There’s still seven weeks until this year’s Aug. 1 trade deadline, but teams are beginning to look ahead and identify their preferred areas of upgrade even with plenty of schedule left before that pivotal date. D-backs GM Mike Hazen candidly discussed some of his team’s needs last week, and Astros GM Dana Brown did the same over the weekend in an appearance with Robert Ford on Houston’s Sports Talk 790 AM (audio link). Specifically, Brown called a “versatile” left-handed bat who can play both the infield and outfield an “ideal” addition for his club.
“We’re having meetings about trade, and if we can add a bat, that would be outstanding,” says Brown. “We’re not opposed to adding another arm if it makes sense and if the deal is right, but I really feel like the pitching has carried us for the most part this season. If we can add a bat, that would be exciting. … A left-handed bat would be exciting, but any bat that can hit both sides, that’s actually good too. In terms of position, if you can get a guy that can play multiple positions, that would be great. You could give some guys some time in the outfield, give the first baseman a day, give the DH a day. Having a guy that’s versatile — that would be ideal.”
With Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley both on the injured list — Brantley has yet to even play this season — the only left-handed bat in Houston’s lineup is Kyle Tucker. The Astros also have a primarily right-handed bench, with only catcher Cesar Salazar offering a lefty stick. The disparity is plenty apparent when looking at the team’s splits. Astros hitters are batting a strong .260/.326/.437 against lefties in 2023 (111 wRC+, 10th in MLB) but have a .241/.310/.382 output against righties (94 wRC+, 18th in MLB).
Given the seven weeks remaining between now and the deadline, it’s impossible to say exactly who’ll be available that fits that description, though there are some names who seem likelier than others. For example, assuming he’s back from the injured list and at full strength by that time, former NL MVP Cody Bellinger could fit the bill. The Cubs are currently nine games under .500, and Bellinger is playing on a one-year contract.
More controllable names who speculatively meet that criteria include A’s slugger Seth Brown (controlled through 2026), Tigers utilityman Zach McKinstry (through 2027) and Jays infielder/outfielder Cavan Biggio (through 2025). Oakland’s Brown missed more than a month with an oblique strain and hasn’t gotten going so far in 2023, but he’s a career .240/.311/.483 hitter against righties. He can play first base and all three outfield spots, and the A’s are of course open to trading just about anyone. The Biggio name is royalty in Houston, but the versatile 28-year-old has been relegated to a seldom-used bench role in Toronto that leaves both him and the organization in a tough spot. The Tigers probably plan to keep McKinstry around given those additional four years of control, but they’ve lost nine straight and are now 11 games under .500, so there’s likely not much to which they’ll be completely closed off. If the Giants dip out of the race, LaMonte Wade Jr. would fit this bill perfectly, but San Francisco is only a half-game back from an NL Wild Card spot for the time being.
Of course, we’re still likely weeks away from serious trade talks percolating. Deals of significance in June are rare (albeit not unprecedented), making July a far likelier timetable for trade activity to pick up in earnest — particularly after the All-Star Game and MLB Draft are completed. As things stand, the Astros aren’t yet even fully sure as to when they can expect Alvarez and Brantley back. That pair of timetables will surely impact the urgency of this pursuit, but even with both at full strength, there’s plenty of room for Houston to add a lefty bat to manager Dusty Baker’s collection of hitters.
You can have Max Kepler for free. Sincerely, a Twins fan
he’s very versatile..and consistent..he stinks when he plays right field and he stinks when he plays center. I’m sure most Twins fans will throw in Emilio Pagan and a few million dollars to help pay for the rest of the season for both. unfortunately, most Twins fans are truly smarter that Falvey…just waiting for Pagan to be extended….
This really is all the Astros need.
Trading Max Kepler to the Astros for a prospect makes sense. The Twins could pick up released Aaron Hicks from the Yankees, and would not lose anything in terms of defense and batting average. The Twins still would have Joey Gallo to make up the Twins league leading strikeout.
The Astros must have someone in A or AA ball they could swap for Kepler.
