Houston Astros searching for starting pitching upgrades
By Nick Fustor
The Houston Astros have arguably been the best team in baseball this season, and the team is now searching for upgrades behind Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. in the starting rotation.
With one of the best offenses in baseball and one of the top left-handed starters in the American League, the Houston Astros have a roster capable of dominating for the entirety of the season. But with question marks behind Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. in the starting rotation, the team is already seeking upgrades, as reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
The Astros are interested in adding a starter and may pursue a left-handed reliever, per Rosenthal. An actual deal may not happen until the summer, but the Astros are monitoring various names around the league. With the third-best farm system in baseball, according to Baseball America, the Astros are in a position to target a front-line starter.
Rosenthal noted that Gerrit Cole and Tony Watson of the Pittsburgh Pirates, currently in last place in the National League Central, are two of the team’s top targets. Cole is under team control through 2019 and Watson will become a free agent after the season.
The Pirates entered the season with hopes of a run for a Wild Card spot, but losing Starling Marte and a struggling Andrew McCutchen has proven to be too much for the team to overcome. It’s unclear if the team will undergo a full rebuild, but with McCutchen set to become a free agent, it’s likely that the Pirates will look to sell off some talent and revitalize their farm system.
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A trade for Cole, who is among the best right-handed starters in the NL, would likely require a significant package from Houston in return. But Cole – who currently has a 3.06 ERA with 8.46 K/9 and 1.80 BB/9 – would make the Astros the clear favorites in the AL.
Behind Keuchel and McCullers Jr., the Astros currently have Charlie Morton, Joe Musgrove and Mike Fiers. Morton is the only one of the trio with an ERA under 4.00, and Musgrove is in his first full season in the majors. The return of Collin McHugh will likely strengthen the rotation, but he’s not expected back until mid-June.
Given the talented assets the Astros have, adding a front-line starter like Cole seems to be the only option if they hope to compete with the Indians, Red Sox and other AL heavyweights in the postseason. Many other starters will be available at the deadline, but Cole figures to be the best of the bunch.
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Rosenthal noted that Houston’s need for a left-handed reliever will lower if Tony Sipp is able to rebound from his early-season struggles. If he isn’t able to improve, Watson figures to be the perfect addition to a Cole trade.