Everyone in baseball, from reporters to fans to front-office personnel, appears to be unable to imagine a scenario in which the Houston Astros may be sellers at this year’s trade deadline. And it’s understandable that a team has advanced to the league championship series seven years in a row. But what if the Astros perform so poorly that they force their own hand?
After Monday’s sad loss to the San Francisco Giants, Houston is now 30-36, 5.5 games out of a playoff berth in the American League. What if that number increases to eight games by the end of July? Or even ten? Perhaps it’s time to consider dealing third baseman Alex Bregman.
Bregman, a 30-year-old third baseman who has played on two Astros World Series teams and is already a franchise icon, will be a free agent after the 2024 season. Given the club’s rising budget, many anticipate Bregman will leave in free agency, effectively losing him for nothing if he is not dealt. So, as implausible as it may appear, it’s worth considering potential Bregman trade targets in case the Astros decide to do the unthinkable.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs may be the most under-the-radar team looking for third-base help at this year’s trade deadline. Christopher Morel was granted the job out of camp this season after trying out for a variety of positions in 2023, though his most common position by far was DH. This season, he is not only the weakest defensive player in the league, with -11 outs above average, but his offense appears to be deteriorating as well (.702 OPS, compared to.821 in 2023).
So, even if the Cubs do not want to completely abandon the Morel third base experiment, wouldn’t it make sense to bring in a rental this season to help shore up the position in the meantime? And you won’t find a better rental than Bregman, who not only has the second highest OAA among third basemen at four, but also has postseason experience, which this untested Cubs core urgently needs.
And, while Chicago is currently under.500, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which they would sell, especially given the unpredictable condition of the National League Wild Card race. They’re desperate to taste postseason baseball again, and with a five-game winning streak, they may have complete control over their playoff fate. If all it takes to get Bregman is a couple prospects from the back part of the team’s top 10, they should seize the opportunity.
San Diego Padres
Yes, I understand. The Padres appear to have no need for another infielder right now. However, Manny Machado appears to be struggling on both offense and defense this season. Even before trading for Luis Arraez, the Padres appeared to be seriously considering making Machado the primary DH. But what if Xander Bogaerts remains out, or another infielder is hurt before he returns?
Regardless of the roster pressure, it appears like this year’s Padres club has more decisions to make. The Friars are in the top ten in virtually every offensive metric, but not in almost any. The AJ Preller era in San Diego has been all about preparing to win a championship, which normally requires an exceptional offense rather than one that is decent but not great.
And, of course, it feels strange to move Bregman from one sub-.500 squad to another that has been hovering right around the.500 mark. But we must understand where the Padres are in their franchise history. Yes, they’ve been attempting to cut salary, but they might force the Astros’ better prospects to eat some of the money, which won’t be too much given that it’s only half a season. Furthermore, Los Angeles Dodgers fans already despise Bregman for his involvement in the 2017 World Series, so he would fit right in with the brown and gold.
New York Yankees
I am only recommending this because I want to see the world burn. Yankees fans despise Alex Bregman and everybody who played for the Astros in 2017, so Brian Cashman’s actions are difficult to accept. But…maybe he should?
The Yankees are a tremendous baseball club this season, perhaps the best in the league at the moment, but it doesn’t ensure success the rest of the way. For example, consider the 2022 Yankees, who were dominant in the first half but struggled to maintain above.500 after the All-Star break, culminating in an embarrassing ALCS sweep over Houston. This club has major faults that need to be addressed, the corner infield offense being the most obvious.
Another reason this cannot happen is that the Yankees would be loath to provide the Astros with any potential lifeline, so trading prospects would be tantamount to treason. However, if the Astros hit rock bottom and trade Kyle Tucker, it is less likely, as they would be less of a contender next season. Again, it is not occurring. Unless…
