Here's what it might cost for Astros to pull off the impossible trade
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
10 July 2023
With the All-Star break upon us, the Astros are two games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West, despite dealing with a ton of injuries. Another team fighting through injuries this year is the Angels, who are now seven games back in the division.
Mike Trout will miss the next 4-8 weeks (hamate bone surgery), so the Angels quickly have found themselves in position to possibly be sellers at the trade deadline.
If the Angels decide to trade Shohei Ohtani before he leaves in free agency at the end of the season, how much would the Astros have to trade for the Angels to be interested? Would Houston be willing to trade Hunter Brown, Yainer Diaz, and possibly Chas McCormick to bring Ohtani to Houston for a World Series run?
That feels like too much for a rental, but the Astros may have to compete with teams that have deeper farm systems, like the Rangers and Rays.
Be sure to check out the video above as we discuss possible trade packages, and share our thoughts on some other top pitchers that might be available at the deadline.
If you enjoy the videos, subscribe on YouTube for our latest content.
And listen to The Bench with John Granato and Lance Zierlein weekday mornings on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.
Jose Altuve's 40th four-hit game included a pair of home runs and the Houston Astros rolled to an 11-1 win on Tuesday night that dealt the Athletics their 12th loss in 13 games.
Altuve singled on the first inning, homered leading off a three-run third and hit a two-run drive in the fourth, getting his 13th career multihomer game with his eighth home run this season. He singled the sixth ahead of Christian Walker’s homer.
Altuve, who matched his career high for hits, was pinch hit for in the eighth.
Jeremy Pena’s two-run home run capped a four-run second inning.
The A's have been outscored 100-41 during their skid, which they ended with a 5-4 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.
Hunter Brown (7-3) allowed one run and six hits in six innings, including Lawrence Butler's leadoff homer in the fourth.
JP Sears (4-5) gave up nine runs and 10 hits, both career highs, in 3 1/3 innings. He has allowed seven homers, 15 runs and 17 hits over 8 1/3 innings in his last two starts, raising his ERA to 5.18.
Before the game the A's made four roster moves, putting 22-year-old first baseman Nick Kurtz on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday. They A's acquired left-hander Sean Newcomb from Boston for cash.
Key moment
When left fielder Tyler Soderstrom couldn't come up with a diving catch on a liner from Chas McCormick with two outs in the second, Yainer Diaz scored from first. Mauricio Dubón followed with an RBI double and Peña homered.
Key stat
Denzel Clarke and Drew Avens got their first major league hits for the A's.
Up next
A's RHP Luis Severino (1-4, 4.11 ERA) and Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (0-1, 6.57 ERA) start Wednesday.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
