The Astros trade for Angels prospect Trey Cabbage. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
Coming off a huge free agent signing of Josh Hader last week, we were wondering if the Astros were done making moves this offseason.
Astros GM Dana Brown recently said the team would have interest in adding another left-handed outfielder if the right situation presented itself.
“If we could somehow get a left-handed bat, preferably an outfielder with some speed, that type of package we’ll pounce on it.”
Apparently, opportunity knocked and the Astros answered. But not on the free agent market this time. The Astros traded for Angels IN/OF prospect Trey Cabbage on Wednesday in exchange for minor league pitching prospect Carlos Espinosa.
The Houston Astros have acquired IF/OF Trey Cabbage from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for RHP Carlos Espinosa.
— Houston Astros (@astros) January 31, 2024
Cabbage is an older prospect that will turn 27 in May. He made his major league debut with the Angels in 2023. Cabbage hit .208 over 53 at-bats last season.
And while that doesn't sound all that promising, it's his Triple A numbers from last year that likely caught the Astros attention. Cabbage had a 30-30 season over 107 games in Triple A. He finished with 30 homers, 32 stolen bases, and an OPS of .975.
His position flexibility is another plus, not only can he play the outfield, he also played 58 games at first base last season.
As you can see from the highlights below and his minor league stats, the power in undeniable.
So what did the Astros give up in the deal?
The 22-year-old Carlos Espinosa pitched in Low A ball last season, going 4-5 with a 4.29 ERA. He appeared in 15 games and was signed as an international free agent from Cuba in 2022.
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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