The Houston Astros have a primary focus this winter: acquiring starting pitching. It’s evident that for a team to go deep in the postseason, having a good starting rotation is crucial. 

Why the Astros Could Trade Their Key Outfielder This Offseason

Right now, the Astros’ starting pitching depth is weak. Besides Hunter Brown, the Astros have no one who has thrown over 100 innings. It also looks increasingly likely that Framber Valdez will move on. Cristian Javier was inconsistent in limited starts coming off Tommy John surgery, and Spencer Arrighetti dealt with a couple of injuries as well. 

The Astros need a true, reliable starter, and that may mean making some tough decisions. One option for getting a pitcher may require trading starting center fielder Jake Meyers. 

Why the Astros Would Trade Jake Meyers

The market for centerfielders is quite limited this offseason. This is a premium position that teams are always looking for, and may even be willing to pay a high price for. The Astros will look to use that to their advantage by staying open and willing to move on from Meyers. 

According to a report from MLB insiders Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic, Houston is listening to offers for Meyers for a major league starter that is under control. The Astros seem primarily interested in a young starting pitcher with a bright future. 

Another report from Brian McTaggart of MLB.com indicates that more teams are now interested in Meyers, the latest being the back-to-back World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The primary names in this trade have been the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds. It looks like the Astros will have plenty of offers to choose from. 

Jake Meyers with the Astros

Meyers made his debut with the Astros in 2021 and took the team by storm, securing the center field position with his hot bat and great defense. While he has dealt with his fair share of injuries and setbacks, Meyers is coming off a major improvement in one of the best seasons of his career in 2025. 

 

The #WhiteSox, #Dodgers, #Reds, and #Royals are among the teams with interest in #Astros OF Jake Meyers, per @brianmctaggart pic.twitter.com/i19KIHrPge

— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) December 9, 2025

 

He hit .292 with a .727 OPS in 104 games while adding three homers and 24 RBI. That also included 16 stolen bases with a personal best 17.6% strikeout rate. Meyers’ plate approach greatly improved this past season, with higher contact and a lower chase rate. Meyers missed 58 games with a calf strain and was unable to return for the latter part of the year. 

The former Nebraska Cornhusker had the best stretch of his career during his first season in 2021. While Meyers had only 146 at-bats in 49 games, his OPS was .761 as he hit six home runs and 28 RBIs. In the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox, Meyers suffered a severe shoulder injury that took him a couple of years to get back to full strength. He spent parts of 2022 and 2023 at the Triple-A level with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, improving his offensive game, and it is finally paying dividends. 

Meanwhile, Meyers’ Value Continues to Rise

Still 29 and with two more years of arbitration control, Meyers becomes an affordable player to have with substantial upside. MLB Trade Rumors projects him for a $3.5 million salary. This becomes an ideal player for many clubs to add on. 

A big reason for interest is Meyers’s defense. A former Gold Glove finalist in 2024, there is no question that he is a great glove and an excellent defender in the outfield with high sprint speed. He has made numerous incredible plays in Daikin Park and can be someone a team can comfortably rely on every day to man center field. 

 

MY OH MEYERS! MAKE HIM AN ALL-STAR!#VoteMeyers ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/vJiKSIEKml

— Houston Astros (@astros) June 21, 2025

 

What Teams Will Give Up for Meyers

The Royals are among the teams interested, as they are looking to acquire multiple outfielders via trade. Kansas City looks to be open to the Astros’ request for a pitcher in exchange for their rotation. All-star starter Kris Bubic has been rumored as a trade candidate. The lefty is coming off a season-ending rotator cuff injury and might be a bit risky to choose. Bubic also has a history of injuries, but he can be a true top-of-the-rotation player. 

As for the Dodgers or White Sox go, it isn’t looking easy to find a pitcher to match the deal. The Reds look like a more realistic possibility with their rotation and abundance of arms. 

Astros Future Without Jake Meyers

With Chas McCormick no longer on the roster, Meyers was the primary name at centerfield. However, Zach Cole came out of nowhere in August. Due to the number of injuries, Cole earned a promotion to the major league roster. He opened his Astros career with a bang. He hit a home run on his first at-bat and continued a hot streak. While he cooled off, Cole was still productive until the end of the year. Cole hit .255 with an .880 OPS in 47 at-bats with four home runs and 11 RBI. 

This gives the Astros more depth at the position and a higher willingness to move on, although Cole’s sample size was small, and he struck out a lot. Houston would let Cole, the No. 19 prospect, and Jacob Melton, the No. 2 prospect, battle it out for the position. Melton was not too effective with the bat in 70 at-bats but made some plays in the outfield. 

Whichever path the Astros choose, it will be a big decision if they ultimately elect to make a Jake Meyers trade. 

Main Photo Credits: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images