The Houston Astros Need To Be Sellers

The Houston Astros have been having a surprisingly poor season. They haven’t had a record above .500 at any point this season. Particularly, their normally stout pitching staff has either been injured or ineffective. Given that Houston’s farm system is ranked toward the bottom of the league, it wouldn’t hurt to be a seller at the deadline. While GM Dana Brown has maintained the team won’t be a seller, he ought to rethink that decision.

The Houston Astros Are Struggling This Season

To the joy of the 29 other fan bases, the Houston Astros have struggled badly this season. Houston has yet to have a record above .500 and they are out of first place by ten games. They are also out of a wild card spot by seven and a half games. Their normally stout pitching staff has either been injured or ineffective. Currently, six regular starting pitchers are on the injured list including two who are lost for the year. The Astros also have a losing record against teams with a .500 or better record. Houston even released Jose Abreu despite still owing him more than $30 million.

Houston’s Contention Window Is Closing

While Astros fans are reluctant to admit it, their current contention window is closing, and nobody stays on top forever. Given how far they are behind the postseason race, Houston must be a seller at the deadline. The Astros’ farm system is ranked 27^th and has no prospects inside the top 100. To contend consistently, a team must always have something coming through their farm system. If Dana Brown is smart, he’ll reload the minor league system.

It’s A Good Year To Be Selling At The Deadline

It’s a good year for the Astros to be a seller as more teams will be looking to be buyers at this year’s trade deadline. This means that Dana Brown and the front office will have all the leverage when it comes to making a deal. They’ll perhaps be able to get more significant returns than normal. The cupboard isn’t barren at the MLB level; Houston has plenty of players that can fetch lots of value in return.

Alex Bregman will be a free agent after this year. Bregman’s agent is Scott Boras making a return to Houston uncertain. Ryan Pressly has been struggling this season and will more than likely not be brought back in 2025. However, teams are always looking for bullpen help, and Houston would be smart to get some value back for Pressly. Justin Verlander has been hampered by injuries all year and his best years appear to be behind him. The Astros would be smart to get some value back in return for Verlander while they still can. If Houston wants to speed up their retool, Kyle Tucker could fetch a significant haul if they make him available.

The Astros Should Learn From The Philadelphia Phillies

The Astros can learn something from the Philadelphia Phillies. From 2007-2011, the Phillies made it to the postseason every year. However, after 2011, Philadelphia tried to keep their run going and ended up not returning to the postseason until 2022. If Houston decides to not make any moves or attempts to be a buyer, they could meet the same fate as the Phillies. Nobody in Houston wants to experience another “Lastros” era.

If Things Go Right, It’ll Be A Quick Retool

The smart move for the Houston Astros is to be a seller at the deadline. If things go right, it won’t be long until they’re back in the postseason. Owner Jim Crane needs to put his Texas-sized ego aside and understand that the contention window is closing. The Astros have plenty of players who can bring back significant value in return. Any other move made aside from selling is wrong and will have disastrous consequences for the franchise in the future.

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