Astros–Key Players Acquired by Trade
Two of the three best players on the Astros this year were trade acquisitions Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. Overall, the Astros received 35 percent of the total WAR by their 25-man postseason roster through trade acquisitions.
RHP Justin Verlander (6.2 WAR)—Verlander was a key acquisition for the Astros on August 31 of last season. He instantly became the team’s ace and was instrumental in the first World Series championship for the franchise. Verlander was acquired from the Detroit Tigers along with Juan Ramirez (as the PTBNL) for minor leaguers Franklin Perez, Daz Cameron and Jake Rogers. Perez is currently the #3 prospect for the Tigers according to MLB Pipeline. Cameron checks in at #8 and Rogers is at #12. Perez is the only one of the three to make the MLB Pipeline top-100, where he ranks 67th.
RHP Gerrit Cole (5.3 WAR)—In January, the Astros traded Colin Moran, Joe Musgrove and Jason Martin to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Gerrit Cole. Suddenly, they had a co-ace to go with Justin Verlander at the top of their rotation. Cole has been a talented pitcher ever since reaching the big leagues in 2013, but only had one really good season under his belt before this year. His 5.3 WAR in 2018 is the best of his career.
UT Marwin Gonzalez (2.5 WAR)—In a trade that didn’t make headlines anywhere, the Astros acquired Marwin Gonzalez from the Red Sox for Marco Duarte in December, 2011. Gonzalez was a useful multi-position player from 2012 to 2016. He didn’t hit much, with a career triple-slash of .257/.298/.389 in his first five seasons, but his positional flexibility was valuable enough to keep him on the roster.
Last year, Gonzalez busted out with a .303/.377/.503 season that was worth 4.7 WAR. He wasn’t nearly as good this season (.247/.324/.409), but still an above average player who played 20 or more games at left field, shortstop, second base and first base.
OF Jake Marisnick (1.7 WAR)—Defensive specialist Jake Marisnick came to the Astros on a trade deadline deal in 2014. The Astros traded Enrique Hernández, Jarred Cosart and Austin Wates to the Marlins for Marisnick, Colin Moran, Frances Martes and a 2015 competitive balance round A pick. Marisnick hasn’t hit much in five seasons with the Astros (.232/.284/.393), but provides value on the bases and with his glove in the outfield.
RHP Ryan Pressly (1.4 WAR)—Pressly is one of three players on the Astros’ 25-man ALCS roster who was acquired by trade in July of this season. He came over from the Twins for minor leaguers Jorge Alcala and Gilberto Celestino. Alcala is ranked 11th on the Twins’ top-30 prospects lists, according to MLB Pipeline. Celestino ranks 14th. In 26 games with the Astros after the trade, Pressly had 32 strikeouts, three walks, and a 0.77 ERA (1.49 FIP).
C Brian McCann (1.0 WAR)—Prior to last season, the Astros brought in veteran catcher Brian McCann in a trade with the Yankees. To get him, they traded two young pitching prospects in Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman. Abreu is the #4 prospect on the Yankees’ top-30 and #85 on the MLB Pipeline top-100. McCann was an above average hitter last season, but struggled with the bat this year, hitting .212/.301/.339, and is no longer the team’s number one catcher.
RHP Roberto Osuna (0.8 WAR)—In a morally repugnant deal at the trade deadline, the Astros sent Ken Giles, David Paulino and Hector Perez to the Blue Jays for reliever Roberto Osuna, who was still serving a 75-game suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy. At the time, the Astros claimed to have a “zero tolerance” policy regarding domestic violence, but that was swiftly amended to a “zero tolerance” policy when a player is a member of their organization, meaning Osuna’s behavior with the Blue Jays didn’t count.
Osuna pitched well for the Astros in the regular season after his return from the suspension (23 games, 1.99 ERA, 2.72 FIP), but was lit up for five earned runs in the Game 3 loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday. Many people on Twitter were just fine with this development.
Other trade acquisitions:
DH Evan Gattis (0.4 WAR)—January 2015, from Braves
C Martin Maldonado (0.1 WAR)—July 2018, from Angels