There’s nonetheless seven weeks till this yr’s Aug. 1 commerce deadline, however groups are starting to look forward and determine their most popular areas of improve even with loads of schedule left earlier than that pivotal date. D-backs GM Mike Hazen candidly mentioned a few of his staff’s wants final week, and Astros GM Dana Brown did the identical over the weekend in an look with Robert Ford on Houston’s Sports activities Speak 790 AM (audio hyperlink). Particularly, Brown referred to as a “versatile” left-handed bat who can play each the infield and outfield an “supreme” addition for his membership.

“We’re having conferences about commerce, and if we are able to add a bat, that might be excellent,” says Brown. “We’re not against including one other arm if it is sensible and if the deal is true, however I actually really feel just like the pitching has carried us for essentially the most half this season. If we are able to add a bat, that might be thrilling. … A left-handed bat could be thrilling, however any bat that may hit each side, that’s really good too. By way of place, if you may get a man that may play a number of positions, that might be nice. You might give some guys a while within the outfield, give the primary baseman a day, give the DH a day. Having a man that’s versatile — that might be supreme.”

With Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley each on the injured listing — Brantley has but to even play this season — the one left-handed bat in Houston’s lineup is Kyle Tucker. The Astros even have a primarily right-handed bench, with solely catcher Cesar Salazar providing a lefty stick. The disparity is loads obvious when wanting on the staff’s splits. Astros hitters are batting a powerful .260/.326/.437 in opposition to lefties in 2023 (111 wRC+, tenth in MLB) however have a .241/.310/.382 output in opposition to righties (94 wRC+, 18th in MLB).

Given the seven weeks remaining between now and the deadline, it’s unimaginable to say precisely who’ll be out there that matches that description, although there are some names who appear likelier than others. For instance, assuming he’s again from the injured listing and at full energy by that point, former NL MVP Cody Bellinger may match the invoice. The Cubs are at present 9 video games below .500, and Bellinger is enjoying on a one-year contract.

Extra controllable names who speculatively meet that standards embody A’s slugger Seth Brown (managed by 2026), Tigers utilityman Zach McKinstry (by 2027) and Jays infielder/outfielder Cavan Biggio (by 2025). Oakland’s Brown missed greater than a month with an indirect pressure and hasn’t gotten going to date in 2023, however he’s a profession .240/.311/.483 hitter in opposition to righties. He can play first base and all three outfield spots, and the A’s are after all open to buying and selling nearly anybody. The Biggio title is royalty in Houston, however the versatile 28-year-old has been relegated to a seldom-used bench position in Toronto that leaves each him and the group in a tricky spot. The Tigers most likely plan to maintain McKinstry round given these further 4 years of management, however they’ve misplaced 9 straight and at the moment are 11 video games below .500, so there’s doubtless not a lot to which they’ll be utterly closed off. If the Giants dip out of the race, LaMonte Wade Jr. would match this invoice completely, however San Francisco is barely a half-game again from an NL Wild Card spot in the meanwhile.

After all, we’re nonetheless doubtless weeks away from severe commerce talks percolating. Offers of significance in June are uncommon (albeit not unprecedented), making July a far likelier timetable for commerce exercise to choose up in earnest — notably after the All-Star Sport and MLB Draft are accomplished. As issues stand, the Astros aren’t but even absolutely certain as to once they can count on Alvarez and Brantley again. That pair of timetables will certainly affect the urgency of this pursuit, however even with each at full energy, there’s loads of room for Houston so as to add a lefty bat to supervisor Dusty Baker’s assortment of hitters.