The Houston Astros are somehow still sitting on top of the AL West despite dealing with an injury crisis that’s reached historic proportions.
Houston leads the Seattle Mariners by five games even though they’ve got more players on the injured list than any other team in baseball. That’s the kind of resilience that championship clubs are made of, but it’s also unsustainable without help.
The latest blow came when Isaac Paredes went down with a hamstring injury, adding to an already thin lineup that’s been without Silver Slugger Yordan Alvarez for most of the season. The power shortage is real, and it’s starting to show.
Baltimore’s All-Star Could Be the Answer
According to Kenneth Teape from Houston Astros On SI, the Astros should be looking east to Baltimore, where Ryan O’Hearn is putting together the kind of season that makes contending teams very interested.
O’Hearn started the All-Star Game at designated hitter for the American League. That’s not something that happens by accident.
“O’Hearn is in the midst of a career campaign, setting himself up nicely for a sizable pay day in free agency this upcoming free agency,” Teape wrote. “In need of a left-handed bat, he is the perfect trade target for the Astros because he would fill that need and help balance out their lineup.”
The numbers back up the argument. O’Hearn’s batting .281 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs through 89 games. More importantly, he’s providing exactly what Houston’s missing – consistent left-handed power and the kind of versatility that gives manager Joe Espada options he doesn’t currently have.
Why This Makes Sense
What makes O’Hearn particularly attractive isn’t just his production. It’s the timing and the fit.
He’s a pending free agent, which means Baltimore might be willing to move him rather than risk losing him for nothing. The Orioles are in their own battle for playoff positioning, but they’ve got other options at designated hitter and first base.
For Houston, O’Hearn represents more than just a bat. His ability to play multiple positions would give Espada the flexibility to shuffle lineups and keep players fresh during what’s shaping up to be a grueling stretch run.
The Astros have shown they can win despite adversity, but even the most resilient clubs need reinforcements. O’Hearn’s having a career year at exactly the right time for both himself and any team looking to make a postseason push.
Whether Baltimore’s willing to deal within the division – and what it would cost – remains to be seen. But for a Houston team that’s defied the odds this far, adding an All-Star caliber bat might be the move that puts them over the top.
