The trade deadline is just over two weeks away and the Houston Astros are one of the top teams expected to make a big move before 4 p.m. ET on July 31. Recent rumors have narrowed down the top trade target they're pursuing.
Just before last night's Home Run Derby, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the Astros are likely to go after one of best pitchers in the MLB.
"The Astros have keen trade interest in Reds starter Johnny Cueto, and it appears he may even be their top target, if as expected Cueto hits trade market soon, people familiar with their thinking say."
It was previously mentioned the Astros would prefer to acquire a top rental starter because the cost is much less, which is why Cueto is considered "the most attractive potential acquisition to the Astros at the moment," even over Phillies' ace Cole Hamels, according to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle.
Houston is enduring a bit of a slide having lost eight of their past 10 games, including six in a row to the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays. Their top two starters - Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers - suffered losses to the Rays over the weekend. The club has fallen a half game behind the Los Angeles Angels for the AL West lead.
However, The Astros will not be limited to Cueto. There will be a number of other rentals expected to be on the market, including Scott Kazmir, Jeff Samardzija, Doug Fister, Jordan Zimmermann, Mike Leake and more.
And perhaps a few more attractive options could be made available.
"The Cubs and Astros are among the many teams that could target the Padres' starting pitchers," FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal said over the weekend. "Astros' manager A.J. Hinch previously worked in the Padres' front office. Padres' Tyson Ross is under club control through 2017 and he would carry the most value of that group."
San Diego has a solid cast of starters with Ross, James Shields, Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy. Shields, Cashner and Kennedy are having less than stellar campaigns, which could lower the Padres' asking price. The only soon-to-be free agent out of these starters is Kennedy, while Shields is under contract through 2018, Ross through 2017 and Cashner through 2016.
The advantage of acquiring Shields, Ross or Cashner would give Houston an option in the rotation beyond 2015 and they wouldn't have to worry competing with other big market clubs in the offseason when everyone will be looking to sign a top starter.
However, like the Reds, the Padres have still not declared themselves sellers at this point in July. San Diego has fallen to 41-49 and 10 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Padres' GM A.J. Preller depleted the organization's farm system with his countless acquisitions this offseason, and if he's looking to replenish that new area of weakness, then the Astros could be the perfect trade candidate.
"Any team possessing an available pitcher wants to deal with the Astros," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "The Astros are in great position to land anyone if they're willing to pay the price of prospects - and they have a ton of them."
Expect the trade rumors to pick up after the All-Star break.
