Houston Astros trade lands young, former elite closer

The Houston Astros have fought back and once again appear to be a real playoff threat, meaning they could be buying at the upcoming trade deadline rather than selling.

While expectations are heavily weighted towards making certain moves, the next big question is what they should add.

A growing need is someone who can make an impact in the bullpen, as Josh Hader has started to show cracks once again.

Signing a free agent to a historic contract didn’t go as well as Houston wanted, so any new moves would likely have to be for cheaper, high-upside players.

Zach Pressnell of FanSided has proposed an intriguing trade that could make sense for the Astros, even if the player isn’t at the top of his game right now.

The deal would see Houston send right-handed pitcher Jose Fleury and outfielder Colin Barber to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for closer Camilo Doval.

Although Doval is in a bit of trouble, getting him at a low price might be too attractive to pass up.

The San Francisco closer has a 4.38 ERA and 17 saves in 39 relief appearances. It was the worst season of his career. He is allowing hits and walks at higher rates than ever, with a 1.622 WHIP.

While those numbers don’t exactly scream “trade him now,” the idea is that he has a good track record and this could just be a rough patch.

In each of his first three seasons, Doval posted an ERA of 3.00 or lower. He rarely allowed home runs and displayed great control of his pitches.

Looking under the hood this season, it seems like he might be a little unlucky. His xERA is well below his ERA, marking the first time he’s seen such a gap in the wrong direction. His xFIP isn’t much higher than it has been in the past, either.

But not everything is excusable. He has allowed hits in each of the last four games, six in total, and has issued two walks. A mistimed walk in the final game before the break wiped out a 2-0 lead, forcing the Giants to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. That kind of thing can’t happen with any hope of sustained success, especially after a shaky stretch.

The 26-year-old is still under team control through the end of the 2027 season, making him a potentially valuable asset for the next few years if things improve.