With the August 3 trade deadline approaching, Houston may need to move money off its books to make a significant addition, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Rome named first baseman Christian Walker and right-hander Cristian Javier as the two most likely trade candidates if the Astros go that route.
Walker is owed $20 million next season and carries a limited no-trade clause. Despite a recent 10-for-64 slump, he remains one of just four qualified Houston hitters with an OPS-plus above league average, and his value as a power bat from the right side would appeal to a market short on that profile. Javier, who carries a $12.8 million luxury-tax salary, lost his rotation spot after an early-season shoulder injury and hasn’t pitched in relief since July 19; his three appearances back have all come in games Houston trailed by at least three runs.
Houston has already created some financial flexibility this month by sending Lance McCullers Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers, a trade Rome reports was influenced in part by a direct call from owner Jim Crane, who asked McCullers to waive his no-trade clause. Brown acknowledged afterward that the move was made partly for financial reasons.
Rome’s broader reporting suggests Houston has little real interest in moving its top difference-makers. Dealing Jeremy Peña, Josh Hader, Isaac Paredes, or Hunter Brown could fetch a substantial return given how few sellers exist at this deadline, but doing so would likely end Houston’s playoff hopes outright, something general manager Dana Brown isn’t willing to risk with his own contract set to expire after the season.
Brown reiterated that adding an outfield bat remains the top priority, softening his earlier preference for a left-handed hitter. On the possibility of trading from organizational depth to fund an addition, he said: “Ultimately, if we can take from our major-league surplus, whether it’s some of the pitching we have coming back or some of the minor-league guys that we have full control over, we will do what we need to do to try and add.”
Houston entered its series against Chicago last week with the lowest outfield OPS in the majors, per the Chronicle’s Matt Kawahara, underscoring the specific need Brown has flagged.
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