Help Wanted: A Left-Handed Hitter, Preferably A Slugger

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

With Jacob Melton back in the lineup on Monday, the Astros only had 17 players on the IL. In my book, that’s progress, albeit a baby step. For a team that needs healthy bodies in a bad way, I am not too picky at the moment about who returns first. And Melton’s return at least provided another left-handed bat in a lineup that sorely needs a left-handed presence. I mean, it is painfully obvious.

(Note: Stats are through July 28, 2025)

Not having the left-handed Yordan Alvarez, one of the best hitters

in the game when healthy, definitely skews this graph. But it also shows that the Astros are nearly devoid of any notable left-handed hitters without him. In terms of lineup balance and matchups, that’s not an ideal situation, especially if you reach the postseason with this obvious issue still present. Opposing managers have recognized this roster construction issue, reflected in Houston having the fewest plate appearances this season against left-handed pitchers (748). This is a lineup in desperate need of a left-handed bat, preferably one with some pop. Even Dana Brown admitted recently that they would likely have to “trade from the major league roster” to possibly acquire an impact player, with him specifically noting a left-handed hitter that can play the infield.

I have no idea what Brown and Jim Crane will do by the trade deadline later this week. Crane has, in the past with Jeff Luhnow, surprised us with an unexpected addition at the deadline, most notably acquiring Zack Greinke from the Diamondbacks in 2019. There is also the first trade for Justin Verlander back in August 2017, although that swap occurred at the now-extinct waiver trade deadline. The key difference between then and now is that the Astros no longer have a highly rated farm system. But the front office would be prudent to explore opportunities to improve the roster.

The Rays’ Bradon Lowe immediately comes to mind as a possibility, or the switch-hitting Willi Castro from the Twins. The Astros have been linked to both players in various trade rumors lately. Either one of those hitters would be a solid addition to the lineup and provide additional balance in the middle of the order. But the cost of acquiring either hitter could prove prohibitive, especially for an organization light on top prospects at the moment.

Of course, there is the question of whether the Astros should pursue a trade for the present at the expense of the future. VBallRetired presented a case for standing pat, and there is certainly merit to that stance. The organization, again, has relatively few options to trade that can return quality players. Would it be wise to sacrifice more of the future for this season? The luxury tax also remains a factor, with the Astros only $1.917 million below the first threshold of $241 million according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Barring a decision from Crane to surpass it for a second consecutive season, something unheard of in his ownership tenure, then salary will also have to go out to avoid the tax.

Trading from within the roster, as Brown noted, is a possibility, but even that has limitations. Even with this recent skid, the Astros hold a three-game lead in the AL West and will hopefully have additional reinforcements from the IL returning soon. Frankly, there also isn’t a lot of surplus on the roster at present. But Lowe does have a club option for $11.5 million in 2026, while Castro has one more year of arbitration remaining after this season, so any trade involving those two players could benefit both this year’s team and the 2026 roster. In theory, you can justify a trade for either player if the plan is also to have them contribute to the 2026 roster, or whoever else that might fit in that similar mold.

I’d argue that the Astros should prioritize acquiring a left-handed bat at the trade deadline. Even with their recent struggles, they are still contenders in the AL West with some reinforcements on the horizon. Since this is likely Framber Valdez’s last season in Houston, and with Hunter Brown pitching like an ace for most of the year, it would be a mistake to pass up a key opportunity to improve the roster. Jose Altuve isn’t getting any younger either. Fortune tends to favor the bold, and I believe the organization should follow that path. That said, there are real constraints, which leave me uncertain whether, despite my hopes, a trade will actually happen.

More from crawfishboxes.com:

• Verlander Regression? Astros Trending: Week in Review, June 28-July4.
• Astros Prospect Report: July 5th, 2018
• Game Recap: Never Settle, Never Quit. Springer, Gurriel Get the Clutch Hit.
• Houston Astros Sprinting through Stretch of Weaker Competition
• Astros Trade: James Hoyt to Cleveland, Tommy DeJuneas to Houston
• Astros Prospect Report: July 4th, 2018
• The Astros Have the Best Bullpen in Baseball.