SAN DIEGO, CA – MAY 5 : Anthony Bass #52 of the Miami Marlins plays.
At the trade deadline, the Houston Astros are almost certainly going to be sellers. Who are some of the Astros’ under-the-radar trade candidates?
The Houston Astros have had a fantastic start to the season. The Astros are expected to win another division title in 2022, with a comfortable lead in the American League West and a team full of potential.
The Astros’ quest to win the AL West for the fourth time in five years may not be as easy as it has been in the past, with the Los Angeles Angels showing signs of life and the Texas Rangers finally playing better baseball of late.
Houston may need to add some players to help them get to the next level. Rather than trading top prospects for players like Frankie Montas or Nelson Cruz, the Astros could be able to find some under-the-radar trade targets this summer. Let’s see if any of these five guys fit the bill.
Anthony Bass, an Astros trade candidate, might help the team’s bullpen.
The Houston Astros are no exception when it comes to the need for additional bullpen arms. While Ryne Stanek, Hector Neris, and Ryan Pressly have all been outstanding for the Astros this season, they may use another strong arm.
Over the course of his 11-year career, Anthony Bass has pitched for seven different teams, but the right-hander continues to produce. Bass has pitched 20 innings for the Miami Marlins this season, with a 2.18 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and only five walks.
Bass is in the final year of a two-year deal, although he does have a team option for 2023. Even though Jorge Soler was the World Series MVP and Miami signed Avisail Garcia, the team has been struggling this season.
Bass isn’t a great closer and isn’t even a high-leverage reliever, but the 34-year-old doesn’t walk many batters and might help bridge the gap between the Astros’ bullpen and their talented back end.
At the trade deadline, the Houston Astros are almost certainly going to be sellers. Who are some of the Astros’ under-the-radar trade candidates?
The Houston Astros have had a fantastic start to the season. The Astros are expected to win another division title in 2022, with a comfortable lead in the American League West and a team full of potential.
The Astros’ quest to win the AL West for the fourth time in five years may not be as easy as it has been in the past, with the Los Angeles Angels showing signs of life and the Texas Rangers finally playing better baseball of late.
Houston may need to add some players to help them get to the next level. Rather than trading top prospects for players like Frankie Montas or Nelson Cruz, the Astros could be able to find some under-the-radar trade targets this summer. Let’s see if any of these five guys fit the bill.
Anthony Bass, an Astros trade candidate, might help the team’s bullpen.
The Houston Astros are no exception when it comes to the need for additional bullpen arms. While Ryne Stanek, Hector Neris, and Ryan Pressly have all been outstanding for the Astros this season, they may use another strong arm.
Over the course of his 11-year career, Anthony Bass has pitched for seven different teams, but the right-hander continues to produce. Bass has pitched 20 innings for the Miami Marlins this season, with a 2.18 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and only five walks.
Bass is in the final year of a two-year deal, although he does have a team option for 2023. Even though Jorge Soler was the World Series MVP and Miami signed Avisail Garcia, the team has been struggling this season.
Bass isn’t a great closer and isn’t even a high-leverage reliever, but the 34-year-old doesn’t walk many batters and might help bridge the gap between the Astros’ bullpen and their talented back end.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 04: Garrett Cooper #26 of the Miami Marlins at bat.
Astros trade candidate: Garrett Cooper has been flying under the radar.
If there’s one trade candidate that is seems as if no one is talking about, it’s Garrett Cooper of the Miami Marlins. The 31-year-old has one more year of arbitration eligibility and has been getting on base with regularity this spring.
Cooper is slashing .282/.361/.429. Those are numbers the Astros might not be able to ignore given how poorly Yuli Gurriel has played in 2022. The veteran first baseman is in the final year of his two-year deal and his OPS is sitting at .623 through his first 45 games this season.
While he hasn’t seen any time there this season, Cooper can also play in the outfield. Having a versatile right-handed bat who’s on-base percentage is consistently above .340 might be too good to pass up if you’re the Astros.
As was mentioned earlier, the Miami Marlins are not in contention this season. The New York Mets are running away with the National League East Division and Miami will likely be sellers as the August 2nd trade deadline approaches.
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 25: Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts.
Astros trade candidate: Odubel Herrera may be on borrowed time in Philly.
With the Philadelphia Phillies moving on from Joe Girardi, it would seem the front office and ownership don’t see the team as contenders in 2022. I can’t say that I blame them, the New York Mets are out to comfortable lead and the Phillies are several games below .500.
Odubel Herrera may not have his spot in center field for much longer. The Phillies have just actiavted one of their top prospect Mickey Moniak and with Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and Bryce Harper all looking for ABs, Herrera may be the one riding the pine.
But the 30-year-old has played thus far in 2022. Herrera has an OPS+ of 123 and looks very comfortable at the plate several years of below-average statistics.
Jose Siri is a fine defender and packs a lot of power in his bat, but the former Cincinnati Reds farm hand is hitting just .216 this season. Astros’ manager Dusty Baker could platoon the left-handed hitting Herrera against right-handers and the right-handed hitting Siri against southpaws.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 02: Tanner Rainey #21 of the Washington Nationals pitches.
Astros trade candidate: Tanner Rainey would fit nicely into Houston’s bullpen.
The Washington Nationals are the worst team in the National League. After jettisoning Trea Turner and Max Scherzer last year, the Nats will undoubtedly be looking to acquire more minor league talent to restock their farm system.
While Juan Soto may not be on the trade block, I’d wager that every other Nationals’ player will be. This may include reliever Tanner Rainey who owns a 2.35 ERA this season in 15 appearances out of the Washington bullpen.
Rainey, a former second-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds back in 2015 is a hard-throwing right-hander who’s had mixed success at the major league level. After a down-year in 2021, it appears that Rainey has regained the form that made him an imposing threat during the Nationals’ World Series run in 2019.
Tanner Rainey has yet to allow a gopher ball yet this season. His fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and he’s got plenty of bite on his breaking ball. Adding an arm or two the bullpen will likely be atop the Houston Astros’ wishlist later this summer.
ST LOUIS, MO – APRIL 10: Ben Gamel #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates slides.
Astros trade candidate: Ben Gamel would add depth to Houston’s outfield.
Ben Gamel was off to a horrible start with Cleveland last season, but turned the corner after joining the Pittsburgh Pirates. Gamel posted a respectable .750 OPS with the Buccos and re-signed for a little less than $2M during the offseason.
Pittsburgh is in full-on rebuild mode and will likely be shopping centerfielder Bryan Reynolds. However, while adding the Pirates’ All-Star outfielder would be a terrific acquisition for Houston, Reynolds will not come cheap.
Gamel, on the other hand might cost the Astros a mid-tier prospect at best. Gamel will be a free agent after the season, and while left field is his best position, the Florida native can play all three outfield spots.
Ben Gamel recently landed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring injury, but if the 30-year-old is able to show that he’s healthy upon his return, there’s no reason the Houston Astros shouldn’t at least inquire about his availability. Gamel would offer Dusty Baker a nice left-handed bat off the bench.
