Houston Astros: Team’s pursuit for Noah Syndergaard is starting to cool off

The Houston Astros are still trying to pry away Noah Syndergaard from the New York Mets but talks have cooled between the two. What’s going on?

Houston Astros fans — we now are six days away from the MLB trade deadline and the drama that comes with it is going to get even better as things get closer to such a red-letter date.

It’s different this season — there’s no “waiver” trade deadline as in the past that would occur Aug. 31, everything now has to be completed by July 31.  So this means teams will be in frenzy to try to get their deals done before this date.

At this point in time, we know who the buyers are going to be and which teams that are waving the white flag, becoming the sellers.

We know that the Houston Astros aren’t one of those teams in the seller’s pile as they have the assets to move in a deal that could improve this team immensely.

It’s no secret that the Houston Astros want to get grab a quality arm — or two — before the deadline to help fill out the taxed, back-end of the pitching rotation.  Brad Peacock is expected to be out until mid-August so time is of the essence for the team to bring in some help so that bullpen doesn’t have to work as hard whenever things get to the bottom of the pitching rotation.

So far, they’ve been able to use rising prospect Jose Urquidy in a few starts — with last Saturday’s nine-punchout performance being noteworthy — and having Josh James, Rogelio Armenteros handle the heavy lifting at the start of games.

So far, it’s working but this is not the situation that Jeff Luhnow envisioned but he’s still done a masterful job — in cohort with AJ Hinch — in ensuring that there still is some decent pitching on the bump after Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Wade Miley take their turns.

I wrote a few weeks back — you can view here — about the Houston Astros targeting Noah Syndergaard and that is still the case at this moment but the situation has been subdued because the Mets’ asking price is likely way too high.

Andy Martino of SNY.tv writes that “Houston’s engagement is not heavy at this point,” so it may be clear that the team has somebody else in their crosshairs.

Syndergaard has other potential suitors with Martino reporting that the New York Yankees are at the top of the list.  This follows by the San Diego Padres, the Milwaukee Brewers; and to a lesser extent, the Minnesota Twins.

Rumors have also linked the Houston Astros to the Detroit Tigers’ Matthew Boyd as well as the

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Robbie Ray but nothing has materialized from those targets.

Syndergaard still has not been all that hot from the mound and I also talked about the crappy run support he’s getting, likely having an effect on his numbers.

But who knows what could happen if the Houston Astros were to strike a deal with the Mets and bring him into the fold?

Verlander’s career has been jolted and Cole could very well be a Cy Young candidate every season he’s with the Houston Astros.  Let’s hope he decides to stay with the team after this season.

I think Syndergaard would be a terrific addition to the team but there are so many forces at work that make a deal for him difficult, so I’m hoping for the best.

Come on Jeff!

Syndergaard, 26, possesses a 7-5 record, a 4.33 ERA while tossing 126 strikeouts off 61 earned runs through 126.2 innings pitched in 20 starts.  He’ll certainly have to work on improving his 3.64 FIP and 1.26 WHIP.