Here’s What a Perfect Trade Deadline Would Look Like for the Houston Astros

As the MLB trade deadline draws closer, the Houston Astros are becoming an increasingly interesting team to watch.

The Astros continue to win and become a team that will be more aggressive in acquiring talent. They are now 50-44 and just one game behind the Seattle Mariners in the race for the American League West.

Dana Brown has several needs to fill before the deadline, if possible. One is adding another starting pitcher and the other is adding a big hitter, ideally at first base.

If Houston can solve those two problems, it will have a legitimate chance of qualifying.

That being said, let’s take a look at what an ideal trade deadline would look like for the Astros. It would only take two moves.

Acquire starting pitcher Chris Bassitt from the Tampa Bay Rays

To solve the rotation issues, Houston should look to acquire Chris Bassitt. The Rays starting pitcher would be a major acquisition for the Astros and would be exactly what the team needs to become a more serious contender.

During the 2024 season, the 35-year-old pitcher started 19 games. He compiled an 8-7 record, along with a 3.52 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 100 strikeouts and 107.1 innings pitched.

Bassitt may not be a superstar, but he’s a very consistent pitcher. Making a move to acquire him would be a wise move, even if there are other good pitchers Houston could also consider.

Make a successful trade for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Second and finally, the Astros need to acquire a first baseman and a big-time hitter. What better way to do that than to acquire both in one go?

The Toronto Blue Jays would prefer not to trade Guerrero, but they don’t have much time left with him. He’s set to become a free agent after the 2025 season and negotiations for an extension haven’t gone well. Trading him now and getting significant value might be the best move.

Guerrero could single-handedly take Houston’s offense to the next level. He’s played in 93 games this season, hitting .287/.360/.448 with 13 homers and 54 RBIs.

If the Astros were able to acquire Guerrero, they would have a new face for the franchise. Not only would he help Houston be competitive this season, but an extension would allow him to continue to propel the team to success for years to come. This is the best move Brown and management could make.