TRADE ALERT
Houston Astros trade for left-handed power bat with speed
Jan 31, 2024, 4:44 pm
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.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.