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The Houston Astros lost Ryan Pressly, Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman in the offseason, but it hasn’t stopped them from placing themselves at the top of the American League standings.
Ahead of the trade deadline, the Astros are going to need to add a starting pitcher in order to keep themselves among the AL’s best down the dog days of the season. There are plenty of options on the board for Houston to pursue in the coming weeks.
Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly recently suggested the Astros could be a landing spot in a huge trade for Kansas City Royals ace Seth Lugo in the coming weeks.
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“With Framber Valdez set to become a free agent after the season, the Astros would probably be best served acquiring a controllable starter who’s sure to be with them in 2026,” Kelly wrote. “But even if Seth Lugo is likely to opt out of the final year of his three-year, $45 million deal after the season, last year’s AL Cy Young Award runner-up is too good of a fit for the Astros to pass up.
“And the small-budget Royals probably can’t afford to just let him walk in the offseason, even if it comes after he declines a qualifying offer.”
Lugo is looked at as an expiring pitcher because it’s very unlikely he opts into the option on his contract for 2026. Last season, the righty was a Cy Young contender in the AL and only lost out on the award because of Tarik Skubal’s incredible season.
This season, Lugo has been solid again. He’s one of the top pitchers in the league, and he’s done so quietly. The Astros could cut ties with a few top prospects to land Lugo before looking to sign him to a contract extension in the offseason.
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