Here’s a fact that shouldn’t surprise anybody: the Houston Astros are currently leading the American League West standings.
As has been the case the past few years, the Astros find themselves the kings of the west at the All-Star break, a four-game lead over the Seattle Mariners.
The team being obvious buyers at the trade deadline in a couple of weeks, they should also be on the lookout for some weak links of their group to weed out.
And according to House of Houston, that could involve the team finally dealing away starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.
While the 2017 All-Star has been a crucial part of what the Astros have become over the past decade, the team should know when to say goodbye, and that time is now.
McCullers’ first games of performing since the 2022 season haven’t exactly gone as expected, a 2-4 record with a 6.48 earned run average.
After showing that he is capable of higher standards and better performance, especially in the postseason, this should definitely come as a sign to the two-time World Series champions that it’s time to part ways with the right-handed pitcher.
In trading the McCullers, the team should simply keep their sights set on nailing down a solid starting lineup that can get them through to the postseason and eventually the World Series as they fight for a third one, and avoid what happened last year, being eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Detroit Tigers.
