The Houston Astros are off to a bit of a slow start in 2025. They are 5-7 through their first 12 games after losing a few key pieces in Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly.
However, they may be back in the mix by the time the trade deadline comes around, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them make an upgrade or two.
The starting rotation needs work. A few pieces are out such as Lance McCullers Jr., Spencer Arrighetti, Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller proposed the idea of Houston making a push for Sandy Alcantara, who is almost certain to be traded by the Miami Marlins.
“Assuming Houston does its usual thing and bounces back from a slow start—the Astros have had a sub-.500 record around April 20 in each of the past four seasons—it might be the singular team most likely to swing big for someone like Alcantara, as a means of both improving the current rotation and preparing for Framber Valdez’s likely departure in free agency,” Miller writes.
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The Astros don’t have a lot ready in the pipeline, so that could complicate things. But if they want to catch the Texas Rangers in the American League West, they’re going to have to go big.
This could include them even trading somebody like Cam Smith, their top prospect. Alcantara has two years of club control left plus a club option for 2027, so he wouldn’t just be a pure rental.
And with Valdez hitting free agency, a move such as this would make sense if the Astros are trying to contend and make a push for the postseason in 2025.
Alcantara has made two starts this year with the Marlins. He’s 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA in those starts.
The two-time All-Star and former Cy Young is back from Tommy John surgery and looks like his old self again. He could give the Astros a great chance to make a run at the Rangers down the stretch if they trade for him.
We’ll see what they decide to do.
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