With the Astros Buying, What Does Their Perfect Deadline Look Like?

The Houston Astros appear ready to go for it one more time after telling teams there’s no point in asking about Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, as of June 21.

That leaves the Astros in a weird spot with a few glaring holes to fill, a weak farm system and a 43-46 record. But the historically weak American League means they’re still in the thick of the AL West and Wild Card hunts.

Here are Houston’s top priorities and some reasonable targets to fill each need.

Priority #1: Right-Handed Hitting Outfielder

It would be preferable if this target could play center field, but that’s not a requirement.

Taylor Trammell has been an above-average hitter (114 wRC+) in center field, but he has been injured and inconsistent throughout his career. Also, his 33.0% strikeout rate makes it hard to believe this will work long-term. Joey Loperfido has been passable in left field (83 wRC+), but both Trammell and Loperfido are left-handed.

Cam Smith has been underwhelming in year two (91 wRC+), while Jake Meyers (65 wRC+) and Brice Matthews (55 wRC+) have been dreadful at the dish as right-handed options.

This lineup needs to be extended, especially with Carlos Correa out for the season and Jose Altuve appearing to finally feel the impact of age.

Potential Astros Targets

Taylor Ward (Orioles), Lane Thomas (Royals), Jose Siri (Angels), Austin Martin (Twins), Dane Myers (Reds), Tyler Freeman (Rockies), Tyrone Taylor (Mets), Heliot Ramos (Giants)

Anyone from this group should be relatively inexpensive. It’s a combination of rentals and cheaper options with years of control who could use a change of scenery.

Ward will likely be the most coveted player here as a rental with a 114 wRC+ and 16.5% walk rate. Sure, that’s sapped him of lots of power (five home runs in 400 plate appearances), but Ward will still command a decent return that could price Houston out.

Thomas and Taylor are also rentals with the ability to play center who are in down seasons, meaning they will likely be very cheap. Both also have a history of solid production, and a playoff race could ignite them again.

Martin, Myers, Freeman and Ramos all come with years of control. Martin is elevating himself to an average hitter with the ability to play all three outfield spots and fill in at second base. Myers has been a lefty killer, but will be harder to pry away from Cincinnati with TJ Friedl having been brutal at the plate.

Freeman is also a versatile defender who has been a little above average at the plate, and Ramos is a below-average fielder who could wear out the Crawford Boxes if the Giants are willing to move on.

Siri has two years of control left and has been as hot and cold as any hitter in baseball since debuting. He could return to where it all started and provide a jolt.

Perfect deal: Houston gets Taylor Ward, Baltimore gets RHP Bryce Mayer, OF Anthony Millan

Realistic deal: Houston gets Lane Thomas, Kansas City gets RHP Jackson Nezuh

Priority #2: Starting Pitcher

With the Spencer Arrighetti Cy Young campaign seemingly over, it’s time to focus on getting Hunter Brown some help.

Mike Burrows has had some serious growing pains after coming over from Pittsburgh (5.58 ERA in 90.1 innings), while Tatsuya Imai looked like he was starting to turn things around until a disastrous outing on Wednesday.

Peter Lambert has been great for the first time in his career, but shouldn’t be counted on too much if a postseason run is in the cards. Kai-Wei Teng, like Arrighetti, started solid in 2026 and has fizzled out over the last few starts. He’s now on the IL.

Lance McCullers Jr. is working his way back from the injured list. Cristian Javier is nearing his return as well, although he’ll pitch out of the bullpen for the time being. Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski are both unlikely to return this season.

It’s time to add another arm, and get creative to do so.

Potential Astros Targets

Trevor Rogers (Orioles), Patrick Sandoval (Red Sox), Casey Mize (Tigers), Michael Wacha (Royals), Seth Lugo (Royals), Yusei Kikuchi (Angels), Zac Gallen (Diamondbacks), Brady Singer (Reds), Nick Lodolo (Reds), Michael Lorenzen (Rockies), Ryan Feltner (Rockies), Mitch Keller (Pirates), Nick Pivetta (Padres), Robbie Ray (Giants), Tyler Mahle (Giants)

It’s a very long list because there are so many rentals who could be useful in this rotation. And the thing with rental pitchers is you need them to be good for three months, which is about 15 starts.

