The Astros “checked in” with the Cubs about two of the team’s biggest trade chips, as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes that Houston inquired about right-hander Marcus Stroman and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger. Either player would essentially be a rental pickup for the Astros, as Stroman and Bellinger are each widely expected to become free agents this winter — Stroman via an opt-out in his contract, and Bellinger in declining his end of a mutual option.
The Cubs are 43-49 after today’s loss to the Red Sox, and are facing an increasingly uphill battle in both the NL Central (though Chicago is the only NLC team with a positive run differential) and NL wild card races. Unless the Northsiders go on a real hot streak over the next two weeks, it looks like the Cubs again be looking to sell some veteran players at the August 1 trade deadline.
Houston GM Dana Brown has cited both starting pitching and a left-handed hitter as his team’s two primary target areas heading into the deadline, and landing Stroman and Bellinger in one mega-deal would check both boxes at once, if such a blockbuster trade could be negotiated. Of course, it isn’t known at this point whether or not the Astros’ inquiries were anything more than due diligence, and it may be yet some time before the Cubs determine whether or not to pivot into seller mode. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said yesterday that “there is nothing we want more than to add,” so if the Cubs are even still on the fringes of the playoff race, they might still opt to keep their roster mostly intact.
From a financial perspective, the Astros’ luxury tax number is approximately $218.2MM, as per Roster Resource. This is well under the first $233MM tax threshold, giving Houston some room to add salary — such as the roughly $10.43MM still owed to Stroman and the $5.21MM owed to Bellinger, plus the $5MM buyout of his mutual option — while avoiding a tax bill entirely. Houston were taxpayers in 2020, however, and it isn’t out of the question that they could absorb another one-year tax hit in the first penalty tier in pursuit of another World Series title. Of course, Chicago isn’t entirely in salary-dump mode since the organization clearly wants to compete as early as 2024, so the Astros could make a deal for either player more likely by offering more of a prospect return than a financial return. In that scenario, the question might be how much minor league depth would the Astros want to surrender for a rental player.
Starting with Bellinger, he would add some balance to a heavily right-handed Astros lineup, and strengthen an outfield that is missing both Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley. Alvarez is at least making some progress in his way back from an oblique injury, while Brantley’s status is still up in the air as he has experienced several setbacks in his recovery from shoulder surgery almost a year ago. If Bellinger stepped into the regular center field role, Chas McCormick could spell Bellinger against southpaw pitching, and the McCormick/Corey Julks/Jake Meyers group would rotate through left field duty, with Alvarez getting most of the DH time when he returns.
Bellinger is hitting .301/.358/.524 with 12 homers and 11 steals (from 14 chances) over 257 plate appearances. He missed about a month with a knee contusion that limited him to first base in his return to the field, but Bellinger has resumed his regular duty in center field and also regained his hitting stroke. Bellinger had a scorching 1.209 OPS over his last 69 PA heading into today’s game.
Stroman has been outstanding all season, posting a 2.88 ERA over 118 2/3 innings. Despite below-average strikeout and walk totals, Stroman has done an excellent job of limiting damage (an elite 3.6% barrel rate) and keeping the ball on the ground (58.4% grounder rate). A .251 BABIP has certainly contributed to Stroman’s success, but his knack at avoiding home run damage would likely translate well to any number of contending teams with decent infield defense.
As such, many teams will surely be calling the Cubs about Stroman’s availability, and another intriguing landing spot besides the Astros has already emerged. The Score 670’s Bruce Levine reports that the Blue Jays (Stroman’s former team) “have expressed strong interest” in the righty’s services, which would count as a bit of a surprise considering the hard feelings that reportedly existed between Stroman and the Jays before he was dealt to the Mets in 2019. However, Stroman expressed nothing but positivity about his old club when the Cubs visited Toronto last year, and assuming the Jays front office feels the same, a Stroman return would certainly bolster the rotation.
An inconsistent offense has perhaps been the Blue Jays’ bigger problem in 2023, as a rotation that was seen as a potential weak link has been more or less solid, due to Jose Berrios’ resurgence and Yusei Kikuchi’s ability to at least stick as a fifth starter. However, Alek Manoah’s inexplicable first-half collapse makes him an x-factor going forward, even if Manoah looked sharp in his first start back after a month-long retooling process. Hyun-Jin Ryu (Tommy John surgery) is also expected back within the next few weeks, so technically, Toronto could have six viable starters and perhaps less of a pressing need to devote trade resources on a major arm like Stroman.
