Houston Astros Could Find Cheap But Flawed Options at Trade Deadline

One site connected the Houston Astros to three potential bats in trade that may not cost much but come with baggage.

Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

The thirst for offensive depth is never ending, even at the trade deadline for a team like the Houston Astros.

CBS Sports recently put together a list of 20 players that could be moved at the deadline, based on a variety of their criteria. CBS connected the Astros to three starters that could be potential fits in a trade situation.

If the Astros need a bat, the piece had three players that could be potential fits. One could file them under the potentially cheap but flawed category.

One is Tyler O’Neill, the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, who could be useful to a team that has two outfielders on its 10-day injured list in Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley.

O’Neill is an injury risk on his own, as he has six IL stints since 2021. He’s working his way back from a lingering back injury and hasn’t played since early May.

But, the potential power in his bat may be worth the risk, per CBS:

He's a year-plus away from reaching free agency, as well as a year-plus removed from 2021, when he homered 34 times in an apparent faux breakout. ... The Cardinals may find it hard to let go of him and his upside.

O’Neill has batted just .228 with two home runs and six RBI this season. So you’re banking on a return to his 2021 form, when he batted .286. But the Astros might not have to give up much.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Nick Senzel was the next fit. Senzel would seem redundant with Alex Bregman at third, but Senzel can play outfield, too. Like O’Neill, he’s on the IL, though he just started a rehab assignment. He’s a former first-round pick of the Reds. He’s batting .257 with four home runs and 27 RBI. He actually on a pace to eclipse his career-highs in both home runs and RBI.

Why trade for him?

He is having a tremendous season against left-handed pitching, however, and he brings some positional versatility to the table with his ability to either stand at third or in the outfield. The Reds have a ton of young infield talent either nearing or arriving to the majors, making this perhaps an opportune time to move Senzel for whatever they can get in return.

Senzel is a .455 hitter against left-handed pitching this season. There’s value in that situational ability.

If the Astros need a catcher, the Chicago White Sox’ Yasmani Grandal could be out there. The Astros already have Martin Maldonado, Yainer Diaz and César Salazar. Why on earth would the Astros get a fourth? Per CBS:

It's always challenging to find help behind the plate. That's why Grandal makes the cut despite several alarming developments in his game. Let's put it this way: if you were to write down his three biggest strengths based on what you know about him, and without looking at his stats this season, you would probably have (in some order): framing, plate discipline, and power.

The 34-year-old is slashing .264/.330/.408/.738 with five home runs and 17 RBI for a White Sox team that could go into fire sale mode next month if they can’t get above .500. 

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