Inside the Astros

Report: Houston Astros "Willing" to Trade a Starting Pitcher

The Houston Astros are willing to trade one of their six quality starters at the deadline, per a recent report.

Kenny Van Doren

Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

The Houston Astros have rolled with a six-man rotation twice this season. They did so for a long-stretch of baseball early in the year and again recently with the return of Jake Odorizzi from the injured list.

But as the team houses a surplus of starters and also awaits the return of Lance McCullers Jr., the Astros are "willing" to trade a strength from the current roster, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Passan floated José Urquidy as the most obvious candidate to move. With a resurgent season since he abandoned his cutter, Urquidy sports a 3.93 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP over 18 starts this year.

The postseason-experienced righty enters his first year of arbitration this winter while also under new representation with Scott Boras. Passan added that Luis García and Cristian Javier are having better seasons and would attract a stronger return in trade.  

The Astros have also been linked to a frontend starter in the past week, too, with Luis Castillo’s name floating in trade rumors. But as McCullers makes his second rehab start Wednesday with an August return on the horizon, the Astros have seven starters in the mix at full strength, not to mention a major league ready arm — Hunter Brown — in Triple-A.

More From SI's Inside The Astros:

  1. Astros' Prospect Pedro León Cutting Down Strikeouts in Best Offensive Month
  2. Report: Astros Being "Extremely Aggressive" as Trade Deadline Approaches
  3. Benintendi Could be an Ideal Trade Target for the Astros
  4. Astros Announce Signings of First- and Second-Round Picks
  5. Astros' Winning Streak Snapped After A's Shell Odorizzi
  6. Is Garrett Cooper the Solution at First Base for the Astros?
  7. Astros' McCormick, Díaz Improving in Brantley's Absense
  8. Astros Seek to End Road Swing Unblemished at Oakland
  9. Astros Sweep Mariners as Altuve, Peña Launch Back-to-Back Homers
  10. Astros' McCullers to Make Rehab Appearance for Triple-A Sugar Land

Make sure to follow Inside the Astros on Twitter @InsideAstrosSI!

Published
Kenny Van Doren
KENNY VAN DOREN

Kenny Van Doren is a writer for FanNation's 'Inside the Astros,' part of Sports Illustrated. Kenny formerly covered the Astros for Climbing Tal's Hill of FanSided. Kenny also attends the University of Missouri where he studies journalism. 

Home/News