Astros slammed by insider for 'biggest overpay' at trade deadline

The Houston Astros were one of many teams that added pieces to their roster at the trade deadline. Their biggest move of the year was the trade for left-hander Yusei Kikuchi.

Kikuchi is 4-9 in his 22 starts with a 4.75 ERA, and he was ultimately brought in to stabilize a rotation that has been decimated by injuries.

Houston is without Justin Verlander, Jose Urquidy, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, and Cristian Javier.

However, the Astros paid a hefty price to land Kikuchi, and Jim Bowden of The Athletic threw some shade in their direction for the package it took.

"Even in such a seller's market, Houston paid too steep a price for a rental starter, let alone one who isn't pitching well," Bowden wrote on Friday. "And the Astros gave up three good prospects for him. "Righty Jake Bloss, 23, has a shot to develop into a solid starting pitcher, similar to Kikuchi, outfielder Joey Loperfido, 25, is at least an average major-league player, and infielder Will Wagner, 26, has strong bat-to-ball skills and makes consistent contact."

The Astros gave up a lot to land Kikuchi, and it might have been too steep of an asking price for a middle-of-the-rotation starter who isn't having his best year.

To be fair, as Bowden mentions, it was a market that heavily favored the sellers rather than the buyers. There weren't a lot of top-level players available, which made the prices for rentals even steeper.

But Houston may have gone a little too far with Kikuchi, who is a free agent at the end of this season.

The Astros sit at 56-52 and are tied for the top spot in the American League West with the Seattle Mariners. They needed an arm to have a chance to separate themselves from Seattle.

Kikuchi should help them down the stretch, but it might not have been worth giving up as much as they did for him.

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