The Houston Astros are in the market for a left-handed hitting batter. General manager Dana Brown has made this need clear, and with the Astros having the fewest at-bats from left-handed hitters, the need is clear.
Yordan Alvarez, hopefully, will be back in the later stages of the season. But, the team could still use a left-handed bat. Whether it's in the infield or outfield, the team needs to swing a deal at the trade deadline.
For ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Astros are the best fit for Baltimore Orioles outfielder and left-handed hitter Cedric Mullins. The 30-year-old would slide into the team's left field or center field spot, and provide a much-needed lefty bat to the lineup.
"Once the left side of the infield gets healthy," Passan writes, "the Astros won't need much, but Mullins -- who, since a scorching April, has hit .184/.230/.342 -- is more of a complementary upgrade than a game changer."
While Mullins has struggled this season, especially lately, he'd still be a worthwhile addition. He's set to be a free agent at the end of the year, and the Orioles aren't expected to bring him back due to their crowded outfield.
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Instead, they should look to move him and could bring in some prospects in a return package to capitalize on any value he holds at this year's trade deadline. If they do sell, the Astros would be the best fit for the Orioles outfielder.
He's struggled this season, as Passan mentioned, but he does have a history of being a great outfielder. In 2021, Mullins hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases in his lone All-Star season. He was also a Silver Slugger and had a career-high 6.2 WAR that season.
Taking a chance on Mullins, especially since he'd be fairly cheap in comparison to some of the other names on the market, fits what the Astros are looking to do. With a weaker prospect system, the Astros could make this trade work as Mullins won't fetch a king's ransom.
While it was four years ago that Mullins put together such a great season, there's a chance that if the Astros bring him in, a change of scenery sparks him to turn things around.
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