Houston Astros: Jeff Lunhow sets any trade expectations very low
Houston Astros general manager Jeff Lunhow stated that any expectations for a trade to happen this month should be set to “very low.”
There have been multiple reports of the Houston Astros being involved in discussions regarding trades, particularly for Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers. However, according to Astros GM, Jeff Lunhow, people shouldn’t expect a trade to happen. Lunhow stated on the Josh Innes Show on iHeartRadio, “Right now I would set expectations very low that anything happens between now and the end of the month.”
The Houston Astros currently have a twelve game lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League West and are basically guaranteed a playoff spot this fall. However, the Houston Astros were quiet at the deadline after only adding lefty veteran pitcher, Francisco Liriano, from the Toronto Blue Jays. They also recently added right-handed reliever, Tyler Clippard, who has been dealt twice this summer.
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Many expected the Astros to make a bigger splash in the market and add a starting pitcher. Their rotation has been plagued by injuries and is also young and inexperienced when it comes to postseason play. Recently, the Houston Astros have been named in discussions regarding Verlander but if Lunhow is being truthful, fans shouldn’t expect much from those rumors.
Lunhow went on to say rather than adding from outside of the organization, that he believes additions from within are what will help this team to it’s first World Series title in franchise history. He named Francis Martes and Derek Fisher as weapons to be used this fall as well as next season. Lunhow also discussed the decision to acquire Clippard and said “Clippard was a guy we had our eyes on for a couple years but it never fit.”
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So as things stand now, the Houston Astros will have the outside acquisitions of Liriano and Clippard along with the in-house call-ups of Martes and Fisher as their key additions for their postseason push. They certainly are one of the best teams in all of baseball but many fans are left wondering if this is enough to make them World Series favorites. The Houston Astros have lost seven of their last ten, however, and have many concerns going forward.