Trade deadline passes with no moves
Opportunity knocked, the Texans didn't answer
Nov 4, 2020, 9:21 am
This could come back to bite the Texans. Photo by Getty Images and Composite image by Jack Brame.
Will Fuller hints at a big change, but its benefit is debatable [Video]
There was a mild glimmer of hope for Texans fans when the front office announced the firing of then-head coach, general manager, and overall oligarch Bill O'Brien after an 0-4 start to the season. The move signified-at least for the moment-that the Texans were interested in making moves toward becoming a more competitive franchise.
Any notions of that have since been met with a bucket of cold water.
Tuesday afternoon saw the NFL trade deadline come and go with nary a phone call to the Texans' travel coordinator.
No one's headed in, and no one is headed out.
It wasn't much of a surprise, however. Texans chairman and chief operating officer Cal McNair had been interviewed the day before and the rose-colored lenses were on full display with regards to his 1-6 franchise:
Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair in 610 interview when asked about trade deadline: 'No big moves. You'll see some little things. We like our players. We have a lot to play for.
I am extremely optimistic. I don't believe in giving up.'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 2, 2020
There weren't even little things.
Still, there was hope that the message was simply a smokescreen and deals would still be discussed--which there were (we'll get to that).
Long shots to move were names like defensive end JJ Watt, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Others, like wide receiver Randall Cobb were mentioned, but none carried more trade value than wide receiver Will Fuller.
None moved.
Through the most basic logical parameters you can do nothing but conclude that there is hardly a more sell-off worthy candidate in football than the Houston Texans. They're a 1-6 team with holes up and down the roster and zero first day draft picks with which to remedy the situation. The only way out of that situation would be to sell assets, build draft capital, and at least attempt to flip that into a first or second round pick.
To be fair, there were discussions.
The Texans wanted a second-round pick, but Packers never upped their offer from a fourth, so Will Fuller stays put. https://t.co/AG0vC7Qs3g
— Aaron Reiss (@aaronjreiss) November 3, 2020
It seemed like there was a number between 2 and 4 that could have been discussed, and may very well have been. But the tweet alone shows just how out of touch the front office is with team prospects and player value. Fuller is a capable wide receiver, but his injury history has restricted him to 42 games out of the past 64 in his first four full seasons. Fuller was never going to fetch a second round pick. No one on the Texans was.
The Texans should be focused on the future, not on trying to sneak into an COVID induced expanded playoff scenario. This team has played all of the actual contenders already. That's why they're 1-6.
Staying put at the deadline affected more than the Texans' draft capital. It could also potentially affect the talent pool with which they'll have to choose from among general manager hires. Having extra draft picks could have been a selling point to a potential GM as an opportunity to put their own legitimate fingerprint on the franchise from the start. It's still possible, but a tougher sell.
Instead, the Texans left their fans with the same reaction Fuller himself had leading up to the trade deadline:
pic.twitter.com/PqNZi3KykS
— Will Fuller V (@Will_Fuller7) November 3, 2020
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It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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