Houston Astros GM Dana Brown joined the team's flagship station this week and spoke about how the team will approach the trade deadline.
Brown was asked if any prospect would be untouchable in a trade, Brown said Drew Gilbert would only be made available if the trade was for a player with a few years of team control. In other words, they're not trading Gilbert for a rental.
In the past, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow treated Kyle Tucker and Forrest Whitley as untradeable prospects. And that certainly worked out in the case of Kyle Tucker. Forrest Whitley, however, was drafted in 2016 and still hasn't made an appearance in the big leagues.
Finally, is there a scenario in which the Astros would be sellers at the trade deadline? The team would have to be out of contention and/or suffer another huge injury to the pitching staff. Also, if the club can't get Cristian Javier back on track, making a deep playoff run would seem very unlikely this season.
If this scenario did play out, the Astros would have some quality pitchers in the bullpen to trade that are set to be free agents next season. Ryne Stanek (2024 FA), Phil Maton (2024 FA), and Hector Neris (player option for 2024 if he makes six more appearances this season) would definitely be in demand for teams looking to add to their depth for a postseason run.
But at the end of the day, the Astros will likely be in striking distance of making the playoffs when the trade deadline arrives on August 1. However, Houston's upcoming series with the Rangers could have a huge impact on how this season plays out.
Be sure to check out the video above as we break it all down.
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Luis Severino struck out eight in seven innings and Luis Urias homered to lead the Athletics to a 5-2 victory over the AL West-leading Houston Astros on Thursday night.
Severino (4-11) allowed four hits and two earned runs as the A’s snapped a four-game skid. Mason Miller earned his 20th save.
Urias hit his eighth homer in the sixth inning and finished with two hits. Nick Kurtz went 3 for 5 with an RBI double in the two-run fourth inning. Max Schuemann also knocked in a run in the inning on a fielder’s choice grounder.
Christian Walker drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field and Victor Caratini scored on a groundout by Cam Smith — all in the seventh inning — for the Astros, who had their four-game winning streak halted.
Jason Alexander (1-1), a former member of the Athletics who was claimed off waivers in May, allowed five earned runs and 11 hits in six innings. The 32-year-old right-hander finished with three strikeouts and two walks.
Key moment
Carlos Cortes made his MLB debut for the A’s and went 1 for 3. He had a sacrifice fly, single and scored a run.
Key stat
The Astros went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.
Up Next
Athletics LHP Jeffery Springs (8-7) will go in the second game of the four-game series. The Astros have not announced a starter.
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