Matt Johnson
The Houston Astros enter MLB games today with the second-worst record in the American League, with a top-10 lineup being weighed down by the worst pitching staff in baseball. In what is proving to be a disastrous year for Houston, the struggles could force the front office to strip down the roster at the MLB trade deadline.
Robert Murray of Fansided wrote that if the Astros ultimately decide to be sellers this summer, the likeliest players to be moved are infielder Isaac Paredes and first baseman Christian Walker.
Houston entered the weekend with an 18-28 record, putting it 10 games below .500 but just four games back of the Texas Rangers for the third wild card spot in the American League. The club is also just six games back of the first-place Sacramento Athletics in the AL West, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the club could rebound this summer and get back into playoff contention.
The question is whether or not the Astros pitching staff can reach a place where this team can contend. Hunter Brown, sidelined by a shoulder issue, is on the 60-day injured list and unlikely to return until sometime in June. Meanwhile, Ronel Blanco (elbow) is still only throwing bullpen sessions, and Cristian Javier is early into a throwing program and won’t return until the summer.
Putting the Astros’ pitching woes into perspective, they have the worst ERA in MLB (5.47) and are the only club in all of baseball with an ERA over 5. Starting pitching (5.16 ERA, 29th in MLB) is an issue, but the bullpen (5.81 ERA) has been the biggest culprit.
Fortunately for Houston, Walker is helping his trade value immensely this summer. In the second year of a three-year contract worth $60 million, his batting average (.235 to .268), OBP (.297 to .342) and OPS (.717 to .848) have all skyrocketed compared to last season.
Paredes is making $9.5 million this season, and there’s a $13.35 million club option for him in 2027. The 27-year-old infielder has a .734 OPS this season with a .257 batting average, making 34 appearances at third base, six at first, and three at second base.