Rogers, Mize, Gallen, Singer, Lorenzen, Ray and Mahle all fit into that mold. Mize is having the best season (2.63 ERA in 65 innings), but he might not get dealt if the Tigers climb back into the race. Ray has a 3.39 ERA in 95.2 innings, which could make him a bit expensive for the Astros.

The others, Rogers, Gallen, Singer, Lorenzen and Mahle, have all underperformed this season and would be low-risk, high-reward options.

Sandoval, Pivetta and Kikuchi are currently all injured and rehabbing, but could be pried away for the right price. A Pivetta deal would require the Astros to take on money and likely send back more major league talent, so it might not quite be the right fit.

Keller falls in the same bucket as Pivetta contract-wise, though he’s been healthy and performing a little below league average. The Pirates have been open about trying to get off that contract for a few years, and now could be the right time.

Wacha and Lugo are both performing well, and both are on the hook for money next season. If a team, in this case Houston, is willing to take on that cash, the prospect price could get within reach.

Feltner is a shot at the classic “get him out of Coors and see what happens” strategy. He’s got solid stuff and has been a decent out-getter, but the longball can be a problem in the thin air in Denver.

Perfect deal: Houston gets Robbie Ray, San Francisco gets C Walker Janek, OF Joseph Sullivan, RHP Jose Fleury

Realistic deal: Houston gets Zac Gallen, Arizona gets OF Lucas Spence, C Will Bush

Priority #3: Depth Infielder

Nick Allen and Braden Shewmake are both below-average hitters and solid defenders. Shewmake is currently injured, while Allen just came off the IL. Other options include the aforementioned Matthews and Raynel Delgado as the backup infielders, which isn’t ideal.

This addition can be a cheap option, maybe even with years of control, who can help raise the floor of this team.

Potential Astros Targets

Romy Gonzalez (Red Sox), Gavin Lux (Rays), Ildemaro Vargas (Diamondbacks), Matt McLain (Reds), Willi Castro (Rockies), Connor Norby (Marlins), Joey Ortiz (Brewers), Brett Baty (Mets), José Tena (Nationals)

The emphasis here is on low-cost, versatile infielders. Some of these names are more likely to stay than go, but would be interesting ones to check in on.

McLain, Norby and Ortiz are the top of that list, with all three struggling while possessing enough versatility to be useful. McLain has played at an All-Star-level in the past, and Norby and Ortiz were seemingly messed with too much in Baltimore and stalled out.

Lux has been injured and hasn’t played this season, and Gonzalez only just returned. Both could likely be had for a low cost.

Vargas is a rental and got off to a scorching hot start this season, but he has cooled off considerably since. Castro is another veteran whose role in this league appears to be as a trade deadline acquisition.

Baty and Tena both have worn out their welcome in their current spots after failing to develop past the utility player role.

Perfect deal: Houston gets Matt McLain, Cincinnati gets OF Zach Cole, RHP Gabel Pentecost

Realistic deal: Houston gets Brett Baty, New York gets OF Anthony Huezo

Priority #4: Reliever(s)

Welcome to any MLB trade deadline, where every contender could use a reliever or two. Some will be rentals, some will have control and many will move.

If the Astros are going for it, they’ll need to stock up on a few arms. The list of potential targets would be plentiful if they were all listed out, so here’s a shortlist of bullpen options who could help this team in leverage.

Potential Astros Targets

Tyler Wells (Orioles), Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox), Danny Coulombe (Red Sox), Tyler Holton (Tigers), John Schreiber (Royals), Kirby Yates (Angels), Brent Suter (Angels), Kevin Ginkel (Diamondbacks), Jonathan Loáisiga (Diamondbacks), Taylor Clarke (Diamondbacks), Ryan Thompson (Diamondbacks), Tejay Antone (Reds), Brock Burke (Reds), Caleb Ferguson (Reds), Antonio Senzatela (Rockies), Brooks Raley (Mets), A.J. Minter (Mets), Dennis Santana (Pirates), JT Brubaker (Giants)

These are just the names who could be high-leverage arms if dealt, leaving the Astros with plenty of options. The most unlikely targets are Whitlock, who will command a very high price, and Holton, who has a few years of control left.

Any of these guys would work and would likely just be a one-for-one swap or require a couple lottery tickets in return, but the most interesting name is Senzatela. He has a $14 million club option for the 2027 season with no buyout. If he continues pitching to his low-3.00s ERA, that number could become very enticing for a team. Houston could take on all the money for a lesser return if the front office and ownership feel bold.