Will be fun seeing Bellinger playing alongside the Astros — and going behind the curtain to see Oz and how it all works. Baseball is fun!
Jose Oquendo is ready.
Versatile bowel movement would be ideal before lunch
Juan Soto
As versatile as Yordan Alvarez…
Is Fred McGriff available?
No, I heard Lance Berkman is available though. Why sign a lefty bat when you pick up a switch hitter?
Bellinger said during the off-season that he wanted to play for any team that would give him a chance to show he can still play at a high level. Why stay with a rebuilding team when he can play for the Astros?
How about Ehire Adrianza?
Bats both handed and can skillfully catch baseballs in his teeth while balancing on a tight rope
Currently injured on 60-il, so no messy transactions necessary. Set him on your IL and forget it.
Comes with Brian Snickers two thumbs up of approval! Actually, Snickers would be furious if this trade happened. He simply can’t stop playing Ehire and neither will you!
Did Adrianza ever figure how to hit? Haven’t seen him this year, but during his stops prior to ATL I saw enough to know he was the king of the banjo hitters.
Here, take a look. I do not want to soil your opinion of him with my words.
baseball-reference.com/players/a/adriaeh01.shtml
Rengifo
Dickerson
Max Kepler is available.
Daniel Vogelbach’s the man
Would be cool to see Cavan Biggio in an Astros uniform.
Harry Scout: But wouldn’t it put a lot of pressure on him with the thinking he can play as good as his dad?
Absolutely not. Keep that emotional nonsense on other teams. We don’t need a crappy player that adds nothing of value just because his dad was awesome 30 years ago.
Aaron Hicks can move around the outfield and bats from both sides. .345/.472/.586 in his last 15 games. Even better is Yanks pay his salary. Once Mullins returns he becomes expendable and probably can be had for a mid prospect. Santander is another option as the O’s can keep Hicks to take his place in the outfield. Little less versatile in the field but also hits from both sides and has more recent track record of slugging success. Would cost more though, likely quality pitching. Both under cheap control for multiple seasons
If Hicks keeps this up he could be that piece that not only covers for Mullins but could be that bridge to Cowser. And an OF rotation of Santander, Hays, Mullins and Hicks may be ideal for a legit playoff run for this year. Stay out? .
Hicks isn’t going anywhere if he keeps hitting baseballs.
Ryan McKenna’s roster spot is the one who is in jeopardy. O’s certainly don’t need to help a competitor for a mid round prospect today.
Some of you need to rethink your definition of “versatile”.
I don’t understand when posters suggest trading away a team’s best players. Do you really think the O’s would replace Santander for Hicks? And why trade Mullins? He’s a terrific outfielder with excellent speed. Those are two of the players that have gotten the team to where they are today. And you’re thinking the O’s should trade them? Crazy.
I would sign Mullins to an extension, not trade him. My post was saying that when Mullins returns, Hicks eould be expendable. I wouldn’t want to get rid of Santander but the Os need pitching and have a fair amount of outfield depth.
I would also be inclined to sign Mullins to extension but we do already have most of his prime seasons locked up.
we’d be paying for age 31-35+. That’s a tougher call. We’ve let him get close to free agency so I doubt another year year or two of control does it. He’s a speed oriented guy. I’m not sure what the call is there
Crazy thing about baseball is that the left-handed bats work just as well from the right side.
After the Brantley misstep, the Astros need another capable lefty hitter.
Astros trade for Cody Bellringer is gonna be hilarious
Tommy Edman could likely be had but he is much stronger from the right side. Brendon Donovan’s stock has prob fallen some but is still an attractive piece. Both fellas still have at least a year before free agency.
Marmol recently raved about how well Edman is playing in CF. I don’t think there’s a trade there, but you never know.
donovan seems like the more likely choice due to the Edman-CF development but the cardinals could make a trade to settle their infield a bit, and the astros would absolutely make calls on these two
Donovan is only in his second year so he is a long way from free agency. Hopefully my Cardinals will not trade him unless there a couple of hotshot young prospects available. Then think twice since Donovan is an on base machine, +.400 last year and high .300 this year. Good exciting player.
