The Houston Astros are on the verge of being one of the most disappointing clubs this winter. Owner Jim Crane’s self-imposed contract ceiling limits what general manager Dana Brown can accomplish in his first full offseason in command.
The only way they can truly make an impact is through trades, but with one of the weakest farm systems in the league, they don’t have many desirable prospects to make blockbuster deals.
Brown knows this and also knows the value of having a high-end pipeline after his time with the Atlanta Braves.
He already mentioned that they’d like to use more young players on their MLB roster this season to get them more experience and give the veteran players rest throughout the year.
Without many changes expected to take place, one player they seemingly are shopping is star outfielder Jake Meyers.
With the emergence of Chas McCormick and Mauricio Dubon winning a Gold Glove as a utility player, Meyers is viewed as an expendable piece within their organization after being relegated to a backup role late in the season.
The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly interested in more outfield help and Houston might have the piece they’re looking for.
Meyers is an outstanding defender. According to Baseball Savant, he was worth nine Outs Above Average in 2023 and had a three-point better catch rate than predicted.
After slashing, it was his bat that put him in problems with the Astros.Last season, he hit 227/.296/.382 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI.
However, he would most likely be deployed in a platoon position for the Phillies as a right-handed option in left-handed matchups and pinch-hitting situations.
This would allow Houston to reclaim some prospects from Philadelphia, which has quietly begun to construct a good pipeline after being one of the weakest in baseball a few years ago.
The Astros need to rebuild their farm system, and this deal would be the first step.
