The Houston Astros desperately need a starting pitcher. Christian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Jason Alexander, and Spencer Arrighetti all struggled last season, throwing fewer than 80 innings each. Their depth behind them is further limited, as Ronel Blanco, Brandon Walter, and Hayden Wesneski will likely miss part or all of next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery this year.
The Astros may need to repeat last year’s Winter Meetings trade of Kyle Tucker, which brought in third baseman Isaac Paredes, outfielder Cam Smith, and Wesneski from the Chicago Cubs. The team has a crowded outfield: Yordan Alvarez, Jesús Sánchez, Zach Cole, Jake Meyers, and Cam Smith all logged MLB innings and are set for the 26-man roster next season. Jacob Melton, Taylor Trammell, and Zach Dezenzo, all with MLB experience, are waiting in Triple-A.
With their surplus of outfielders, the Astros could trade one for a starting pitcher. That player could be Meyers, as he is reportedly drawing interest from teams. He struggled offensively in 2022-2024, posting an OPS below .700 and wRC+ below 90, though he improved to a .727 OPS and 107 wRC+ last season. He hit three home runs, scoring 53 runs with 24 RBIs in 381 plate appearances.
#Astros OF Jake Meyers is generating trade interest and HOU is open to moving him for controllable starting pitching, per @Ken_Rosenthal and @katiejwoo pic.twitter.com/1zmfAUWXW0
— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) December 1, 2025
Meyers’ strength is defense. He posted a positive fWAR from 2022 to 2024 despite an offensive rating of -4.5 or worse. Last season, he was positive on offense and defense, accumulating 2.3 fWAR. Melton, Dezenzo, and Cole have shown power in small samples and may be better than Meyers at the plate.
Meyers is replaceable, and given his limited offense and his turning 30 next season, the Astros should capitalize on his current interest to improve their starting pitching depth. His value may be at its peak while he’s under team control through the 2027 season. Although a trade would not match the Tucker deal in magnitude, it could still yield experienced MLB pitchers to help Houston’s attempt to return to the postseason in 2026.