The Houston Astros are about to hit a temporary pause in the season when the 2025 MLB All-Star break takes place next week. It's the last major stop on this year's schedule before the MLB trade deadline, which will go into effect on Thursday, July 31, meaning it might not be long before the Astros start wheeling and dealing to try improving their World Series odds.
Spots in Houston's lineup are limited, though, meaning a familiar face or two will have to be moved if it means adding reinforcements to help with a playoff push. Several Astros are candidates to be moved in the coming weeks, including one veteran reliever who's failed to meet expectations this season.
Astros RHP Kaleb Ort Is Entering Final All-Star Break in Houston
With less than three weeks to go before the trade deadline, veteran relief pitcher Kaleb Ort is one of the likeliest Astros to be moved.
After stints with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles, Ort was claimed off waivers in May 2024. He went on to make 22 relief appearances with Houston and quickly gained the fan base's praise, pitching to a 2.55 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 24 2/3 innings. It was a performance that left fans hopeful that he'd pick up from where he left off once the 2025 campaign began.
After an oblique injury delayed his start to the season, Ort hasn't come close to looking like the 2024 version of himself. His ERA has ballooned to 5.54 across 28 appearances (26 innings), all while tallying his most walks (4.5) and fewest strikeouts (8.7) per nine innings since his rookie season.
Although his recent performances have been better, Ort's future in Houston is far from secure.
World Series can only be won with the most reliable pitching staffs, and Ort hasn't done much to instill much confidence this season. It wouldn't be surprising if the Astros were open to replacing him with a more consistently reliable arm in the coming weeks. The fact that he's arbitration-eligible through the 2029 season could be enticing potential suitors who want a cheap arm under team control.
Unless he proves himself to be invaluable soon, Ort's time with the Astros could end sooner rather than later, making him a player Houston fans should monitor before the deadline.