Houston Astros: Team should just say no to a Jose Abreu trade

The Houston Astros have worked their way into 60 wins on the season and I think they still may players on the trade market before the deadline of July 31. The latest rumor is that they’re interested in first baseman Jose Abreu. What’s going on?

The Houston Astros have worked tirelessly to contend for the World Series in 2018 as well. This team is even better than it was last season and the pace that they’re on at the moment is right that they were for last season.

There have been instances just like last season where the team would struggle to find to offense, likely equating to some losses, especially if the bullpen didn’t hold up their bargain to protect the marginal lead the offense could muster when the bats were silent.

But over the past couple of months, that’s changed as the offense has come alive. Evan Gattis is going out of his mind, Alex Bregman is hitting stride at the right time while the rest of the offense is falling into place. The Seattle Mariners are hot on the heels of the Houston Astros but they’ve been able to maintain their leadership by 3.5 games.

Did the Chron’s Chandler Rome feel that Jake Marisnick was blocking Kyle Tucker‘s imminent promotion? Robert Land with Houston Sports Talk talks with the beat writer about it all and more here:

What a difference to last season. This team had a double-digit margin over the closest team, the Los Angeles Angels and had a lock very early into the season and thereafter. It won’t be as easy this season but if they continue their current trajectory, I don’t see any reason why the Houston Astros shouldn’t take the division once again.

Since June 7 and through to the All-Star Break, the team will face the likes of the Chicago White

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Sox, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Oakland A’s, Tampa Bay Rays, Arlington Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays. All of these teams — at the time of this writing — have a combined 268-355 record which has allowed this team to pile up a lot of wins along the way.

But enough of all of that. According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Houston Astros are actually considering trading for another first baseman and the latest rumor is that it’s for veteran Jose Abreu. Abreu is currently in Houston for this current series the Houston Astros are undertaking so the scouting team is getting a first-hand look at how he can help.

This notion actually makes me chuckle because we don’t necessarily need Abreu with the tremendous amount of depth we have at the position. I’d welcome it but I’m not willing to part ways with key farm pieces just to get a guy that will likely be a rental through the rest of the season.

The team is past the halfway point so Abreu’s $13 million salary for 2018 would be pro-rated to about $6.5 million this season which is certainly cost-effective, considering the production that he outputs.

But Yuli Gurriel has been terrific at first base plus his bat has been a boon for this offense. He hit a home run yesterday and there’s no reason why we should tweak that position. You can always stick Marwin Gonzalez there and Gattis could spot start — not my first choice — there if the situation warrants.

Gurriel’s slash line is .303/.336/.439 through 307 plate appearances while Gattis (.257/.315/.517 through 295 PAs) and Gonzalez (.304/.358/.663 through 315 PAs) can still provide considerable help at the position.

But Abreu has been hitting .260/.316/.451 through 373 PAs. I wouldn’t look into that much for stats because a change of scenery will certainly give him a boost, especially if he were to come here but all in all, we don’t need him because I don’t feel he’s necessarily the piece that will steer us to a World Series.

Connor Byrne of MLB Trade Rumors writes that the 31-year-old Abreu has been a valuable mentor during the team’s rebuilding phase and that they’re likely unwilling to make a move to send him packing. But if the Houston Astros offer the right package, who’s to say it won’t happen?

Next: Astros: The deal that will land Raisel Iglesias

We’ll have to see but Cafardo has indicated that the Houston Astros are making strong overtures toward the White Sox in regard to the availability of services.

We need help in the bullpen and that should be Priority #1 for this team!

Stay tuned folks.

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