Houston Astros: Sellers
Why: The Astros are 32-50, and 13.5 games out of first place. The team entered the season in rebuilding mode, so the fact they are sellers should come as no surprise.
Who can they deal: The Astros are facing a lengthy rebuilding process, and should trade off any veterans who won’t be part of the next winner in Houston. The Carlos Lee trade confirmed the Astros are employing this strategy.
The sole purpose of moving Brett Myers to the closer spot was so he might be a more attractive trade chip at the deadline. The 31-year-old reliever has been average this season, and is still owed about $6 million. As the Astros showed in the Lee deal, they may be willing to eat some of that salary if they get a decent return.
Wandy Rodriguez should also garner some interest. Rodriguez has quietly been a very good -- yet underrated -- pitcher. His K/9 has dropped to 5.76 this year, but he’s still been effective. On top of the $5.5 million he’s owed the rest of this season, Rodriguez is set to make $13.5 million next year. That could scare off some teams, meaning the Astros may need to take on some of his remaining salary.
Who they should keep: Jed Lowrie and Jose Altuve have combined to give the Astros one of the strongest middle infields in the game. The team will likely also hold on to catcher Jason Castro and pitcher Jordan Lyles. Neither has been impressive this season, but both are young and still adjusting to the majors.
Verdict: Since the Astros' new regime -- led by Jeff Luhnow -- was put in place, the team has been firmly committed to rebuilding the talent on the roster and in the farm system. The Astros don’t have any superstars to offer, but they should still be able to acquire some young, promising players.
