For the Houston Astros, there are a few key needs in the buildup to the MLB trade deadline. One of the main needs is, of course, in left field. But, the Astros could also use more bullpen depth, especially one who can be a long reliever.
In a piece for Bleacher Report, Joel Reuter presented a trade proposal that would net the Astros both of those pieces. Reuter predicted that the Astros would call up the Los Angeles Angels and land outfielder Taylor Ward and reliever Reid Detmers.
The cost for both would be Astros prospects Joseph Sullivan (6th-ranked prospect) and A.J. Blubaugh (9th-ranked prospect). With the Astros looking to contend in 2025, moving both prospects for Ward and Detmers makes sense.
Ward has been linked to Houston before, as the Astros are in the market for a left fielder. The 31-year-old might be the Astros’ best option, as he’s under team control through 2026 and is owed $7.83 million in 2025.
In his 81 games this season, Ward has 67 hits, with 20 doubles, one triple, and 20 home runs. His .481 slugging percentage is great, but his .216 batting average is holding him back from a great offensive season. Even with such a low batting average and his .287 on-base percentage, Ward still has a .768 OPS and a 111 OPS+.
At this point, Ward is a well-known commodity. The same can’t be said for Detmers. The 25-year-old lefty has transitioned from the rotation to the bullpen. In his stint as a reliever for the Angels, Detmers has a 4.21 ERA.
While not great, his 2.79 FIP helps show how good Detmers has played this season in his new role. Whether it’s bad luck or bad defense behind him, Detmers is pitching better than his ERA indicates.
The Astros’ bullpen isn’t as big of a need as left field, but Detmers would provide a nice complement to Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu. Not only is Detmers a young option, but he’s also under team control through 2028.
This trade proposal from Reuters would land the Astros a new left fielder, as well as another reliever. While relievers may not be the highest priority, adding more depth is always something to consider, especially for a team with World Series aspirations.
Even though the Astros are giving up two top ten prospects in this trade proposal, the players they are landing are more than just rentals. They are multi-year investments that fill out key needs. This potential deal would bolster the Astros’ roster and help push them towards another World Series ring.
