The Houston Astros lost a lot of talent last year, and they’re set to lose more in free agency. It seems like Framber Valdez is headed to a new home this winter.
As a result, the Astros need to make some big moves to avoid missing the postseason again next season. They’re going to need to replace Valdez if he leaves, but they’ll also need to add some talent to their lineup.
Patrick McAvoy of St. Louis Cardinals OnSi recently predicted the Astros would acquire veteran All-Star Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals.
“Donovan is one of the hottest names out there. Any team in baseball, realistically, would be better with Donovan on it. That makes it difficult to predict where he will go, but the Houston Astros have gotten a lot of buzz recently,” McAvoy wrote. “MLB Network’s Jon Morosi called a pairing ‘as perfect a match as you are going to find.’ Houston has some young pitching and the Cardinals have a star who can play all over the field that the Astros need.”
Donovan would fill a major hole in the Astros’ lineup, and he would do it in a big way.
Donovan is a versatile defender who could play multiple different positions on the field for the Astros. He could slot in at second base, first base, or third base in the infield while also working as a corner outfielder.
The Astros have the draft capital to make a deal come to fruition. The fit seemingly makes perfect sense for both sides.
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