Houston Astros Have Checked in on Stroman, Bellinger

The Houston Astros are looking to fortify themselves via trade and they could be looking at the Chicago Cubs as a trade partner.

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Add the Houston Astros to the list of teams that have reported interest in a pair of Chicago Cubs that could be available by the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Per USA Today, those Cubs are pitcher Marcus Stroman and outfielder Cody Bellinger.

The publication said the Astros have checked with the Cubs on the pair of players. The Toronto Blue Jays also have a reported interest in Stroman, who is a former Blue Jays starter.

Acquiring Stroman and Bellinger would satisfy a pair of needs for the Astros.

Stroman would fit right into a rotation that has already lost Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia for the season. José Urquidy is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land and Framber Valdez — the Astros’ best starter all season — left Saturday’s game with the Los Angeles Angels with tightness in his calf.

The Astros have shown interest in Stroman each of the past two seasons, but in this case Stroman is in the midst of perhaps his best season.

He is 10-6 with a 2.88 ERA, 101 strikeouts and a 1.09 WHIP. He has a $21 million contract option for 2024, but it is believed that Stroman won’t trigger the option and instead opt for free agency. In fact, Stroman said on Saturday he would have no issue re-signing with the Cubs for 2024 if they traded him.

Bellinger would give the Astros a solid, middle-of-the-order bat who can play outfield, first base or even slide into designated hitter. Bellinger is having a bounce-back season after two atrocious years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After hitting a grand slam for the Cubs on Saturday, he’s batting .301 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI. He has a 2024 mutual option on his contract.

Part of the issue for the Cubs is they’re not certain if they’re ready to sell. Despite being under-.500, they are the only team in the NL Central with a positive run differential and are close enough to the top of the divisional lead that a hot week or two could turn them into buyers.

But, if they go into sell mode, the Astros are lurking.

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