Houston Astros Trade Rumors: Checking In On Justin Wilson

The Houston Astros haven’t made a splash this off season, they’ve created a wave!

Who am I talking about?

I’m talking about the signings of Charlie Morton, Brian McCann, Nori Aoki and last but not least Josh Reddick.

Yes, the World Series is over and the Houston Astros are hot to trot in light of hopefully an eventful off season in terms of improving this baseball team.

As I watched the Chicago Cubs secure their first championship in 108 years, I thought to myself as far as when it’d be OUR turn.

I know it’s coming but will it be soon?

That remains to be seen.

But, at the moment, the Astros are extremely committed to trot out a winner this upcoming season.

The Astros transitioned through the Winter Meetings last week with a lot of talk but no action.

They continued to flirt with the Chicago White Sox about Jose Quintana but I’m sure they tried to back the Astros in a corner by indicating that Alex Bregman would have to be part of a potential deal.

Of course, the Astros declined.

It would be foolish to trade Bregs at this time because his better days of baseball are just getting started and we’d regret that deal for years to come.

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Plus, it would leave a significant hole at third base that would costly to replace just based off his projected production at the position.

But anyway — the Astros are still dead-set on adding to its pitching staff and it’s possible — although unlikely — they get a deal done before the end of 2016.

But here’s the latest.

According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Astros have contacted the Detroit Tigers about reliever Justin Wilson:

#Astros have spoken with #Tigers about reliever Justin Wilson, source says. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 13, 2016

Wilson, considered to be one of the hottest gems on the trade market is now the object of affection for the ball club.

And rightfully so…

Although this news comes as a tad bit surprising considering that we have lefty in the bullpen as far as Tony Sipp.

But you never know what Jeff Luhnow has up his sleeve.

Could Sipp be included in a trade to get Wilson here or is looking for more depth in the bullpen?

I’d like to think it’d be the preceding part of my aforementioned sentence.

Why?

Wilson still has two years of team control left and with his massive production, the Astros can possibly get him with minimal expense.

Wilson, 29, posted a 4.14 ERA, 65 strikeouts, a great 3.18 FIP, an excellent 10.0 K/9, a decent 1.330 WHIP through 58.2 innings pitched and through 66 games in 2016.

In addition, Wilson made $1.525 million last season and is projected to make $2.7 million in his arbitrated salary for 2017.

That’s a hell of a bargain considering the large amount of production the Astros will get for him.

Would the Tigers take on Sipp’s $6 million per salary through 2018?

That remains to be seen but it depends who we’d get in return.

We’ve got Brady Rodgers, Jandel Gustave, David Paulino, Kyle Tucker, Derek Fisher, Daz Cameron and Colin Moran to deal — I’d be more than willing to part with some of these guys.

That’s what prospects are for!

Next: A Post-Winter Meetings Look At The Projected 25-Man Roster

I’d be more intrigued if the Tigers dangled starter Mike Pelfrey who is at the back-end of a two-year, $16 million deal.

A move like that would address the depth issues we have on the pitching front.

Regardless, it’s good to know the Astros remain on the aggressive front even after the Winter Meetings.

Will they get a deal done?

It remains to be seen.

And the waiting game begins — go Houston Astros.

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