Willson Contreras trade rumors: Houston Astros perfect fit
By David Hill
Catcher has been a weak spot for the Houston Astros all season. That has especially been the case lately with Jason Castro on the Injured List and the offensively challenged Martin Maldonado as their primary option. Korey Lee may have a strong future, but he is also clearly overmatched with the bat in the majors. The Astros may have several holes to fill, but catcher is their biggest.
It is not a surprise that the Astros have been scouring the catching landscape heading into the trade deadline. According to Jeff Passan at ESPN, that quest has led to conversations with the Cubs about Willson Contreras.
Houston Astros showing expected interest in Willson Contreras
While such a deal would make sense on paper, there is the human aspect to consider. Maldonado is beloved in the Astros’ clubhouse and lauded for his ability to handle a pitching staff. However, he also has a 62 OPS+ despite hitting ten homers in his 248 plate appearances entering Monday.
Those offensive concerns are not there with Contreras. The three time All Star has a 137 OPS+ in his 353 plate appearances, hitting 14 homers and 20 doubles. While he may never be at the same level as Maldonado defensively, he has improved his pitch framing over the years. However, there is still the matter of how quickly he could learn a new pitching staff, and how quickly they would be comfortable with him after having Maldonado for most of the past five years.
It is possible that Contreras could be part of the answer even with Maldonado remaining behind the plate. The Astros could use another option at DH with Yordan Alvarez seeing more time in the outfield. He could also get time at first where he has fared relatively well in limited action.
In the end, it is going to come down to cost. Upgrading the backup spot being Maldonado would not cost nearly as much in terms of prospects. Contreras, while the clear prize behind the plate, would have a much more significant price. It is also one that the Astros may need to pay in order to return to the World Series.
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The Houston Astros are looking to upgrade at catcher. It should not be a surprise that they are interested in Willson Contreras.