The Houston Astros had a busy trade deadline. They began small, by acquiring Ramon Urias from the Baltimore Orioles. But, on deadline day, they made two moves, landing Carlos Correa from the Baltimore Orioles and Jesus Sanchez from the Miami Marlins.
These three moves helped bolster the offense in Houston, though the Astros were also in on another left-handed hitting slugger who’d have been a great pickup.
In a recent piece from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, San Diego Padres trade deadline pickups Ryan O’Hearn revealed that of the teams interested in him at the deadline, the Astros were one of them, and they were a preferred destination of his.
O’Hearn Wanted to Head to Texas
The 32-year-old was dealt to the Padres instead of Houston, while the Astros instead went after Sanchez to be their left-handed hitting outfield bat. O’Hearn would’ve been in such a role, but despite his interest in Houston, he wasn’t dealt there.
“O’Hearn thought he would be traded to one of four teams – Boston, Milwaukee, Texas, or Houston.” Rosenthal writes. “He actually asked Orioles GM Mike Elias if he could be sent to one of the Texas teams so he could be closer to his home in Dallas, but knew his request carried only so much weight.”
Being traded to the Texas Rangers or Astros would’ve been O’Hearn’s ideal landing spot. The left-handed slugger was the starting designated hitter in the All-Star game for the American League.
O’Hearn, before landing with the Padres, had a .283 batting average in Baltimore with an .837 OPS and a 134 OPS+. He’s been a little worse since joining the Padres, with his .818 OPS and 126 OPS+.
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While the Astros’ trade deadline pickups have been solid, O’Hearn would’ve been a nice addition. He’s a free agent at the end of the year, so Houston would only have one season with him.
However, evident by his wish to come to Texas to be close to his home, O’Hearn might’ve been more open to staying in Houston instead of departing in free agency.
The Astros were one of the teams interested in O’Hearn, a left-handed hitter who could play first base, designated hitter, or in the outfield. His versatility would’ve been a nice plus for the Astros, especially with all of the injuries the team has dealt with in 2025.
Beyond the Astros’ interest in O’Hearn, the new Padres slugger was interested in coming to Houston at the trade deadline. He would’ve been a nice pickup for the Astros, but their actual deadline haul has been solid, and should help the team make a postseason run in 2025 and beyond.
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