As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the Houston Astros have become a focal point for trade rumors, particularly involving top MLB trade targets. Despite a challenging start to the season, where the Astros were nearly 10 games under .500 in June, the team has made a remarkable turnaround.
Since June 1, the Astros are tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second-most wins (29), though they’ve played the fewest games (45) of the three teams with 29-plus wins in that period. The improvement is largely attributed to their starting rotation, which has shown progress despite still having the fifth-highest walk rate (8.6 percent) since June 1.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Astros are interested in Chicago White Sox starter Erick Fedde and Detroit Tigers ace Jack Flaherty. Flaherty, a top-tier starter, could significantly boost the Astros’ rotation and help in the playoffs, but he is a rental for the remainder of the season and might leave as a free agent.
Fedde, on the other hand, is appealing due to his low ERA despite playing for one of the league’s worst teams. Moreover, he is under team control for next season at a reasonable $7.5 million salary.
While All-Star pitchers Garrett Crochet and Tarik Skubal are also rumored to be on the market, the Astros’ top prospects fall short of the asking prices set by the White Sox and Tigers. Therefore, the Astros are likely exploring these alternative options before the trade deadline.