Houston Astros showing interest in this National League slugger, per report

ASTROS HOT STOVE

Houston Astros showing interest in this National League slugger, per report
Expect GM James Click to be active before the deadline. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

The Houston Astros are coming off an impressive doubleheader sweep of the New York Yankees, but that doesn't mean they are going to sit on their hands with the trade deadline approaching. According to Andy Martino, he's hearing that the Astros have interest in adding 29-year-old Nationals first baseman Josh Bell to the mix.

Soon to be a free agent, Josh Bell, has put together some impressive numbers this year and could certainly provide some "juice" to the Astros lineup. Bell is currently slashing .311/.390/.504 with 13 dingers and an OPS of .895.

Bell would be a welcomed addition to the ball club, considering 1st baseman Yuli Gurriel's steep decline this season after leading the league in batting average in 2021.

Yuli is currently hitting .235 with an OPS of .671. Gurriel finished last season hitting a league-leading .319 and will be a free agent after this year.

Astros GM James Click has until August 2 to make some improvements before the trade deadline passes. You can check out some of Bell's highlights from this season below.



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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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