Houston Astros Linked to Rockies All-Star at Trade Deadline

The Houston Astros need to add another bat this season's Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline.

However, general manager Dana Brown has stated time and time again that he prefers to go after a bat that is versatile, meaning they can play multiple positions.

Still, one of the weakest links in the lineup is first baseman Jose Abreu. While performing marginally better as of late, Abreu is still a liability in the lineup and has a well below OPS and OPS+.

One player who could help the Astros at the first base position is Colorado Rockies and 2022 All-Star C.J. Cron. The first baseman was linked as a potential trade fit for Houston by MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

"One of the Rockies' four remaining impending free agents likely to move this week (the Rockies already dealt righty Pierce Johnson to the Braves), Cron has 11 home runs and a .779 OPS in 53 games this season," writes Feinsand. "The 33-year-old is owed a little less than $2.5 million in the final year of his current contract and ranks in the top 10 percent of the league in barrel percentage and xSLG, showing he can still do damage at the plate while providing good defense at first base."

Cron would be an upgrade both offensively and defensively for the Astros and could be had at a fair price considering his agent and impending free agent status at the end of the season.

The only issue is, Cron is not a versatile type of player. He can play first base and he can fill in at the designated hitter spot. That's it.

Still, he would come at a cheaper prospect cost than a player who fits exactly what Brown has on his wish list.

Houston is a talented team and adding a player like Cron may be all they need to push their roster to the next level as they look to take down the Texas Rangers in the stretch.

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