The Houston Astros seem likely to lose left-hander Framber Valdez in free agency, and that’s putting their rotation in a tough spot.
With Valdez presumably gone and both Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski dealing with injuries, Houston’s got some serious holes to fill on the mound.
“Houston could stand to make a rotation upgrade,” MLB.com’s Jared Greenspan and Theo DeRosa wrote Thursday.
There’s plenty of talent available in free agency beyond Valdez, but that might not be Houston’s preferred route. The way I see it, they’re probably eyeing the trade market instead.
Here’s where it gets interesting: the Astros have three corner infielders for two spots. Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker and Carlos Correa are all competing for starting roles at first and third base.
Trading from Strength
That logjam could be Houston’s answer to their pitching problems.
“Perhaps they will deal from their logjam of corner infielders, with Correa, Walker, and Isaac Paredes competing for two starting spots,” Greenspan and DeRosa suggest. “A big move — especially for a starting pitcher — could go a long way.”
Correa just returned to Houston and remains a fan favorite, so he’s probably not going anywhere. That leaves Walker and Paredes as the most likely trade candidates.
Paredes might have more long-term upside than Walker given his age, but teams typically have to give up something valuable to get quality pitching back. Walker’s veteran presence and proven production could be exactly what a contending team needs.
The Astros still have talent throughout their roster and should compete for a playoff spot again in 2026. But adding a quality starter through a trade could be the difference between making the postseason and making a deep run.
It’s definitely worth watching to see if Houston can find the right deal to shore up their rotation.
