USATSI_18736840 — Lindsey Wasson-USA TODAY Sports

As Meyers Struggles, Houston Astros Should Target Center Fielder in Trade

The Houston Astros aren't receiving the expected production from Jake Meyers, leaving them in position to explore a solution.

Author:
Kenny Van Doren
Publish date:
Jul 28, 2022 2:00 PM EDT

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Houston Astros

In his 26th game Wednesday, Jake Meyers roped an RBI-triple to put the Houston Astros within one run, but his two other at-bats weren't ones to write home about. The center fielder struck out twice, whiffing on four of the seven pitches between those two at-bats.

Meyers is striking out 32.6 percent of his at-bats while walking a minuscule 5.3 percent of his trips, but this isn't a new bullet point to the right-hander's major league résumé. In 2021, the then 25-year-old struck out 50 times in the 49 games he played, walking 6.1 percent of the time.

In about half the sample size of his late callup in 2021, Meyers is still struggling to command strong plate discipline. The righty is abnormally whiffing at offspeed pitches at a lower rate and missing on fastballs at a higher rate, according to Baseball Savant.

And as his exit velocities decrease, there isn't a select pitch group Meyers is thriving off, even in the expected category. Coming off shoulder surgery, the adjustment back to major league play could be a tougher test for Meyers after only playing roughly two months last season.

The Astros see Meyers as the future center fielder for the club, but his struggles won't bode well in postseason play. Two months stand between the Astros' current spot in the schedule and October, and what could benefit the team eyeing the best record in the American League is an upgrade at the center field position.

Bryan Reynolds' name seems to float through any teams' outfield needs, and for the Astros, the one-time All-Star would push the Astros over the hump down the stretch. As for Cedric Mullins, he isn't out performing Chas McCormick in an adjusted sample size.

Pittsburgh Pirates Center Fielder Bryan Reynolds
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been on and off if the club will deal Reynolds. The same happened last season when speculations grew if general manager James Click would upgrade the position manned by Myles Straw with an external option.

But as it stands five days until the trade deadline, it would behoove the Astros to negotiate a trade to improve a lacking position. The switch-hitting Reynolds has slashed a .788 OPS on the year while sporting an .810 OPS against right-handed pitching.

The Astros don't need another lefty outfield bat with Yordan Álvarez, Kyle Tucker and Michael Brantley all in the lineup at full strength, but for Reynolds' sake, he hits better from the left side.

The offensive numbers don't match his All-Star line (.302/.390/.522) from 2021, but aside from what his ceiling may look like, his defense isn't an upgrade to that of Meyers (-6 DRS vs. 0 DRS).

While his offensive performance may be on the down swing for now, Reynolds is under team control until 2026 and is still 27-years-old — one year older than Meyers but two less years until he's a free agent.

Reports and even Click iterated the Astros are being "aggressive" after falling two games short of a World Series banner last season. And if the team addresses the center field position externally, Reynolds would most certainly be in conversation.

As the Pirates look to contend in a few years, major league ready players or even current starters would fill out the return. José Urquidy is reportedly the prime name in conversation with other teams while a team-controlled reliever or position player could help solidify a deal for Reynolds.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Thursday the Pirates may be interested in prospects in a return for Reynolds which could strike a third party to enter the hypothetical trade.

But as a team can never have enough high-leverage arms, the Astros could kill two birds with one stone. Righty David Bednar and lefty Manny Bañuelos could both vie for a seat in the Astros' bullpen.

With Meyers struggling in an everyday role, Chas McCormick should attract starts in center field with Aledmys Díaz in left. If the Astros don't trade for a center fielder in the coming days, McCormick's offensive groove and defensive ceiling warrant starts in center field again.