The Houston Astros may end up trading away one of their top hurlers this offseason.
Houston is still among the finest baseball teams, and in 2024, it’s conceivable that they’ll go far in the playoffs once more. Although the Astros’ core still consists largely of players, changes may be on the way.
The Astros will soon need to make large financial investments to maintain their squad, which almost certainly means that one or two of them will end up playing elsewhere.
Star pitcher Framber Valdez is one player whose name has been mentioned in trade rumors this winter. The two-time All-Star is signed through the conclusion of the 2025 season, but a trade is a possibility given his strong play in Houston.
It is still unknown what the Boston Red Sox will do this winter to bolster their starting rotation. Valdez could be worth trading.
The Red Sox have an abundance of outfielders, while Houston is seeking to add a left-handed hitter with pace. There have been rumors that Jarren Duran would be traded, and he seems to be the kind of player Houston is searching for.
Perhaps a nice place to start in discussions would be if the Red Sox could put Duran alongside one or two prospects. Valdez seems like a viable choice for Boston, which needs to acquire a front-line pitcher.
With 129 games played, he has a 3.40 lifetime ERA and a two-season deal. He is precisely the kind of hurler Boston needs.