The Houston Astros made a surprising trade by sending Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and a 2024 first-round pick. While the move may seem like a rebuild, the Astros are focused on addressing roster needs and clearing salary. To maintain success, they need to address the following areas: re-sign or replace Alex Bregman, add outfield depth, bring in another late-inning reliever, and find a replacement for Justin Verlander in the rotation. Despite the changes, the Astros still have a solid core to build around. Blanco’s no-hitter and strong Rookie of the Year performance stood out in the Astros’ rotation, which faces challenges due to injuries and lack of depth. Valdez and Brown form a solid 1-2 punch, but the team needs more stability in the back of the rotation. Despite trading Tucker, the Astros aim for a fifth straight division title, requiring improvements in outfield, pitching, and the re-signing or replacement of Bregman.
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Free agent reliever Brooks Raley recently threw a bullpen session for over 12 scouts in Texas, as reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic. Raley, who is approximately 11 months post-Tommy John surgery that ended his time with the Mets, showcased an impressive 2.80 ERA in 2023, with seven scoreless innings and three saves before his injury. The 36-year-old lefty is known for his breaking balls, particularly a low-80s sweeper, and could attract interest from...
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