Brown searches for right trades to make
General manager Dana Brown repeated Tuesday that acquiring a starting pitcher is a top priority for the Astros ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline. But in a new admission, Brown said adding bullpen help may be equally important.
“If we can get starting pitching, because we want the innings to get through the season, that would be great,” Brown said. “But the thing is the bullpen piece could be just as big. Because our guys are taxed a little bit. … I would value a starter and a (reliever) very close in terms of ranking.”
Adding a starter has been a stated goal for weeks for Brown, who said Tuesday the Astros are also still in the market for a lefthanded hitter to balance out their heavily righthanded lineup. Injuries to Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers Jr. and José Urquidy in the first half led the Astros to delve into their rotation depth and deploy several rookie starters. Hunter Brown and J.P. France are on pace for careerhigh workloads, as is Cristian Javier, underscoring Brown’s point about needing to cover innings in the second half.
Bullpen workload is also of some concern, though. The Astros have relied heavily on four high-leverage relievers. Entering Tuesday, Bryan Abreu had pitched in 49 of 101 games for Houston and Phil Maton in 48. They led American League relievers in appearances.
Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly had each worked in 45 games. No major-league bullpen totaled fewer innings than the Astros’ last season. Only three had fewer in 2023 entering Tuesday, but the load shouldered by those four relievers is notable.
“They’ve answered the bell,” Brown said. “They’re one of the reasons we are where we are right now. If we can get them a little bit of help down the stretch, that would be important.”
Relief help may be more readily available than rotation help. Brown described high demand for starting pitching around the league.
Asked if the Astros would prefer to add a starter with team control beyond this season, especially with Garcia and McCullers potentially sidelined into next season, Brown said that would be “great,” but such a pitcher is “not always available” and “you may have to deal with a rental.”
A starter with additional team control could also command a higher asking price.
Brown said he believes the Astros have the prospect capital required to add that type of pitcher, but said with fewer teams positioned as clear sellers, even a week away from the deadline, the “price tag early on was so high” for non-rentals that it has led teams to play a “waiting game.”
“We’re in touch with almost every club, particularly the ones that are out of the race,” Brown said. “But right now, we just don’t know how it’s going to play out, because there are so many buyers, and there’s few sellers. We just don’t know right now. But we are active.”
Brown said he is “very optimistic” that the Astros, who entered Tuesday two games back of the Rangers in the division and holding the second AL wild-card spot, will strike a deal before the deadline.
“It could potentially cost you prospects,” he said. “And that’s one of the things we have to monitor closely: Do you want to mortgage the future for a rental?”
Asked if the Astros would consider trading from their major-league roster, Brown said that “if we have to, we will,” but added manager Dusty Baker would have a say in that type of decision.
“I don’t want to say it can’t happen — it could,” Brown said. “But nothing will be done without Dusty’s input because Dusty’s running this team day-to-day and he’s been doing a good job.”
If the Astros were to target a player on a large contract, Brown said they “definitely have space to add” payroll. “And then next year there’s even a little bit more space. But I’m not sure if we’re going to be acquiring that type of player that’s going to require eating up a lot of our budget. I’m just not sure yet.”
Urquidy, out since April 30 with a shoulder injury, is pitching in minor-league rehab games and nearing a potential return. If Urquidy does return, he would give the Astros another experienced starter to bolster their rotation. In pursuing a starter via trade, Brown acknowledged targeting a mid-rotation pitcher who can eat innings “could be enticing,” especially if less costly than a frontline starter.
“We need innings to get to the end of the season and to try to win this division,” Brown said. “We’ve got Urquidy potentially coming back in a week or so, that’s going to help, so we may not need that frontline starter that’s going to require us to give away a lot of prospects.
“Our top three (Framber Valdez, Javier and Brown) are really good. And France has been outstanding. So you take our three big horses and then you put France in the mix, then you get Urquidy back, and maybe just add somebody else that can give you some innings, that could be very sustainable.”
Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez appear set to return soon, offering Houston’s offense a boost. Outfielder Michael Brantley is still attempting a return from shoulder surgery and it is unclear if he’ll be able to play in the second half. Brown said the Astros’ interest in a lefthanded bat is independent from Brantley’s situation.
Urquidy throws 4 shutout innings
Urquidy worked four scoreless innings in a rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday night, the latest step in the Astros righthander’s return from a shoulder injury.
Urquidy threw 53 pitches, 37 strikes, increasing his pitch count in his third minor-league rehab start. He worked two innings in his first start for Triple-A Sugar Land and three innings in his second.
Brown said Tuesday the team plans to have Urquidy make one more rehab start, likely on Sunday, and will “make a decision on when he’s coming back at that point.”
“He’s close,” Brown said.
Urquidy last pitched for the Astros on April 30.
Alvarez, Altuve are nearly ready
Altuve and Alvarez appear on the brink of rejoining the Astros, with the potential that both could be reinstated from the injured list Wednesday for the series finale against Texas, Brown said.
“It looks very promising that both guys could actually be in the lineup” Wednesday, Brown said before Tuesday’s game against the Rangers. “We’ll make that decision tomorrow. But it looks very promising, so I’m excited about that.”
Alvarez last played June 8 due to a right oblique injury. Altuve last played July 3 because of a left oblique strain and has played in just 32 games this season because of various ailments. The two have appeared in 13 games together for Houston this season.
Altuve did pregame hitting and fielding on the field Tuesday and afterward said he feels ready to play in games. Altuve did not have a minorleague rehab assignment and said his preference is to just return to the Astros rather than play in minor-league games to face live pitching.
“I’m not saying I don’t need to … but I don’t want to,” Altuve said at Minute Maid Park. “I’m ready to play here. I really miss playing with my teammates. So I think we’re going to go straight to games.”
Baker also said the Astros will make decisions Wednesday on both Altuve and Alvarez. Brown said he would not have concern with Altuve returning without a rehab assignment.
“He’s a professional and he knows when to amp it up and he knows when to pull back,” Brown said. “He feels like his timing is pretty good. That’s why tomorrow we’ll have a better feel for it.”
Alvarez played in three minor-league rehab games last week with Triple-A Sugar Land, most recently on Saturday. He hit on the field Tuesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park after not hitting with the Astros on Monday.
Alvarez declined to speak with reporters both days.
“These guys have been out for so much of the season that it feels like we’re acquiring two new players,” Brown said. “That’s an impactful thing for this club with what they mean to this club.”