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Houston Astros Top Starting Pitcher Trade Targets

By Bobby Mueller

Jul 8, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Astros have already made multiple moves geared towards 2017, but are still in the market for starting pitching.

Two years ago, the Houston Astros arrived slightly ahead of schedule when they finished second in the AL West and claimed one of the wild card spots. They beat the Yankees in the wild card game, but lost to the Royals in the AL Division Series. Coming into that season they were expected to improve but were not expected to make the playoffs, so their playoff run was a pleasant surprise.

After that success, last year was a disappointment. They won two fewer games than the year before, finished third in the AL West, and did not make the playoffs. The main culprit in their disappointing season was a pitching staff that allowed 83 more runs than the year before. The offense was essentially the same, scoring five fewer runs than in 2015.

Since the 2016 season ended, the Astros have been busy. They signed Carlos Beltran, Josh Reddick, and Charlie Morton, traded for Brian McCann, and claimed Norichika Aoki off waivers. They now have a solid lineup, one through nine, but could use help in the starting rotation.

Their current one through five has some question marks:

  • Dallas Keuchel (FanGraphs projection: 212 IP, 4.1 WAR)—went from back-to-back years with ERAs under 3.00 to a 4.55 ERA in 2016, although his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) was a more respectable 3.87.
  • Lance McCullers (FanGraphs projection: 184 IP, 3.6 WAR)—Young pitcher with only 206 2/3 major league innings in his first two big league seasons. Projected to be the team’s second-best starter in 2017.
  • Collin McHugh (FanGraphs projection: 181 IP, 2.7 WAR)——ERA has increased from 2.73 to 3.89 to 4.34 the last two years. Like Keuchel, McHugh’s FIP was better than his ERA (3.95 FIP).
  • Mike Fiers (FanGraphs projection: 156 IP, 1.7 WAR)——Has also seen his ERA rise the last two years, up to 4.48 in 2016, which was a close match to his 4.43 FIP.
  • Charlie Morton (FanGraphs projection: 119 IP, 1.6 WAR)——Coming back from an injury, Morton pitched just 17 1/3 innings last year and averaged 134 innings per year over the three previous years.

Other options include Joe Musgrove, Brad Peacock, and David Paulino.

The free agent market doesn’t have much in the way of starting pitching this year, so the Astros will likely look to acquire a starting pitcher (or two) through the trade market. Here are seven pitchers they could target to help the team in 2017.

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