The Houston Astros are still very much in the American League playoff picture with the MLB trade deadline approaching, but as a team below .500, they are certainly in an awkward position.
While the Astros may look to add some pieces, they could also look to sell high on others, and in terms of the latter, Zachary Rotman of FanSided ultimately believes that Houston is “guaranteed” to trade relief pitcher AJ Blubaugh between now and Aug. 3.
Blubaugh has developed into a reliable multi-inning option out of the Houston bullpen, logging a heavy workload while posting solid results. What makes him particularly intriguing to other organizations is his background. He reached the majors as a starter in the Astros system and has shown the ability to handle longer outings even in relief.
That dual-role flexibility raises his appeal for clubs that might prefer to stretch him back out as a starter or use him as a high-leverage multi-inning arm.
At the same time, Houston’s farm system ranks among the thinner ones in baseball, leaving general manager Dana Brown with limited prospect capital when shopping for upgrades. In that environment, a cost-controlled, big-league-ready pitcher like Blubaugh becomes a logical chip to move if the return can address clearer roster holes.
Those holes are obvious. The Astros have struggled to generate consistent production from their outfield and have also dealt with instability in the starting rotation.
Adding a bat who can handle everyday work in the grass or a starter who can eat innings would strengthen their chances of climbing back into the American League wild-card picture. Blubaugh’s combination of youth, remaining team control, and minor-league options makes him the kind of piece that rebuilding clubs often target when dealing with contenders.
Trading him would not be painless; he has been a steady presence in a bullpen that has needed reliability. Yet the potential to turn that reliability into a solution at a position of greater need aligns with the pragmatic approach Houston has taken in recent years when resources are scarce.
Rotman’s broader framework places the Astros among the clubs expected to buy rather than sell, which is consistent with their history and ownership’s competitive instincts.
Still, even buyers must part with something of value to improve. In Blubaugh’s case, the decision would reflect a calculated bet that the return outweighs the loss of a versatile arm who has already proven he belongs in the majors.
Whether that return arrives in the form of an outfielder who can hit left-handed pitching or a starter who stabilizes the rotation, the logic is clear.
With the deadline days away, Blubaugh stands as the most realistic candidate for Houston to deal, a reflection of both his rising stock and the Astros’ need to create leverage where their farm system cannot.
