HOUSTON – Hey guys, it’s Ari Alexander with the Astros, and it is a big week ahead with the Texans Rangers coming to town, plus a series against one of the best teams in the American League in the Tampa Bay Rays.
TUCK & CHAS
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July has been an incredible month for both Kyle Tucker and Chas McCormick, and with the looming return of Yordan Alvarez, the Astros may be able to make an argument for baseball’s best outfield if McCormick continues strong production.
Chas is hitting .373 in July with a 1.221 OPS and five home runs. He already won an AL Player of the Week Award.
Kyle Tucker has been hot for over a month now, but in July he’s hitting .391 with a 1.248 OPS with six home runs including his first career three-homer game.
WHAT’S UP AT THE TRADE DEADLINE
I’m being told a lot of teams are moving slow due to some potential extension offers before teams go all in on selling.
The St. Louis Cardinals are shopping starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty, the former of whom would be expensive but could be of interest to the Astros.
The Chicago White Sox are “open for business” per a source, and willing to pay down some of Lance Lynn’s salary to move him. Lynn has had an awful season but is bringing a high strikeout rate, and may be a name to watch aside from the obvious and expensive Dylan Cease and Luis Robert.
I would like to see the Astros come away with four new players:
- one bat
- one starter
- two relievers
One name I like as a cheap secondary reliever - Tigers righty (and former Astro!) Jose Cisnero. He was having an incredible season, but is having an awful July. He will be cheap and a change of scenery could help. He’s got high fastball spin, something the ‘Stros typically look for. You could pair him with All-Star starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in a trade.
HEY SIRI
Jose Siri, who the Astros traded last season as part of the Trey Mancini deal is back to Houston while having a phenomenal season for the Rays. “El Rayo” - The lightning, is leading Tampa Bay in home runs with 20 and hitting for an OPS+ of 122. His batting average and on base percentage are low, but his power output and elite defense make him a high floor player.
Siri lost the three-way battle for centerfield among himself, Jake Meyers and McCormick partially due to low 2022 production and partially due to his on field flashiness. He’s been a most-time starter in center field for Tampa Bay, with playing time similar to McCormick and will get his World Series ring this week.