The Houston Astros entered the season with more questions than ever before, losing Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and others during the winter. For an Astros organization that’s been the best in the league over the past decade, it’s questionable that the front office and ownership didn’t look to spend money this winter.
Due to not spending, the Astros are playing below-average baseball and sitting in fourth place in the American League West. However, the Astros are just two games behind the first-place Texas Rangers, and if they start to play better, things could change for them.
That’s why they need to be all over a player like Louis Robert Jr., with a clear need in the outfield. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report recently named him one of MLB’s top eight trade targets, and the Astros trading for him makes perfect sense.
“Luis Robert Jr. is absolutely going to be available this summer, as it makes no sense for the still-disastrously-rebuilding White Sox to keep him around for the rest of this season, nor to exercise the $20M club option to bring him back next year.
“The unknown is whether he’ll play well enough for a contender to take on what will be around a $5M prorated salary for two months, plus at least a $2M expense against next year’s payroll,” Miller wrote.
With the Astros having to play guys like Jose Altuve in the outfield, adding somebody like Robert could change this lineup and defensive situation.
While the 27-year-old hasn’t played well this year, hitting .145 with just two home runs, when he’s been on the field and healthy throughout his career, he’s proven to be a star talent.
