The Houston Astros are used to buying at the trade deadline. And this year, even with a farm system ranked near the bottom of baseball, they’re still expected to be active. They sit three games back of the Mariners in the AL West and 1.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. That’s close enough to push.
But here’s the thing. The Astros don’t have a deep stash of prospects to dangle. So instead of dumping young guys nobody’s heard of, they might trade from the big league roster. And one name that’s starting to pop up in conversations is reliever AJ Blubaugh.
A Reliever Who Goes Long
Blubaugh isn’t your typical one-inning arm. The right-hander has been stretched out to throw multiple innings out of the bullpen. Before the All-Star break, he tossed at least two frames in nine of his final 11 appearances, according to MLB.com. That kind of versatility is gold for a contender looking to patch up a tired pitching staff down the stretch.
He throws hard. He can eat innings. And he’s under team control, which makes him even more appealing to a club that wants to win now but also keep payroll manageable. That combination — power stuff, durability, control — is rare. And it’s why Blubaugh’s name keeps simmering in trade rumors even if he’s not a household name.
Dealing From the Majors
The Astros have already kicked off trade season. They sent starter Lance McCullers Jr. to the Brewers on Thursday. That move signals they’re willing to move pieces from the active roster to retool. Blubaugh could be next.
Now, the Astros aren’t going to trade him for peanuts. But if a contender comes calling with a bat or another bullpen arm that fits a need, Houston will listen. The front office has never been shy about making moves. And with the July 31 deadline getting closer, expect Blubaugh’s name to keep floating around.
He may not be the biggest star in Houston’s clubhouse. But right now, he might be one of their best trade chips.
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