Breaking news:Three Trade Deadline Missteps by Dana Brown That the Astros May Come to Regret…
The Astros made moves to improve by acquiring Yusei Kikuchi, but now that the deadline has passed, it’s evident that Dana Brown may have some regrets about his decisions. Here are three major regrets Brown is likely to have upon reflection.
**3. The Astros will regret not significantly improving the bullpen**
The Astros made two moves around the trade deadline: the high-profile acquisition of Yusei Kikuchi and a lesser-known trade for Caleb Ferguson from the New York Yankees.
While Ferguson was once considered a solid left-handed reliever with the Los Angeles Dodgers, his performance with the Yankees has been underwhelming, with a 5.13 ERA in 42 appearances. The Yankees, a team in the playoff hunt, decided to part ways with Ferguson, which suggests they didn’t see him as a valuable asset. If he were truly effective, they might have kept him or traded him to a non-rival team.
The Astros rely on their trio of Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly, and Bryan Abreu for late-game situations and have received some good work from Tayler Scott and Seth Martinez. However, if they were going to address their bullpen, they could have pursued a more impactful upgrade.
There were options available beyond expensive rentals like Carlos Estevez and Tanner Scott, or controllable pitchers like Lucas Erceg and Jason Adam. Andrew Chafin, who ended up with the Texas Rangers, could have been a more significant addition. Although the bullpen isn’t the Astros’ biggest weakness, Ferguson’s addition was not a game-changer.
**2. The Astros will regret not securing a first baseman at the trade deadline**
The Astros began the season with high hopes for Jose Abreu as their primary first baseman. However, Abreu struggled so badly that he was demoted and eventually released, despite being under contract through 2025.
Jon Singleton has stepped in at first base, putting up a .229/.313/.347 slash line with eight home runs and 26 RBIs over 84 games. While Singleton has performed better than Abreu, his 86 OPS+ indicates he’s a below-average hitter and offers limited defensive value.
The market for first basemen was limited, with top options like Pete Alonso and Christian Walker remaining with their teams as they contended for the playoffs, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. staying put. The only first baseman to move was Josh Bell, who, despite a down year, could have been an upgrade over Singleton. Bell has been hot recently, hitting five home runs in his last seven games before being traded to the Diamondbacks.
While Houston’s lineup should still be strong when Kyle Tucker returns from the IL, upgrading first base would have been a relatively straightforward improvement. Unfortunately, the Astros missed an opportunity to acquire Bell by only needing to offer some cash.
**1. The Astros will regret trading a large package for Yusei Kikuchi**
One of the most debated moves of the deadline was the Astros’ trade for Yusei Kikuchi, where they gave up three promising prospects. The main concern isn’t that they went all-in on a rental but that they traded two of their top prospects, Joey Loperfido and Jake Bloss, for Kikuchi.
Kikuchi has posted a 4.75 ERA over 22 starts and 115.2 innings this season. While his 3.66 FIP and 4.00 xFIP suggest some bad luck, Kikuchi has never been more than a mid-rotation pitcher. If the postseason started today with a healthy Justin Verlander, Kikuchi might not even make the rotation. Questions about whether Kikuchi is a significant upgrade over Bloss or if the trade was worth it linger.
The Astros needed to bolster their starting rotation, and a more reasonable price for Kikuchi might have been acceptable. However, trading Loperfido, Bloss, and another prospect, Will Wagner, for just a few months of Kikuchi seems excessive.
If the Astros were willing to trade such valuable prospects, they could have targeted a higher-profile pitcher like Jack Flaherty or sought a starter with more club control. The decision to give up so much for Kikuchi, who offers only a marginal improvement, raises concerns about the trade’s wisdom.
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