The Houston Astros may be sitting near the bottom of the AL West, but that does not mean they are getting ready to sell before the MLB trade deadline. Recent talk around the league has linked Houston to possible trade moves, and some fans have even wondered whether star slugger Yordan Alvarez could become available. However, comments from MLB insider Ken Rosenthal and Astros general manager Dana Brown suggest the team still believes it can turn things around.
What Ken Rosenthal revealed about the Astros' trade deadline plans
Speaking on Foul Territory, Ken Rosenthal said Houston is not acting like a team ready to wave the white flag. Instead, the organization wants to see what happens after getting important players back on the field.
"This team, in this league, the American League again, is not going to concede easily, and I don't necessarily see them conceding at all," Rosenthal said.
He also pointed out that Houston still has areas it wants to improve, especially in the outfield. Even so, the front office is not expected to make a quick move.
"They do need to upgrade the outfield; they do need to work at some other areas as well. But Hader is back now, Altuve is back now, they want to see how they perform over the next six weeks or so before addressing what might be some needs. I'm sure they're out there looking and exploring the outfield market, but again, I don't know that I expect anything to happen really quickly," Rosenthal added.
Those comments suggest the Astros will spend the next several weeks gathering information before deciding how aggressive they want to be at the deadline.
Astros remain confident despite disappointing start
Houston's 31-37 record has created plenty of concern. For a team that has regularly competed for division titles and deep playoff runs, the start has been far below expectations.
Still, the Astros believe their season can change quickly. The American League has been inconsistent, and Houston feels it remains within striking distance if the roster becomes healthier and starts playing better baseball.
The return of veterans such as Jose Altuve and Josh Hader is a major reason for that confidence. The organization hopes their presence can help stabilize the team during an important stretch of the season.
Dana Brown shuts down Yordan Alvarez trade rumors
One of the biggest rumors making the rounds involved Yordan Alvarez. However, Astros general manager Dana Brown made it clear that moving the star hitter is not being discussed.
"We've gone through some injuries, but now other teams are starting to feel some of the pain that we felt, right? And so we feel like we have an opportunity to win the division and go deep into the postseason. So we've had zero discussions internally with our baseball operations about moving Yordan," Brown told MLB.com.
Brown's comments leave little room for doubt. Houston still views Alvarez as a key part of its future and believes the club can remain in the playoff race.
What could happen next for Houston?
While the Astros are expected to explore outfield options and other roster upgrades, there is no sign that a blockbuster sell-off is coming. Instead, the front office appears willing to wait and see whether the current group can gain momentum.
If Houston improves over the next several weeks, the team could become a buyer at the trade deadline. If the struggles continue, the conversation may change. For now, though, the message from both Rosenthal and Brown is clear: the Astros still believe they have a chance to compete.
