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Bud Norris to make Houston Astros return?

By Josh Sippie

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Bud Norris was never the beneficiary of good records. He was the ace of a Houston Astros team that was frequently finding 100 losses a painful reality. However, since moving to the Baltimore Orioles, he’s been the recipient of some much kinder run support numbers.

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While his numbers have always remained pretty constant, last year was by far Bud Norris‘s best year. 15-8 with a 3.65 ERA, 1.216 WHIP and 2.8 BB/9 were all career bests for the California native. However, his strikeout numbers were down to the second worst they’ve been in his career. A mere bystander when considering the overall product.

This year, Bud Norris is finding life in Baltimore not nearly as pleasing as it’s been since the trade in 2013. Bud Norris is 1-4 with a 9.88 ERA. His strikeouts continue to plummet as the rest of his numbers explode into what’s shaping up to be the worst season in his career.

So how long to the Baltimore Orioles stick with Bud Norris before giving the rotation spot to a promising prospect like Zach Davies or Mike Wright? Maybe Dylan Bundy is closer than we initially thought.

All of those options aside, the best possible option is to move Kevin Gausman into the starting rotation if Bud Norris continues to struggle. Gausman has been used strictly in the bullpen since his breakout 2014 where he started 20 games and rocked a respectable 3.57 ERA.

With Bud Norris only under contract for the rest of the year, the best possible option is to trade him. He’s only 30 years old, he’s shown consistency and after a few (hopefully) good outings, the Baltimore Orioles would be wise to dish the struggling Norris.

But to where?

The Houston Astros look like the best possible landing point. They are in known need of another starter. Outside of Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh, the Astros starting rotation is sketchy at best. Even McHugh has been struggling lately.

Bud Norris would be a welcome injection to his former team. This is a much different team than when he left it and he’d likely find a very pleasant welcome home party in his name. Norris was one of the few consistent pieces of a very poor Houston Astros squad. The youth infusion on the Houston Astros roster can be contagious and that, coupled with returning to the team that drafted him could spark Bud Norris to repeat his 2014 season.

Even if Bud Norris could only repeat his former Houston Astros form, it would still be a welcome upgrade to their lackluster rotation. Norris has electric stuff and when he’s on, he flirts with being unhittable. He started nearly 30 games every year at Houston and that sort of consistency would far surpass the Sam Deduno bullpen starts that we’ve had to cope with. With Brett Oberholtzer‘s blister problem, Scott Feldman‘s gross inconsistency and an actually surprisingly decent Ramon Hernandez, the Astros are still running a four man rotation.

Bud Norris can be that fifth man.

The Houston Astros traded Bud Norris among the massive exodus that cleared way for the youth movement we’re now seeing, but now we’re in need of consistent veterans, particularly in the pitching staff. Who better to fill that role than someone who has hit rock bottom with the Astros before gaining post season experience in Baltimore? Sounds like the perfect fit to me.

The Astros have a mass of players in the minor leagues that are inching closer to the majors but no one is ready just yet. Asher Wojciechowski looked feeble in his MLB debut season, giving up 13 earned runs in 16 innings pitched. Dan Straily and Alex White continue to prove that the Majors may not be the place for them. Jake Buchanan could be given another shot, but why throw prospects at a rotation, hoping they’ll stick when a calm, collective veteran that was a Houston Astros fan favorite could be bought for pretty cheap?

Bud Norris and the Houston Astros need each other, it’s just a matter of making the deal happen.

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