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.
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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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