Inside the Astros

Trey Mancini Gives Houston Astros a Much Deeper Lineup

The Houston Astros completed a trade for Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini on Monday afternoon.

Leo Morgenstern

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Trey Mancini is a Houston Astro.

He figures to get most of the playing time at first base, supplanting longtime first baseman Yuli Gurriel. Mancini has mostly been a designated hitter this season, but the Astros are all set at that position.

First base, on the other hand, has been a weakness in Houston all year. The 38-year-old Gurriel is showing his age, and he is no longer the above-average hitter he once was. And 26-year-old J.J. Matijevic has been an ineffectual backup.

Astros first baseman have posted a disappointing 83 wRC+ this year. That's 17 percent worse than the league average hitter and 29 percent worse than the league average first baseman.

Mancini, on the other hand, has a 114 wRC+ this season. He is not a star, but he represents a huge upgrade over the production Houston has gotten from their first basemen thus far. He gives the Astros a significantly deeper lineup.

He also has the potential to thrive in Houston. While Mancini has hit a mere 10 home runs this season, Statcast estimates he would have hit a whopping 22 homers were all of his games played at Minute Maid Park.

Mancini can hit the ball to all sides, but most of his power this year has been to left field. In Camden Yards, where the Orioles play, the left field fence is very tall and quite far back. Mancini has hit many balls in that direction which would have been homers in most other ballparks.

In other words, his above-average offensive numbers could get even better with a change of scenery.

However, although Mancini represents a significant upgrade at first base and could see his power numbers skyrocket at Minute Maid Park, some Astros fans might still be left disappointed by the move.

Many sources pegged Houston as an ideal landing spot for Josh Bell, and the Mancini trade seemingly takes that option off the table.

Bell is hitting .302/.385/.493 with a 142 wRC+ this season. His high batting average and on-base percentage would have been a welcome addition to an Astros lineup that is struggling in those areas.

While Mancini will slot in towards the bottom of Houston's batting order, Bell would have carved a spot for himself in the middle. Simply put, the Mancini trade is not as big of a splash as a Bell trade would have been.

Of course, with that in mind, a Bell trade also would have cost a higher price.

The Astros gave up two players to acquire Mancini: Jose Siri and Chayce McDermott. Both are talented players, but the necessary return for Bell would have been even more. Giving up more prospects for Bell might also have hampered Houston in the deal for Christian Vázquez, along with any further moves.

Mancini is not quite the slugger Bell is, but he fills the hole at first base and upgrades the offense without breaking the bank. The Astros have a much deeper lineup than they did yesterday morning, and Mancini is the reason why.

More From SI's Inside The Astros:

  1. Report: Astros Acquire Will Smith From Braves for Jake Odorizzi
  2. Report: Astros Looking to Add Tigers' Gregory Soto
  3. Report: Red Sox Acquire Tommy Pham From Reds
  4. Report: Astros Acquire Christian Vázquez in Trade with Red Sox
  5. Astros Place Bregman on Paternity List, Recall Taylor Jones
  6. Report: Astros Acquire Mancini in Trade from Orioles
  7. Report: Siri Headed to Rays in Mancini Three-Team Deal
  8. Center Fielders Astros Should Consider Not Named Bryan Reynolds
  9. Report: Padres Acquire Hader in Trade from Brewers
  10. Astros Prospect Dirden Over Deserving of Triple-A Promotion

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Leo Morgenstern
LEO MORGENSTERN

Leo Morgenstern is a writer for Inside the Astros and Inside the Phillies on Sports Illustrated. His work has also appeared on Pitcher List, Baseball Prospectus, and SB Nation. You can follow him on Twitter @morgensternmlb.

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