The Astros’ latest scorching streak has positioned Houston as a transparent purchaser heading into the July 30 commerce deadline. At 46-44 (together with 13-4 over their previous 17 video games), they’re two video games again of the division-leading Mariners and three.5 again within the Wild Card hunt. Among their deadline targets, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, are no less than one beginning pitcher and an additional bat — ideally a primary baseman. Heyman calls D-backs first baseman Christian Walker the Astros’ most well-liked goal, although it’s not but clear whether or not Arizona will promote any veterans heading into the deadline.

The 33-year-old Walker can be one of the vital impactful bats available on the market — if the Diamondbacks in the end find yourself promoting. That’s removed from sure proper now. Arizona is all however buried within the NL West, the place the Dodgers maintain a commanding 7.5-game lead over the second-place Padres and a 10-game lead over the D-backs themselves. The Snakes, nevertheless, are solely two and a half video games behind the Padres for the ultimate National League Wild Card spot. They’re three and a half video games again of the Cardinals, who maintain the second Wild Card spot in the meanwhile.

If the Diamondbacks had been to fall out of the race, it stands to purpose that Walker would no less than be out there. The slugging, slick-fielding first baseman is a transparent qualifying supply candidate, so Arizona wouldn’t essentially be obligated to maneuver him, as Walker may web them a draft decide if he turns down a QO and indicators elsewhere. But Walker is hitting .265/.337/.507 with 22 homers this season and carries a stout .253/.332/.491 slash with 91 homers in 1721 plate appearances courting again to Opening Day 2022. He’s received a Gold Glove in every of the previous two seasons as nicely. That kind of plus offense and protection would make him one of the vital in-demand gamers on the summer time commerce market.

That’s very true for an Astros membership that has gotten nearly nothing out of its first basemen this season. Houston already launched Jose Abreu halfway by way of a three-year, $58.5MM contract — a transfer that underscores the staff’s urgency to show issues round. Jon Singleton has batted simply .243/.339/.366 in 233 plate appearances whereas enjoying poor protection. Houston’s want for an alternate possibility is obvious, and the staff is clearly reluctant to present outfield prospect Joey Loperfido any time at first base (no less than within the majors).

As for the staff’s rotation, that’s been an space of want for a lot of the season — although assist might be on the horizon. The ’Stros misplaced each Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy to UCL surgical procedure earlier this summer time. JP France had shoulder surgical procedure not too long ago. They’ve seen each Justin Verlander (twice, together with presently) and Framber Valdez require journeys to the injured checklist. The solely wholesome starters on Houston’s roster in the meanwhile are Valdez, Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown and rookie Spencer Arrighetti. Swingman Shawn Dubin made a begin towards the Twins not too long ago however was hit onerous.

The Astros are hoping to have Verlander again prior to later, nevertheless, and righty Luis Garcia is on a rehab task proper now as he finally ends up his rehab from final May’s Tommy John process. Lance McCullers Jr. may be a part of the workers within the season’s second half as nicely. Still, Houston starters rank twenty first in MLB with a 4.37 ERA, and that features some stable work out of Javier earlier than his UCL harm.

Even if the Astros are planning to get some mixture of Verlander, Garcia and McCullers again for the stretch run, it’s doable accidents and workload issues additional influence the state of affairs. Blanco didn’t pitch in 2020, pitched simply 45 innings in 2021, 51 innings in 2022 and 125 1/3 frames final 12 months. He’s already at 96 innings pitched. Arrighetti is inside 40 innings of the 124 2/3 frames he tossed a 12 months in the past. McCullers hasn’t pitched since 2022. Garcia tossed solely 27 innings final 12 months earlier than surgical procedure.

There’s good sense to Houston including some depth and stability, even when it’s not essentially a top-tier arm who’d slot right into a theoretical playoff rotation. Doing so would reduce the reliance on presently injured arms within the season’s second half and safeguard towards additional accidents.

One issue to think about in any Astros commerce situations is certainly one of wage. General supervisor Dana Brown stated early within the 2023-24 offseason that he didn’t anticipate to have a lot monetary flexibility. Houston nonetheless spent over the winter, most notably on Josh Hader’s $95MM contract, however that solely additional raises the query of how a lot flexibility the staff has this summer time.

Per RosterResource, Houston is correct on the $257MM threshold for the second tier of luxurious tax penalization. There’s no main penalty for crossing into tier two — only a hike within the tax price itself — and it’s unlikely the Astros would add one other $20MM and push themselves as much as the third tier of penalty (the place their prime decide within the ’25 draft can be pushed again 10 locations). But Houston has solely paid the posh tax twice underneath proprietor Jim Crane, and the staff has by no means trotted out a better payroll than its present 2024 outlay. Time will inform how a lot Crane is keen so as to add, but it surely’s uncertain Brown and his group shall be given a proverbial clean test when buying this month.