Slugger Yordan Alvarez and starter Jose Urquidy will begin minor league rehab assignments with the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate tomorrow, the team announced. Houston has been without Alvarez for five weeks due to an oblique strain. Urquidy has been out more than two months due to shoulder troubles. Alvarez figures to be the first of the pair back to the active roster; Urquidy hasn’t pitched since late April and will surely require multiple rehab starts with full rest between them before reemerging as a rotation option. Still, it’s welcome news for an injury-plagued Astros club that is lacking both in the lineup and the rotation at the moment.
In recent weeks, general manager Dana Brown has publicly declared his two top needs at the trade deadline to be a left-handed bat and a starting pitcher. For much of the summer, Brown had suggested the bat was the larger priority, but just yesterday he flipped the script and indicated that pitching help is perhaps an even greater need. That’s understandable, as the ’Stros have not only been without Urquidy but also Lance McCullers Jr. (season-ending flexor surgery) and Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery). To top it off, ace Framber Valdez has been pitching through a sprained ankle in recent weeks, while righty Cristian Javier had his most recent start skipped to “give him a breather” after a run of poor results, per Brown.
The looming returns of Alvarez and Urquidy — barring any setbacks during their respective rehab stints — surely doesn’t quell the Astros’ desire to add help in either area. Brown’s comments on his team’s needs were made with full knowledge that both players would be returning at some point before the deadline (or perhaps shortly after, in Urquidy’s case). Even if both could be inserted into the lineup immediately after the break, the Astros would still have glaring needs.
In the rotation, Houston is currently relying on Valdez and a trio of inexperienced arms: top prospect Hunter Brown, swingman Brandon Bielak and rookie J.P. France. Presumably, Javier will rejoin the group after the break, and the Astros have also taken looks at righties Ronel Blanco and Shawn Dubin — both currently in Triple-A. There’s minimal depth beyond that group, and France’s strong 3.26 ERA to date isn’t supported by his shakier under-the-surface numbers. Most of the team’s young arms are also already nearing last year’s season-long workload; their innings could present concerns in the final 72 games.
Adding Alvarez and his characteristically excellent .277/.388/.589 batting line (and 17 homers) back into the lineup will be an obvious boon, but the Astros likely need more help than that. Jose Altuve is back on the injured list due to an oblique strain of his own, and Houston hitters have been a middle-of-the-pack group overall. The Astros rank 10th in the Majors in runs scored (417), 17th in batting average (.247), 19th in on-base percentage (.316) and 14th in slugging percentage (.407). The only left-handed bat in the lineup with Alvarez out has been outfielder Kyle Tucker. The hope had been that Michael Brantley would make his season debut soon, but manager Dusty Baker revealed earlier this month that the veteran hitter had “plateaued” in his efforts to make it back from 2022 shoulder surgery; a timetable for his return remains unclear.
Astros, release the Kraken.
So has Othani been traded to the Dodgers yet?
@laswagn
MLB wants drama so it’ll be near the end of the deadline and we’ll have so many rumors like:
Padres planning to trade for Ohtani
Twins close to trading for Ohtani
Braves talking to Angels about Ohtani
Dodgers trade their whole farm system, including all players from Rookie, A-ball, AA and AAA for Ohtani.
That’s what MSM is. Lots of unsourced, attention-grabbing, salacious rumors, innuendo, speculation and sound bites, but little substance, specificity or facts.
@OldYork Nice one..lol’ed out loud
But lol means “laugh out loud” :0
@DUDDUS Whoops, good point.. It was extra loud, though, so maybe I could give that excuse 😛
3 days ago.
Where you been?
On a 3 1/2 week vacation, visiting our beautiful National Parks 😉
With Yordan, they are top 5 in the league.
Funny, another site said it’s Alvarez & Altuve to start the rehab together; certainly the team needs Uriquidy more
Excited for the 2nd half. I hope we call up Singleton & send down Madris…transfer Forrest Whitley to the 60 day IL retroactive to the when he initially got hurt to make room on the 40 man. Then I’d also send Hensley down & call up Shay Whitcomb. DFA Bannon to make room on the 40 man. Our bench just needs some more help of guys who can contribute offensively. Hensley hasn’t cut it this year & Whitcomb/Singleton look to be ready to contribute. I’m all for 2nd chances with Jon & with how he’s performing, he certainly deserves the shot.
Totally agree. Madris & Hensley are takin up roster space better used by Singleton and Whitcomb.
Yordan, Altuve and Urquidy will help but they need another SP and possibly a bat if Brantley isn’t going to make it back
I’d personally like to see us add another bullpen arm. Our bullpen has just been so taxed to this point & not being able to rely on Montero has cost us. I’d put a bullpen arm as the 2nd priority behind acquiring a SP as #1. And preferably a bullpen arm who can be used in leverage situations. A bat would be my 3rd priority, not as concerning to me at this point. A solution there should be to have Yainer catch more frequently…have Maldonado catch Framber only & 50/50 split with Javier. Then let Diaz get all of the rest of the starts with Brown, Urquidy, France, Bielak, etc.
Call up Singleton & see what you have there as well as a potential DH option. Could help solve some offensive issues.
At this point, Michael Brantley seems like a myth, an urban legend. I’m not even really sure there was an MLB player named Michael Brantley.
Feels that way but I have a feeling he will return just before we totally give up or Stros ready to pull trigger at trade deadline. Probably just wishing but we’ll know more real soon – his latest slowdown was supposedly only 3-4 days – about 3-4 days ago
F***
Curious with something
Why have the Astros had Hensley, Madris, Salazar, Kessinger all with team for first half. All played very little. Salazar caught a couple times and pinch hit and rest got in games only when team member really needed day off. Did we not have anyone to really contribute. I think Hensley and Salazar made team roster even to start season. None of these players look like even going anywhere with us if with any team. Will any of them get us anything
I could see Houston getting a starter most likely. Whether a bat not sure. Who would be a target to get. I do not see us getting Ohtani. Granted whether a future on reaching playoffs or more if kept him. I am sure he wants to be elsewhere. I could see maybe Giolito, Montgomery, Bieber or Flaherty being looked at. A bat not sure.
Outfield will Chas, Julks or Meyers be dealt. Brantley is done. Doubt any team wants. Whether Brantley still has anything to give. If still shoulder issue. Guess we shall see what Dana does in the next couple of weeks plus. Hopefully ASTROS come out hot and Rangers cool off.
Roster construction with Dana Brown has been a mystery. Dusty won’t play guys brought up from AAA as temp fillers and I doubt Brown has any influence on that. So Brown does something and Dusty does what he wants.
Ideally Meyers is the one dealt out of those three. However not sure who would have more value between Meyers & Julks…considering Meyers has been struggling at the plate, but he plays a premium position & is an above average defender.
Julks, sizzling going into the all star break but more of an LF only just about. Both have multiple years of control & feel like either of them could fetch something decent in return…but I certainly hope Meyers is the one to be be dealt. Would free up McCormick to play every day in CF & Dubon can play there as well which he hasn’t done all year.
I don’t think there will be an announcement on Brantley until after the trade deadline.