MLB championship contenders are turning their attention to the Houston Astros to see what happens with their superstar players at the trade deadline.
Houston is in a better spot than it was, but it's starting to plateau, and at 34-40, it's looking tougher by the day to get back into the wild card spot.
Ultimately, the front office will have to decide what happens at the deadline.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report made his predictions for the coming month, predicting that despite a lot of speculation surrounding some big names, nothing will actually happen.
The player most talked about as a possible trade target (and the player who would be the smartest to trade) is Alex Bregman.
Bregman has been a cornerstone of the franchise for nearly a decade, but his time in Houston may soon be over. He's set to become a free agent after this season, and many are suggesting a trade rather than lose him for nothing.
The 30-year-old has been a key factor in the turnaround since the worst start to the season of his career.
He's batting .338 with a .390 on-base percentage and a 1.023 ERA since the start of a 16-game hitting streak that ended just a few days ago, and trading him at this point would surely be waving the white flag on the season.
Another superstar who has been in trade discussions is Kyle Tucker, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.
Trading him in the middle of a season with playoff hopes doesn't make much sense, and while he's currently on the disabled list, the left-hander not long ago led the league in home runs.
He's played well to start the season, but his value could increase in the offseason, so if the Astros want to move him, they should probably wait until then, especially if they're ready to compete.
As opposed to selling, there's no point buying too much either, and there's a good chance they'll miss the playoffs, so it doesn't seem rational to further empty Houston's already empty farm.
However, the starting rotation remains in a tight spot, so the Astros may want to consider adding some cheaper options that could improve their outlook.
Houston GM Dana Brown could potentially change the league's outlook with a few trades, but the more likely outcome seems to be to ride it out again.
