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.
Following the trade of Kyle Tucker to the Cubs, it's still unclear how the Astros plan to replace his production. Isaac Paredes will certainly be part of the solution, but there's still a real possibility that Alex Bregman has played his last game in a Houston uniform.
MLB.com's Brian McTaggart joined Brian Kenny on MLB Network this week and revealed some shocking results from a poll of Astros fans. The poll indicated most fans are okay with the Tucker trade, knowing there was no way the team would sign him long-term after the season.
McTaggart also indicated the Astros have a lot more work to do this offseason filling out the roster, especially if the club is unable to re-sign Alex Bregman. McTaggart believes there's too big a gap between Houston's offer, and what Bregman can command on the open market.
If he's correct and Bregman does sign elsewhere, Houston will have to pivot and find another bat to insert in the lineup. Considering the Astros concerning outfield depth, McTaggart believes former Orioles' outfielder Anthony Santander could be a good solution for Houston.
If not Santander, the club could have interest in signing former Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker, or trading for Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Be sure to watch the video above as the guys break down the Astros' plan of attack, with Tucker now in Chicago.