The Astros have a much clearer need for pitching, considering how injuries have drastically thinned the rotation. Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are both gone for the season, and Jose Urquidy is just starting a rehab assignment after missing two and a half months with a shoulder injury. Framber Valdez has already been dealing with a sore ankle and left yesterday’s start with a calf problem manager Dusty Baker hoped was only a cramp. If this wasn’t enough, Cristian Javier has been badly struggling over his last few starts, leaving swingman Brandon Bielak and rookies Hunter Brown and J.P. France as the Astros’ most viable starters.
It simply isn’t a rotation that looks like it can contend for another championship, and even making the playoffs might be difficult for Houston given the Rangers’ lead in the AL West and the crowded nature of the wild card race. Adding a starter in some form certainly seems like a must for the Astros, and it will be interesting to see how aggressive Brown will be in bolstering the rotation in his first trade deadline as a Major League general manager.
Just. Sell. Cubs.
I m a Cody fan. If he goes to the cheaters after all that happened. I will be done with him. Doubt he cares..lol! The Dodgers better step up and make sure it doesn’t happen! The fan base better start Squawking! Dodger Nation better Screammmm! They need a RH bat. So dont see it as a fit. Unless they dump Heyward or send someone down!
Cody going to Houston would be like Mookie going to LA
Bellinger wouldn’t have a choice… if he is traded, there is nothing he can do about it besides retiring….
Lol. Dude literally did the same thing and won an MVP doing it. He is a giant hypocrite. That’s it.
Astros got rent free brain housing all over LA and NY. You guys sure to whine without fail.
Dodgers lost. Yankees lost.
All the boo birds are is encouragement. Keep booing, birds.
@Finatic: Where he goes would be up to the Cubs, not the Dodgers.
Interesting that a championship ballclub still tries to improve. Other teams should learn a lesson from that.
They made a phone call and leaked the info. Do you think they are the only teams making phone calls? I wouldn’t consider that as trying to improve. Let me know when they actually do something.
The Astros’ fortunes improved drastically once they dumped Bo Porter and his throwback, militant, 1960d viewpoints.
Do the Astros have the prospects to make a big deadline deal?
Bellinger might refuse the Astros or threaten to sit out. Highly doubt Astros trade for him could be club house drama between Bergman and altuve the only ones who remain from the old championship in 2018?
Or he could want to troll them for non tendering him. Or he is simply a professional. Don’t know his personality.
Why would he refuse? He is just as guilty as them, except he got by without getting the hatred the Astros receive.
Or Bellinger won’t say anything. Not like he owes anything to that Dodger team that non-tendered him.
Bellinger, Stroman and $5mill for Jacob Melton, Spencer Arighetti, and Andrew Taylor. Who hangs up?
The Cubs
With Happ and Suzuki signed for next 3yrs and PCA knocking on the door along with Canario, Alcantara, Cassie and Morel Cubs dont need anymore OF Prospects
Cubs wouldn’t target outfielders but if it’s the best offer. You need 4 of them and a dh and injuries happen. Can trade some away as well.
The Cubs wouldn’t have enough space on the 40-man for more minor league outfielders. They need a 3B. Houston needs to rope in Colorado so that the Rockies send Ryan McMahon to the Cubs, and Houston sends 2 better prospects to Colorado and 2 A-ball to Chicago.
Would love to see McMahon in Chicago could dump like 3 guys taking up roster space
The Cubs don’t even pick up the phone.
Stop with the “give us your stars for our junk” scenarios–that’s for Mets and Cardinals fans.
Stop with the generalizations about others. That’s for lame fans.
Neither of these teams have the farm to trade for Stroman or Bellinger. Although wouldn’t mind seeing what a package that includes Orelvis Martinez from Toronto would look like …
Bellinger and Stroman are rentals, won’t fetch what people might think.
Rentals still bring back good players at the deadline. There is a long history of guys traded at the deadline who are rentals.
Years ago that was true. In recent years teams don’t make dumb trades.
You must be new here.
The Cubs got PCA from the Mets for Baez and Kevin Alcantara from the Yankees for Rizzo at the trade deadline. So your statement is inaccurate.
Was just going to say the same thing. Except the Cubs got a top 3-5 prospect from NYM for half a season of the streakiest player in baseball two years ago….
Trevor Williams was also in that deal and wasn’t a rental. Not that he provided the majority of value.
