Astros named as top trade destination for two-time Cy Young winner

Making the American League Championship Series seven times in a row is no small feat. But to the Houston Astros, all that matters is running that streak to eight.

After a putrid start to the season, in which they had a 7-19 record early on, the Astros are above .500 and in first place near the end of July. With most of their championship core still intact, the Astros hope to cement their dynasty with a third World Series title this century.

However, unlike in previous seasons, the Astros are far from a lock to make the playoffs. Entering play Friday, Houston was 53-49, just one game ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West and behind a group of four other teams fighting for the Wild Card.

Jim Bowden, a former MLB general manager and current insider for The Athletic, named the Astros as one of his top destinations for 2023 Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in a potential trade.

"With Garrett Crochet unlikely to be traded now and Detroit’s asking price on Tarik Skubal so high that he probably doesn’t get moved either, trading Snell makes a lot of sense because he could be the best starting pitcher available at the deadline," Bowden said.

Snell, 31, has the stuff to be a game-changer for any team that acquires him. With the San Francisco Giants slipping to fourth place, a trade makes sense from a seller's perspective. But Snell has also had anything but a normal season in 2024.

After signing with the Giants too late to join the Opening Day roster, Snell has battled injuries and inconsistency for most of the year. But he's throwing the ball much better lately, signaling to teams that he could be rebounding to Cy Young form.

Because Snell signed a contract that includes an opt-out after this season, trading him is more complicated than it is for most starting pitchers. Bowden said the deal would likely have to involve a "significant" player to be named later.

"It’s not known if he’ll opt into his 2025 salary ($30 million) or elect to re-enter free agency," Bowden said of Snell.

If Snell is indeed dealt, the Astros could certainly use him. They currently have starting pitchers Justin Verlander, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Luis Garcia, and Lance McCullers Jr. on the injured list.

A willing deal takes two sides, and the Astros and Giants certainly both have some decisions to make. They have until 6 p.m. on Tuesday to make a deal happen.

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