Adding Bat Should Be Houston Astros’ Top Priority

With the MLB Trade Deadline just days away, the Houston Astros’ focus has remained on adding more pitching. However, with as many glaring holes the lineup currently features, adding a bat is crucial to the success the Astros want to obtain on the way to a postseason run.

In the latest rumors making the rounds around the internet,the Astros are said to be making a pushto nab Philadelphia Phillies aceCole Hamelsin a deal that would undoubtedly give them the best rotation among A.L. teams with the addition ofScott Kazmir— who was acquired last week in a trade — to go along withCy YoungcandidateDallas Keucheland rookie fireballerLance McCullersJr. Even though getting Hamels would be a fantastic get for Houston, going out and trading for a bat that will contribute to the starting lineup immediately should be a higher priority.

The Astros expect to get infielderJed Lowrieback in the near future as well as hopefully seeingGeorge Springerreturn to the lineup sometime during August (though likely September). That having been said, the team is still in need of a consistent bat that can help take some of the pressure off of the pitching staff when the offense goes into a home-run drought.

As it stands, Houston has multiple holes in the lineup offensively at third base inLuis Valbuena, first base withChris Carter,Jason Castroat catcher and in center field withJake Marisnick. Defensively,Preston Tuckerdoesn’t look cut out to be manning the position for a team in the playoff hunt.

Theoretically, keeping Marisnick and Castro in the lineup for defensive purposes is fine if you can find a way to add an upgrade with the bat at another position.

Lowrie coming back to play first or (hopefully) third is a step in the right direction, but until Springer gets back, upgrading left field should be the move Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow addresses first.

Tucker is a liability, at best, on defense in the outfield and, as it tends to do, the ball is finding him more and more as of late.

Even though it makes sense with him being left-handed with experience at the position, as well as one of the better hitters in the lineup from a numbers standpoint, Tucker is apparently not an option to move to first base, according to Evan Drellich in anarticleabout a week ago. Unfortunately, that leaves him as the odd-man out unless the Astros dive into the market for a first baseman, which doesn’t seem likely unless they are ready to give up on Singleton.

Adding a corner outfielder gives the Astros more flexibility in the future when Springer comes back, being able to moveColby Rasmusfrom right field to center and making Marisnick the fourth outfielder/late-inning defensive replacement, or just letting Springer take over center field himself.

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