Baez for a 19-year old and Rizzo for an 18-year old. That sounds about right. They are not exactly blue-chippers. Prospects with potential.
The Chicago Cubs are In the dump cash mode.
The reason this off season Tom R will be La to get the Angel to come to Chicago IL. And be the next MJ In Chicago.
Not true, he’s given Hoyer the buy approval even to go over the cap. Ohtani next?
Thax guys! Cya in 2 weeks!
shouldn’t this be the year Astros are willing to go over the tax? they won a chip last year, might as well spend to defend it. rangers have been really good so houston might need high upside pieces like Stro and Belli if they want to win the division.
They will still win the division. They are simply better and will be when they get Altuve and Yordan back. Bellinger doesn’t move the needle that much.
You’re right but Astros need a lefty bat in a bad way and Bellinger would be a decent option to stick at 1B or corner OF, especially as Yordan injury insurance. I’m surprised the Astros don’t put Alvarez at full time DH to protect his bat. The bat is elite, why risk losing it playing him in the field?
Belli should refuse to go to Houston and set a precedent for all players
So he could be blackballed while setting that precedent? No player is going to do that.
You mean like all the free agents who have signed there and veterans that were traded for the last few years and didn’t complain?
You must be new here too.
As a Cubs fan. I’d be ok with a package from the Astros of Jake Meyers, Gilbert or Melton, Colton Gordon, and maybe Whitley. They’re gonna lose both anyways. I’ve always liked Meyers. See what he has until PCA is ready. And maybe the Cubs can turn Whitley around. That being said. I’d love for them to resign Bellinger in the offseason to play 1B. They also need to sign a couple of free agent SP’S. My choices would be 2 of Urias, Snell, Nola, or Giolito.
Stroman and Belliniger ain’t gonna come cheap so unless you plan on giving up TOP prospects don’t call
No one rumored to be available for trade this year – including Ohtani – is going to bring back one top prospect let alone two.
The way baseball is constructed a starting pitcher pitches one every 5-6 games. A hitter bats once every batters. Ohtani both pitches and hits – how’s his team doing?
You’re talking 2 month rentals here. A team has a greater chance of a star player getting injured the last 2 months and hurting the teams chances than it does of having a Stroman or Belliniger come in and put them over the top. Can they make an impact? Of course. Enough to trade a top prospect unless his team knows something about his weaknesses? No.
We’ll see about that
Fair enough, don’t expect the Cubs to give them away either. Hoyer, Cubs GM, is under tremendous heat to keep both player. FYI, both players fo not want to leave. It will take tremendous talent to obtain these players or they stay and negotiate with the Cubs.
No one ever “wants to leave,” at least outside the NBA. That’s the first thing agents teach their clients: Always say you love your team and your city. There’s no angle in doing anything else.
It amuses me that fans keep falling for that, right before they’re traded.
Cubs could trade them and still negotiate with them in the off season. Yankees pulled this when they traded Chapman to some team… Oh Yeah! It was the Cubs!
I feel a lot of cubs fans are going to be very dissapointed by the return they get for these guys just by looking at these comments
Trades always make us want the moon, sun and stars, on either side of the trade. Often we all just get asteroids and space debris.
F it deal em for a few high schoolers
Cubs need a third baseman it’s a big problem for them so go get a third base high prospect or everyday third baseman
With Ryu looking good in AAA start , and imo Schneider and Kikuchi hating each other , I can see a fit with a Stroman move. It’s just the starting point of course.
I want the Twins to trade for Bellinger just to see a Belli-Correa bromance
Cody has a no trade clause. Can only go to Canada or states where weed is fully legal.
🙁
What about medicinal weed? Does that pull any strings?
Did not know Stroman left the Jays on good terms. I remember the events unfolding much different, which included the dismissal of a coach and plenty of commotion.
But it would not be the worst idea to bring back Stroman. The Jays need a bat and another reliever. Stroman is neither.
The jays have since embraced the childish attitude… They’ll love him and his whining now
Marcus StroME
H@ll no on Bellinger to the Astros! With the way that guy ran his mouth about Altuve, he would be despised in that locker room and the fans will never accept him. Other than maybe Kelly I can’t think of another player I’d hate to see wearing Astros colors more.
The Astros won’t be getting any big names, they simply don’t have the depth in the farm system to compete with what others have to offer. They are in dire need of a starter and reliever, they might offer a Myers or Julks for marginal pitching improvement. Giving up any prospects for a rental would make the farm depth razor thin.
Would the Cubs be interested in Manoah