Houston Astros superstar considered a trade candidate

The Houston Astros’ difficulties show no signs of reversing. Currently 12-22 and 5-5 in their last 10 games, the Astros find themselves with a quick seven-game deficit in the American League West.

Given what this core has done for much of the last decade, it’s reasonable to assume they’ll realize this. However, almost 35 games into the season, things need to change for the better at some point.

With July approaching faster than it seems, Houston’s front office has some tough decisions to make.

Will they move Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander or anyone else? If they don’t plan to have a future with certain players, moving them now is the right thing to do. The Astros have several players that contending teams would love for a multitude of reasons.

Exploring the top 10 candidates to move during the trade deadline, Tim Kelly of Just Baseball ranked Bregman as the No. 2 option. His No. 1 option, Luis Arraez, was traded to the San Diego Padres over the weekend.

Bregman, a first-round draft pick by Houston in 2015, is a two-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and Silver Slugger. He has been one of the main reasons for the success the franchise has seen in recent seasons, but he will be available in free agency at the end of the season.

Factor in the fact that he’s slashing .202/.284/.269 with just one home run, and moving the recently 30-year-old might be the right move.

An Astros team without Bregman would be an interesting sight. He’s one of the originals, but as fans have seen with Carlos Correa and George Springer, business is business. If this team doesn’t want to contend for the World Series and they don’t want to pay him at the end of the year, it would be a horrible decision for the front office to let him go for nothing.