July is almost over, meaning there's just over a week to go before the 2025 MLB trade deadline. Boasting an AL West-best 59 wins as of Wednesday morning, the Houston Astros will likely spend the next eight days figuring out ways to upgrade their roster as they target a third World Series victory since 2017.
Trades can't be made without sending assets back the other way, meaning the Astros will likely have to trade away a veteran or two if it means having a stronger lineup. It wouldn't be surprising if a handful of Houston players are shipped out of town in the coming days, including one outfielder who's struggled to meet expectations.
Astros OF Chas McCormick Won't Survive Trade Deadline in Houston
With the way he's been inconsistently performing this season, Astros fans wouldn't be shocked if Chas McCormick is on the move before the July 31 trade deadline.
McCormick is a former 21st-round pick by the Astros who has spent nearly a decade in the franchise's system. He worked hard to eventually crack Houston's roster, with his best performance coming in 2022 when he set career-highs in home runs (22), RBIs (70), stolen bases (19), batting average (.273), OPS (.842), and WAR (3.4)
Unfortunately, injuries throughout the last two seasons have caused his performance to decline, and his 2025 performance encapsulates that fact. Through his first 40 games (57 at-bats), McCormick is only slashing .246/.317/.281 with two RBIs and five walks without a home run. He's also been caught stealing more times (3) than he's successfully stolen a base (2), and his minus-0.6 WAR is on pace for the worst output of his career.
It'd be one thing if McCormick were showing signs of life, but that hasn't been the case. His .200 batting average and .472 OPS in his last 21 games are noticeably below his season-long averages, indicating that his performance is worsening as time passes. A player like that, especially if he continues to decline, shouldn't be in manager Joe Espada's plans come October.
With a 2025 salary of $3.4 million, one year of arbitration remaining, and the ability to play all three outfield positions, McCormick is the type of veteran who could draw interest from clubs with a weaker outfield than the Astros. A potential trade deadline deal would help Houston recoup a prospect or some cash for the struggling OF, which makes a lot of sense if they don't intend to re-sign him when he hits free agency in 2027.
Astros fans will know more about McCormick's future in Houston within the coming days. Having said that, it doesn't look like he'll be on the roster when the calendar flips to August.