Houston Astros Receive More Bad News on Starting Pitching Situation

The Houston Astros are currently in dire straits when it comes to their starting rotation.

The team is without Luis Garcia for the remainder of the season and likely half of next after he underwent Tommy John surgery.

Lance McCullers Jr. may not return for a few more weeks.

And now Jose Urquidy may not be back until the All-Star break, at least that's the current prognosis.

That leaves a ravaged rotation relying on Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, an unproven 28-year-old in J.P. France, and Brandon Bielak. A far cry from last season's rotation that led the team to a World Series championship.

To make matters worse, this has come at a time in the season where making an external acquisition, at least an impact one, nearly impossible.

It's too far from the trade deadline and even teams that should be sellers are still holding out belief that their teams can turn it around in time.

Even the Astros admit that making an external acquisition this time of the year just isn't feasible.

The best reinforcements they will get for their rotation in the foreseeable future is McCullers Jr.

Is that enough?

Perhaps, maybe enough to hold them over to the trade deadline. But even then, do they have the resources to pull off a trade for an impact Major League starter?

If they do, is it worth it?

These are questions that the front office and first-year General Manager Dana Brown will have to answer. It'll be their first big test after gaining the keys to what should still be a dynasty.

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