The Houston Astros are zeroing in on one specific goal as the trade deadline approaches: finding a left-handed bat. With less than a week to make moves, GM Dana Brown made it crystal clear where the team’s priorities lie.
“I’m really locked in on the bat,” Brown told Chandler Rome in The Athletic. “If we can get a bat, it would be really good for this team, particularly a left-handed bat.”
That’s about as direct as it gets from a GM.
The Astros sit at 60-43 and lead the AL West, but they’ve got some obvious holes to fill. Starting pitching could use help, but Brown’s comments show where his focus really is. When a GM says he’s “locked in” on something, that tells you everything about how urgent the need has become.
Houston’s been hunting for a lefty bat for months now. The Isaac Paredes injury only made things more pressing at third base, but they’re also looking at second base and the outfield. More positions means more options, which is good news given the market.
Who’s Available?
With Ryan McMahon already shipped to the Yankees, the Astros are looking at what’s left. The Baltimore Orioles have two intriguing options in Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn.
O’Hearn’s the more appealing target here. He’s the AL’s starting designated hitter for the 2025 All-Star Game, which tells you something about the season he’s having. That’s the kind of impact bat Houston needs.
If the Astros can’t land one of Baltimore’s guys, there are other options. Mickey Moniak from Colorado and the White Sox’s Mike Tauchman might not be headliners, but they’re realistic given Houston’s farm system situation. The Astros aren’t exactly loaded with prospect capital these days.
What makes this different is how Brown’s framing it. He’s not talking about “exploring options” or “looking at possibilities.” He’s locked in. That suggests they’ve already identified their targets and are working to make something happen.
The Astros are banking on getting their injured stars back, which might limit how big they’re willing to go at the deadline. But a left-handed bat? That’s happening one way or another.
Brown’s comments aren’t just about identifying a need – they’re about publicly committing to filling it. When you’re leading the division but know you need more firepower for October, that’s the kind of clarity that gets deals done.
