Houston Astros deal veteran right-hander to division rival in surprise move

Everyone in the baseball world was stunned when the Houston Astros got off to such a bad start, which really jeopardized their chances of making the playoffs.

As people in and around their clubhouse stressed the fact that it was still early in the season and they had been hit with a litany of injuries, there was optimism that things would work out eventually. to change.

But as starters returned and losses continued to pile up, the noise that the Astros were indeed becoming sellers at the deadline began to grow louder and louder.

As they return home for a huge 10-game homestand, it’s imperative that Houston put together a string of performances that start to get them back on track.

So far, so good for the Astros as they won the first three against the Oakland Athletics with an opportunity to sweep on Thursday.

However, before this game, Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors reported some interesting news that Houston had sent veteran right-hander Brandon Bielak to the Athletics in exchange for cash.

This is a surprising decision for several reasons.

Not only is this a trade within the AL West division, but it also sends a Major League caliber arm who has a career 4.65 ERA in 70 games for the Astros since 2020, including 21 as holders.

The 28-year-old has struggled this year, posting a 5.71 ERA in 10 appearances before being designated for assignment last week.

However, considering the injuries this pitching staff has already dealt with this season, it’s certainly an eyebrow-raising move.

Houston just sent another player that was part of the Triple-A/MLB bubble in Corey Julks.

It’s surprising to see a team with championship aspirations shed depth instead of adding it this time of year.

We’ll see what happens, but on paper, the Astros just shipped away two depth players who have Major League experience.