Astros Listed as Potential Fit for $21.05 Million World Series Hero

Astros Listed as Potential Fit for $21.05 Million World Series Hero image

The Houston Astros have played well in June and sit at 48-33 on the season. That’s good for the second-best record in the American League.

They’re also leading the AL West by 6 1/2 games over the second-place Seattle Mariners.

But here’s the problem: their pitching staff has been decimated by injuries. The starting rotation especially. They’ve got seven pitchers on the injured list right now.

That’s where Walker Buehler comes in. Sports Illustrated’s Nick Selbe listed the right-hander as a trade candidate and pegged the Astros as a possible fit.

“Buehler’s numbers to date look like a massive disappointment until you realize they’re more or less in keeping with what he did in his final year with the Dodgers. His postseason heroics might have made the Red Sox brush aside his regular season struggles, and perhaps they’ll buoy his trade value for a contending team looking for someone who’s proven capable of getting outs in October, either as a starter or in relief.”

Let’s be honest – Buehler’s struggling with Boston this year. He’s 5-5 with a 6.29 ERA in 13 starts after signing a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Red Sox.

The thing is, he’s got that postseason pedigree. If teams come calling, that’s why.

The 30-year-old veteran has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, but he also has a mutual option for 2026. So if a team does acquire him, they’ll have the option of keeping him around for one more year.

Remember last fall? Buehler won Game 3 of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Yankees. Then he closed the door in Game 5 to clinch the series.

There’s still value here. He’s won two World Series titles and made the All-Star team twice.

For Houston, he could significantly boost thier rotation and give them somebody who can eat innings and keep the team in games.

What makes this different is the Astros’ current situation. They need arms, and they need them now if they want to make another playoff run.

We’ll see if Houston shows interest when trade discussions heat up.

Luke Bennett avatar
Luke Bennett
4 months ago