Bellinger is not welcome in Houston.
The Tigers will trade McKinstry in a minute if they can get the kind of return from the Astros they got for Verlander…
I would rather have Zach McKinstry over Jake Rogers, Daz Cameron and Franklin Perez.
I really want the Tigers to keep McKinstry.
Jace Peterson of Oakland is available. He can play a lot of positions and is cheap. I called him DFA when in Milwaukee, because the Brewers once gave him a DFA, They later brought him back. What is my finder’s fee?
Peterson and Brown had some big hits in the weekend humiliation of the Brewers.
And they can throw in Aledmys for an Astros reunion. Although he does bat right-handed.
Reading the preview, the first name that came to mind was McKinstry.
Perfect deal. He’s really taken a big step in 2023, is as versatile as they come, but most importantly he is Detroit’s best active player and Tiger fans are legally disallowed to have hope or nice things.
The article said a versatile LH BAT. McKinstry is definitely versatile, but he is not a BAT. If the Tigers get a decent offer, he gone. He’s not the future.
The problem is he IS a bat. In relative terms, of course. His OPS has been above .800 much of the year. He might be their All-Star rep if a position player is selected.
He’s the present Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron of the Detroit Tigers.
If you’re trying to fool Houston into giving someone up….he’s all ya got.
No way they trade lamonte. Traded a bad RP for him. He plays many positions, earns almost nothing, and has team control until 2026. Not to mention a top of the league OBP. He’s a much a farhan find as it gets. No way, even if they lose the rest of the season.
If Giants did trade Lamonte, they do still have Wilmer Flores at 1B, who is still under contract until 2025. It depends on what kind of a haul he’d bring.
Is this how Atlanta got all the big bats in loaner form for the playoffs by announcing what they need to the entire baseball world?
Harold Castro fits the description and is with a team that should be selling, but may not be much of an upgrade.
Adam Frazier, you are a Houston Astro
Os O’Hearn (sp?) is impressive but expendable?
“If the Giants dip out of the race, LaMonte Wade Jr. would fit this bill perfectly, but San Francisco is only a half-game back from an NL Wild Card spot for the time being.”
It’s not going to matter whether the Giants dip out of the race this year or not. Wade is sort of Zaidi’s hand-picked successor to Belt (and he can play LF). He’s 29 years old and controlled through 2025.
He won’t get traded. In fact, he’s much likelier to be an extension candidate for the Giants, perhaps buying out his first year or two of FA.
Bang the trash can slowly
Brendan Donovan could be a possibility for the right price.
What’s the right price?
A good MLB ready pitching prospect. The Cardinals need to rebuild the pitching staff. The bullpen is no better than the starters.
I don’t know, I’m a big Donovan fan. His forte is OBP in front of our long ball hitters. It would have to be a sure fire pitching prospect.
IMO
Biggio would be a nice story but unless he somehow figures things out i doubt adding the pressure of being a “legacy” player on a team where his dad played a Hall of Fame career would help him much.
Corey Dickerson is a likely option as he could play LF and won’t cost much of a return.
They should have kept Stubbs. Left handed bat that catches better than Maldi and is plays other positions as well…
You can have Tony Kemp for free. Take Jace Peterson too. -An A’s Fan
Giants should trade them MikeYazstremzski. It would give them a roster spot for Luis Matos.
Jackie Bradley just got cut loose. Jump on it Stros.
The Astros don’t need reclamation projects.
They should bring back Bo Porter and his militant, 1960s attitude.
I’d seriously say the Mets should consider filling the Astro shopping cart with Jeff McNeil if they could get a proper return. McNeil touches all of the bases of the Astro desired specs— lefty bat, versatile—and the Mets need more young talent.
But they mostly need young pitching, less so hitting, prospects. Looks like the Astro top prospects are not pitchers these days, aside from the ones they’ve already brought up.
Besides the Mets management may not have the smarts or cojones to make the right deal anyway.
Ben Gamel is wasting away in Durham. Just sayin’