{"id":428954,"date":"2026-01-23T22:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T22:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/428954\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T22:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T22:30:10","slug":"the-astros-outfield-problem-mlb-trade-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/428954\/","title":{"rendered":"The Astros’ Outfield Problem – MLB Trade Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"

For much of the offseason, the focus surrounding the Astros was how they’d improve their rotation and general starting pitching depth. It was an understandable qualm. Framber Valdez<\/a> became a free agent, and while he’s still lingering on the market, a reunion with Houston never felt all that likely, given the contract he’ll likely command and the team’s aversion to long-term deals of that magnitude. Hayden Wesneski<\/a> had Tommy John surgery late last May. Ronel Blanco<\/a> followed a couple weeks later. Lefty Brandon Walter<\/a> was an out-of-the-blue success story … at least until he also underwent Tommy John surgery — his in mid-September.<\/p>\n

The ‘Stros have done well to bolster the starting staff. Their surprise deal with NPB star Tatsuya Imai<\/a> gives them a potential high-end arm to replace Valdez. A trade acquisition of Pittsburgh righty Mike Burrows<\/a> plugged a young, controllable arm into the fourth spot on the staff. Cheap rolls of the dice on former top prospect Nate Pearson<\/a> and former D-backs\/Royals farmhand Ryan Weiss<\/a>, who’s coming back over after a terrific two years in the Korea Baseball Organization, added some depth.<\/p>\n

A six-man group consisting of Hunter Brown<\/a>, Cristian Javier<\/a>, Imai, Burrows, Weiss and Lance McCullers Jr.<\/a> could be solid — particularly if McCullers can be even serviceable. Depth arms abound. Spencer Arrighetti<\/a>, J.P. France<\/a>, AJ Blubaugh<\/a>, Colton Gordon<\/a>, Jason Alexander<\/a> and Miguel Ullola<\/a> are all on the 40-man roster and all have minor league options remaining. Twenty-three-year-old Ethan Pecko<\/a> had a nice season between Double-A and Triple-A last season and could get a look in 2026.<\/p>\n

There are still clearly some question marks, but the Astros added an intriguing young arm (Burrows), a high-upside international star (Imai) and an under-the-radar 29-year-old coming off a big KBO showing (Weiss). Things look much better than they did a few months back.<\/p>\n

The same can’t be said in the outfield. To this point in the offseason, the biggest move the Astros have made, outfield-wise, is non-tendering Chas McCormick<\/a>. Unless the Astros plan to use Yordan Alvarez<\/a> in left field on the regular — which is very unlikely to be the case — it’s easy to argue that they don’t have even one everyday outfielder who can be confidently projected as a league-average hitter.<\/p>\n


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