Astros deadline setting up to be departure of style from previous seasons, GMs
PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT
28 July 2023
The MLB trade deadline is just days away and we're hearing a lot of rumblings about what the Astros might do. Houston GM Dana Brown said he plans to be aggressive, but do we really know what that means?
This is Brown's first deadline as a GM, and with the Astros farm system depleted of top end talent, this appears to be a tough challenge for the rookie GM.
The other thing to keep in mind, is how this deadline will shine some light on what Brown prioritizes. Does he see things the same way as the Astros front office has in the past? Coveting pitchers with high spin rate and leaning on advanced analytics?
Or will he continue what Jeff Bagwell started in the offseason preferring to use the eye test and traditional scouting techniques that have existed in baseball for decades?
The other thing to factor in is the limited number of teams looking to sell at the deadline. Brown may not have the luxury of trading for exactly who he wants, and might have to simply settle on some players that can help this team, regardless of what the advanced analytics say.
It sure seems Bagwell's approach has backfired this year, with the signings of Michael Brantley, Rafael Montero, and Jose Abreu all looking like mistakes at this point in the season.
Be sure to watch the video above as we cover all the angles on the Astros trade deadline, and much more!
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Ninth-inning heroics push Astros past Royals in thriller
May 13, 2025, 9:59 pm
Isaac Paredes hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Owner of the Crawford Boxes. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/sn3gxOJqmG
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 14, 2025
The game was tied at 1 after a home run by Jeremy Peña in the sixth inning when Paredes led off the bottom of the ninth against John Schreiber (1-2). He sent his second pitch to left-center field for his fifth homer this season, giving Houston the win after Kansas City took the series opener Monday.
Both teams got strong outings from their starters. Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed six hits and a run with seven strikeouts in eight innings. Kris Bubic yielded six hits and a run and tied a career high with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Bryan Abreu (1-1) struck out one in a scoreless ninth for the win.
Hunter Renfroe doubled off the wall in left-center field with one out in the eighth. Valdez plunked Jonathan India on the foot with two outs, but he induced a groundout by Bobby Witt Jr. to end his night.
Maikel Garcia walked to open the fifth before a single by Vinnie Pasquantino sent him to third. The Royals took a 1-0 lead when Freddy Fermin singled on a ground ball to right field that scored Garcia.
Peña’s home run to left field tied it with no outs in the sixth.
TIE BALLGAME!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/wN7OAFUc8r
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 14, 2025
Jose Altuve followed with a double on a grounder down the third base line, but Bubic retired the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to leave him stranded.
Jake Meyers singled to start Houston’s seventh, but was out at second when Cam Smith grounded into a force out. Bubic was replaced by Lucas Erceg and he picked off Smith at first before striking out Brendan Rodgers to end the inning.
Key moment
The home run by Paredes.
Key stat
Peña has three homers, four doubles, 24 hits and 13 RBIs in 15 games since moving to the leadoff spot.
Up next
Kansas City RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.57 ERA) opposes LHP Colton Gordon in the series finale Wednesday night. Gordon will be recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to make his major league debut.
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