The Houston Astros know they have a chance to win the American League pennant this season even ahead of the Detroit Tigers or whoever comes out of the AL East.
This is an Astros team that has dealt with a lot of injuries, but has a talented roster. One way the team can get even better is upgrading the middle infield and either demoting or cutting ties with Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers has gotten most of his work at second base for Houston, but he’s yet to make the most of it. His slash line as of the All-Star break is a mere .191/.266/.278 with two home runs and 11 RBI.
He’s only recorded 115 at-bats so far this season, so it’s not the largest sample size in the world, but it’s enough to show he isn’t producing the way he should be for a contender.
The Astros only signed him to a one-year deal worth $2 million, so the organization wouldn’t even be losing out on much if it chose to designate him for assignment.
Houston has been moving star Jose Altuve around between left field and second base. He’s much more comfortable at second base, but the Astros have nobody else who can swing the bat well enough to play left. Cooper Hummell and Taylor Trammell, the other two outfield options, are hitting even worse than Rodgers.
Rodgers isn’t getting it done, so the organization must do one of two things before the trade deadline passes: find someone to play second base and keep Altuve in left field or move Altuve to second base and acquire a left fielder.
If the Astros bring in an infielder, Ramón Urías from the Baltimore Orioles is versatile and has a little more pop in his bat. If they choose to push for an outfielder, Taylor Ward or one of the two Boston Red Sox outfielders who could be dealt (Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu).
Houston has played this jigsaw puzzle for far too long this year, and it’s a game the organization can’t continue to play heading into the playoffs.
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