Houston Astros already getting dividends from Trey Mancini trade

While there was plenty of player movement around the recent MLB trade deadline, it’s hard to argue that the Houston Astros acquiring Trey Mancini may end up being one of the most impactful deals of them all.

Trey Mancini is already making an impact for the Houston Astros

Mancini, acquired in a three-team trade involving the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Tampa Bay Rays on August 1, has done exactly what the Astros hoped he would do when they dealt for him: Provide an additional veteran bat in the lineup who can do damage at any time.

In his first four games with the Astros, Mancini has already hit three home runs, including a grand slam and solo shot on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians. In fact, Mancini’s first three hits in an Astros uniform were all home runs, proving that he can be the impact player that Houston envisioned when the franchise made the deal.

It’s an interesting power boost for Mancini, who had just 10 home runs in 354 at-bats this season wearing a Baltimore uniform. However, he has three long balls in his first 11 at-bats with Houston.

Mancini is 3-for-11 in his early career with the Astros, heading into Saturday’s game in Cleveland. However, those hits have been big for Houston, a team that is 3-1 since Mancini stepped into the lineup and is looking like a team that could well be the biggest kryptonite for the New York Yankees as the American League postseason begins to shape up.

While Orioles fans lament the loss of Mancini (as well as closer Jorge López, who was traded to the Minnesota Twins) as the O’s continue to push for an improbable Wild Card spot, Astros fans are happy to see what the 30-year-old cancer survivor has brought to the lineup already.

What Mancini does the rest of the season and how he impacts Houston’s potential run at another World Series will be very interesting to watch, but so far so good in the Lone Star State.