Astros Should Explore Trade For This Inexpensive Pitcher

In the category of one can never have enough pitching, there is a reasonable way for the Houston Astros to add depth to their rotation this offseason and not break the bank, even as a trade.

The Astros expect to have Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, José Urquidy, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown and J.P. France back in 2024. Two other pitchers, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr., missed most or all of 2023.

Garcia is rehabbing after Tommy John surgery while McCullers has been injury prone in recent years. Both should be back at some point in 2024.

Verlander is over 40. Valdez had an up-and-down season. So did Javier. Brown and France will be entering their second MLB seasons.

If the Astros have concerns about their rotation or simply want to add depth at a reasonable rate in trade, there’s a relatively easy option — Paul Blackburn.

The fire sale in Oakland is on pause, at least for the moment. But Blackburn is one of the few tradeable assets the Athletics have that’s making more money (for them) but has a reasonable cost (for just about everyone else).

He’s in his second year of arbitration and he’s estimated to be due at least $3 million. In Oakland owner John Fisher’s world that may as well be $20 million. Plus, he comes with another controllable year in 2025.

Blackburn is a former All-Star with a 17-24 record and a 4.90 ERA. He has a low strikeout rate (6.9 per nine innings), but he also has a low walk rate (2.8 per nine innings). CBS Sports recently wrote that Blackburn isn’t going to be an ace, but he’s a consistent workhorse:

(He) generally eats innings at a league average rate and an improved slider led to a career-best strikeout rate this past season. Blackburn has missed time with finger injuries the last two seasons and he's probably not someone you want to start in Game 1 or 2 of a postseason series, but he's steady and he comes with two affordable years of team control.

That makes Blackburn a back-of-the-rotation starter or even a long reliever out of the bullpen.

Plus, the Astros, or any other team might not have to give up more than a prospect to pry Blackburn from Oakland, which will look to continue to shave payroll as it prepares for its move to Las Vegas.

If the Athletics have any questions about their injured starters or their young starters, Blackburn is someone to keep in mind for cheap, reliable production.