Astros Trade Rumors: MLB analyst reports Houston eyeing Pete Alonso, Christian Walker and Cody Bellinger for 1B fix
The Houston Astros have a first base problem. They've had it for years. They attempted to fill that void with a former MVP in Jose Abreu, but he didn't pan out. Even with a year and a half left on his contract, they released him and moved on. Prior to that, he was one of the worst players in baseball.
That leaves them once again with a void. Despite a horrible start to the season, they're currently well within range of a playoff spot and could still win the division. That means they might want to be aggressive buyers at the deadline, and the latest reports suggest they're looking at a few star first basemen.
The Houston Astros, maybe as late as a month ago, were expected to be sellers at the deadline. They were near the bottom of the division and had several players that might have made good trade candidates.
Now, they're going to be the ones buying, and they've reached out to several teams with regards to adding a first baseman. Among those teams are the New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. This is according to MLB analyst Jim Bowden.
The Astros have an interest in a lot of players, but they're really looking to go for a big-name first baseman. Per Bowde, Cody Bellinger, Pete Alonso and Christian Walker are their top targets.
Desired trades may be challenging for Astros to pull off
The mentioned names are among the best first basemen in the sport. Christian Walker has been red hot recently for the Diamondbacks. Pete Alonso is an All-Star, and Cody Bellinger is one of the best defenders in baseball. These deals might cost a lot, especially Walker and Bellinger.
Alonso is on an expiring contract. However, none of these teams are that far removed from a playoff spot. In fact, some are in a similar spot as the Astros. That only drives the price up, and it could make things difficult.
However, the Astros are hot right now and have been to seven ALCS in a row. They know they have what it takes to do well in the postseason, so adding a big name at any cost might not be so damaging to them.