Here are some under the radar trade targets for the Houston Astros:
OF Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals (28): Nootbaar is a solid OBP corner outfielder whose season only started June 5 due to offseason surgery on both of his heels, which has impacted his ability to run the past couple of seasons. When healthy, as he appears to be, Nootbaar is a good defender as well.
Nootbaar is a heavy side of the platoon player as a lefthanded bat with some pop. Nootbaar is currently batting .270 with a .353 OBP and .769
OPS in 26 games.
Nootbaar is on a 1 year, $5.25M contract and has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
OF Trevor Larnach, Twins (29): Larnach is currently having his best season as a pro. His .292 AVG, .387 OBP and .833 OPS would all be career highs. He is currently pacing for career bests in runs scored and doubles as well.
Larnach is not a fast runner, so left field is his best outfield position, and his range is well below average. He makes up for it with an accurate throwing arm.
Larnach is patient at the plate. Minnesota has a logjam of lefthanded hitting outfielders and is in need of bullpen help.
Larnach is on a 1 year, $4.475M contract and has more year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
SP Clay Holmes, Mets (33): Holmes has reinvented himself as a starting pitcher the last 2 seasons after spending his first 7 years coming out of the pen. In 9 starts this season, Holmes was 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.10 WHIP before a line drive comebacker struck him in the leg and landed him on IL with a fracture.
Holmes was putting up career best numbers before the injury. He is currently expected to face live batters in about a week and go on a rehab assignment later this month with an expectation of an early August return.
Holmes is in the 2nd year of a 3 year, $38M contract in which he makes $13M this season and has a player option for $12M next year that he is a virtual lock to opt out of, making him a rental type player (and a cost of acquisition to reflect that).
RP Luke Weaver, Mets (32): Weaver has been absolute nails out of the pen for the Mets this season, with a 2-1 record with 1 Save in 36 appearances. Weaver has a miniscule 1.89 ERA and terrific 0.84 WHIP, with 42K in 38 IP.
Weaver is exactly the kind of high-leverage righthanded pen arm the Astros need, especially with Bryan Abreu’s issues this season. Adding Weaver to Hader/King/Okert would give the Astros pen more depth and balance, and help them truly shorten games in which they have a lead.
As a member of the Yankees pen the past 2 seasons, he is well versed in pennant race pressure.
Weaver is in the first year of a 2 year, $22M contract. He is making $9.5M this season and is scheduled to make $12.5M next season.
SP Michael Wacha, Royals (35): Wacha has been the leading workhorse in the AL this season, with a junior circuit-high 114.2 IP. Not only is he eating innings, he’s pitching well, reflected in his 5-6 record, 3.45 ERA and 1.16 WHIP on a weak Royals squad.
Wacha is not a strikeout pitcher, and he has an average groundball rate. He succeeds with a six-pitch arsenal that keeps hitters off balance.
Wacha is in the 2nd year of a 3 year, $51M deal. He is making $18M this season, $14M next season, and has a club option for $14M in 2028 with a $1M buyout.
