contender after coming up short so many times.

Dana Brown should be on the phone to see if he can jumpstart that process. Peralta was 12-10 with a 3.86 ERA last year, right in line with his career average of 3.83.

His second half in particular was special. Peralta, one with some funky mechanics that lead to both deception and inconsistency, found the consistency that had been lacking. He posted a 2.81 ERA in 13 second-half starts, striking out 6.44 batters per walk.

In his last four seasons, Peralta has a 3.45 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. He'd be a much needed boost in Houston's rotation. Landing an arm like Peralta for three years could give an arm like Hunter Brown the chance to continue developing out of the pen and limit his workload to keep him fresh.

Peralta would be very expensive, but some previous shoulder issues should knock the price down a bit. This would be a home run swing, but with an arms race taking shape in the AL West between Houston, Texas and Seattle, it's a swing worth taking.

#5 Kyle Hendricks

Kyle Hendricks had a strong rebound year after back-to-back nightmares in 2021 and 2022. Hendricks finished with a 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.

He was a soft-contact machine, finishing in the 98th percentile in average exit velocity, 92nd percentile in hard hit rate, and 78th percentile in barrel rate. His changeup dominated opposing hitters, limiting them to a .189 average.

Hendricks could fill a similar role to what Zack Greinke did during his time in Houston. Post every fifth day, throw the daylights out of his off-speed pitches, turn back the clock every once in a while, and keep the Astros in ball games.

His days of competing for Cy Young awards are long behind him, but Hendricks would be a greath fifth or sixth starter for thr Astros. He'd bring reliability and consistency to a staff that needs it, and he could be had for a two-year deal with an AAV of around $12-13 million.

If the Cubs decline their team option, which they likely will, Dana Brown should call Hendricks' agent.

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