TRADE DEADLINE
5 exciting trade targets for Astros with deadline approaching
Jul 26, 2021, 6:57 pm
Craig Kimbrel would be a welcomed addition to the bullpen. Composite image by Jack Brame.
After completing a sweep of their division rivals Texas Rangers, the Houston Astros currently sit atop the American League West standings and are tied with the Boston Red Sox for the best record in the American League.
As Friday's trade deadline approaches, Houston will be looking to make some moves. They have been said to have interest in outfielders, relief and starting pitchers.
Here are five potential players the Astros could trade for before the deadline.
Craig Kimbel appears to be the most coveted relief pitcher on the trade market, and the Astros have been linked to him for a couple of weeks now.
After signing with the Cubs in late 2019, Kimbrel has struggled to say the least.
The closer's ERA over the past two seasons leaves something to be desired, posting a 6.53 in 2019 and a 5.28 during the 60-game 2020 season.
This year, Kimbrel has returned to his All-Star form with a 0.50 ERA. He is tied for third in the majors with 23 saves, along with St. Louis Cardinals closer Alex Reyes.
The Astros don't necessarily need a closer, as Ryan Pressly has preformed admirably this season, which earned an All-Star nomination. However, they could use some help in the 7th and 8th innings.
In 2019 Pressly was acquired to become the setup man. He was thrust into closing duties during the 2020 season because of Roberto Osuna's season ending injury. Theoretically, if Kimbrel were to be acquired by the Astros, he could become the new closer and Pressly could return to his 8th inning role. Houston could have a dynamic bullpen with both relievers pitching important innings on their way to another playoff run.
Max Schezer has been linked to the Astros, albeit with some hesitancy by the club. The 36-year-old has not pitched since July 18th and is dealing with tricep discomfort.
That being said, any contending team would love to have a World Series champion pitcher to bolster their rotation. The Mets, Dodgers, Rays, and Mariners have all been linked to the former Cy-Young Award winner, in addition to the Astros.
Houston has been hesitant to acquire Scherzer due the aforementioned injury issues, but also what the price would be to get him. He's an unrestricted free agent after the end of the season and is looking for one last big payday. Scherzer's agent Scott Boras made it very clear that Scherzer would not waive his no-trade clause unless his new team offered him a multi-year extension.
The Nationals don't want to give up their ace for nothing, so it may be hard to acquire Scherzer before the deadline without mortgaging the future and giving him a Verlander-esque extension.
If Scherzer is a no-go for Houston, they should look to add Jose Berrios. Although he has not been linked to Astros thus far, Berrios could add some pitching depth. The 27-year-old figures to be wildly popular on the trade market since he's under team control for 2022. He ranks ninth in MLB with 121 2/3 innings pitched and is sporting a 3.48 ERA as well.
Due to his control for next season, the Twins might ask for the moon for their All-Star caliber pitcher. If he could be acquired for only a few prospects and one of Houston's bullpen arms, the Astros could be in line to bolster their already great rotation.
Starling Marte was mentioned to be on the Astros radar last week. Talks have died down since, but adding the Marlins center fielder wouldn't be a bad addition by any means. Marte is hitting .423 over his last seven games with 11 hits as well. He could be an upgrade in center field and could move Myles Straw and Chas McCormick to the bench. Marte isn't a need for the Astros necessarily, but his addition could improve the teams' production both on the field and at the plate.
Byron Buxton could be another interesting name to watch out for as the trade deadline approaches. The Twins and Buxton were unable to reach a deal on a contract extension. Thus, increasing the likelihood of the center fielder getting traded before Friday.
Minnesota already traded Nelson Cruz to the Rays, so the fire sale appears to be underway.
This is shaping up to be an exciting trade deadline for Houston fans. Don't be surprised if the Astros make multiple moves before the deadline passes on Friday.
It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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