Five Trades The Astros Can Make Right Now to Contend

The Astros are in need of some upgrades with the deadline looming. Their offense is scuffling a bit, but reinforcements are coming in the form of Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez.

More than a bat, they're desperate for some arms. Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown are going to obliterate their previous career-high workloads. Phil Maton, Bryan Abreu, Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly are four of the most overworked relievers in the MLB. And they need another starter that can be trusted in a playoff games with both Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. done for the year.

So big or small, what can the Astros do to bolster their roster as contenders?

Let's look at five moves the Astros can make right now to contend.

Disclaimer: If it's a trade in this piece, Jake Meyers will be a part of it. The Astros need to move off the backup center fielder while he still has value, and Dana Brown already alluded to being willing to trade from the big league club.

#1 The Astros Can Go All-In For Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman

We made the case in December for the Astros to sign Cody Bellinger. He's been better than anybody could have expected. And polarizing personality or not, the guy can ball. Forget the bad blood of 2017. The Dodgers sure did in signing Jake Marisnick.

If the Astros acquire Bellinger, they land an elite and versatile defender, and a left-handed power bat they desperately need. He'd likely play center while Chas McCormick moves to left. The Astros would improve both offensively and defensively, with some left-handed power they desperately need.

And Stroman is a massive need. Since his nightmare 2018 season, Stroman has started 110 games, posting a 3.16 ERA. Even more needed than his ERA right now is his durability. He led the league in starts in 2021 with 33, and is currently doing so now with 20. The Astros are desperate for an arm that can eat innings, and Stroman can do that and do it with effectiveness.

Houston should send out Jake Meyers, Joey Loperfido, Jacob Melton and Pedro Leon for this deal.

Loperfido and Melton in particular would be tough losses, but if the Astros extend Tucker, they still have their outfield of the future in Yordan, Chas and Tucker with reinforcements coming in Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.

#2 The Astros Can Acquire Jordan Montgomery and Jordan Hicks

The Astros need for a starter is obvious, but they also need a reliever that can be trusted to get some big outs to keep innings off of their core four leverage arms.

Why not get both in the same stop? Houston should take Jordan Montgomery and Jordan Hicks off of the Cardinals hands. The Cardinals have made it clear they are going to sell. Houston should buy from them before anybody else. Montgomery is 6-7 in his 18 starts, but deserves a far better record with a 3.23 ERA.

Since Montgomery has been traded to St. Louis, he's gone 12-10 with a 3.19 ERA in 166.2 innings. He'd eat innings and preserve the bullpen down the line, and could work in an extra rest day for Brown and Javier each turn through the rotation.

Hicks would come in and immediately be a weapon for Dusty to deploy out of the pen. His counting numbers are solid (3.96 ERA and 13 strikeouts per nine), but his Statcast metrics are sensational. He possesses an un-hittable fastball/sinker and a sweeper that plays off of it.

Both would be rentals, though re-signing Montgomery in the offseason would be prudent, but each would play a huge role in keeping arms fresh down the stretch. If the Astros arms are fresh in October, very few teams can hang with them.

#3 The Astros Should Try to Land Alex Verdugo

Boston is absolutely on fire right now, and they may not be sellers. But they do play in the toughest division in the MLB. If they cool off before the deadline, the Astros should try to land Alex Verdugo.

We highlighted Verdugo to Houston once before, but he'd basically be everything Michael Brantley is supposed to be in this lineup. He's a corner outfielder that hits from the left side for high average, doesn't strike out, and racks up doubles.

He'd have team control through next season, meaning Yordan Alvarez would primarily DH. Verdugo would become the everyday left fielder, Chas would man center, and King Tuck would man right. In addition to Jake Meyers, an OF prospect like Melton or Loperfido and maybe an arm likely go back to Boston.

But Verdugo's .806 OPS and great defense in left would be more than worth the cost to continue contending for titles.

#5 The Astros Should Trade For Lucas Giolito and Kendall Graveman

This one would cost the most, but also could go the longest way for the Astros down the stretch. The Dodgers are believed to be in on Giolito, and it's not likely the Astros could top their offer, so Houston needs to strike first.

Giolito has made 19 starts this season, posting a 3.45 ERA for the woeful White Sox. He strikes out just over nine batters per nine and carries a 1.14 WHIP. He'd immediately bolster Houston's rotation and give them a viable third option heading into the postseason.

And Kendall Graveman has been one of the lone bright spots in their bullpen this year. Graveman has a 3.07 ERA in 41 innings this season. He was a rental at the deadline in 2021, but with his contract running through 2024, this time he would come with an extra year of control.

Graveman would immediately give Baker an option that can get leverage outs in the sixth, seventh or eighth, and even close out the game on a night Pressly needs off.

This trade would be a huge win, but it's also going to likely cost Houston Spencer Arrighetti, one of either Jacob Melton or Colin Barber, Korey Lee, Pedro Leon and maybe a toolsy prospect like Quincy Hamilton. Even then, the Dodgers may have more to offer.

But if Houston lands this package, and if their offense can stay healthy, they should enter October as the favorites to come out of the American League.