Astros trade rumor reveals 'strong interest' in pair of Rockies outfielders
Article excerpt
The Astros have their sights set on a pair of Rockies trade targets in the outfield.
Astros trade rumor reveals 'strong interest' in pair of Rockies outfielders originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 Houston Astros were once viewed as one of the biggest sellers in the league. But after a resurgence, they are just 2.0 games back in the AL Wild Card and might even be trade deadline buyers.
What this team needs is simple: some more help in the starting rotation and an outfielder. Ideally, that outfielder would be a left-handed-hitting option.
According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Astros are showing "strong interest" in two outfielders from the Colorado Rockies who would be great fits with the Astros in Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy.
Astros have 'strong interest' in Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy
"The Houston Astros, badly needing an outfielder, are showing strong interest in Mickey Monaik and Jake McCarthy of the Colorado Rockies," Nightengale reports.
Both of these Rockies outfielders are left-handed hitters, and they're both under club control beyond the 2026 season. Moniak is under control through the 2027 season, while McCarthy is under control through 2028.
While they would both be quality pickups at the trade deadline, there is a difference between the two outfielders. Moniak, as the younger outfielder and former No. 1 overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2016 MLB Draft, is the most interesting option.
Moniak, in 55 games this season and 188 at-bats after missing time due to injury, has put up 1.0 bWAR with 53 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, 37 RBIs, a .282 batting average, and a .945 OPS with a 142 OPS+.
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McCarthy, in 75 games and 251 at-bats, has posted 0.9 bWAR with 77 hits, 36 runs scored, 16 doubles, five triples, nine home runs, 47 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, a .307 batting average, and an .862 OPS and 123 OPS+.
Both are great outfield trade targets for the Astros, and they really couldn't go wrong with either. But Moniak is the better power-hitter and has been better on a rate basis this season, with his 142 OPS+ being a lot better than McCarthy's 123 OPS+.
If the Astros could walk out of the trade deadline with either outfielder, it would be a huge win. This team has been looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder for a while now, and McCarthy or Moniak might be their solution.
Houston has "strong interest" in both outfielders, and assuming this team winds up in a buyer's position, Dana Brown may be adding one of these outfielders in the next month by the August 3 trade deadline.
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