Should the Houston Astros Trade Away Some Young Prospects to Bolster MLB Roster?
Should the Houston Astros trade away some of their young outfield prospects for veteran position players or pitchers?
It's a question that's been waiting in the wings since spring training, if not earlier than that.
The Astros currently have six outfielders on their 40-man roster, including five under the age of 30 -- Yordan Alvarez (25), Corey Julks (27), Chas McCormick (28), Jake Meyers (26) and Kyle Tucker (26).
Houston's only outfielder over the age of 30 is Michael Brantley (35), who is nearing the end of a storied baseball career.
Looking beyond those six, though, the Astros have 11 pure outfielders in their top-30 prospects -- and five of them are in the top-10.
Let's take a quick glance at the outfielders in Houston's top-10 prospects and their slash lines this season:
OF Drew Gilbert (No. 1 prospect; 22 years old): slashing .356/.420/.533 this season for High-A Asheville Tourists.
OF Jacob Melton (No. 2 prospect; 22 years old): slashing .160/.364/.280 this season for High-A Asheville Tourists.
OF Colin Barber (No. 3 prospect; 22 years old): slashing .147/.356/.294 this season for Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.
OF Ryan Clifford (No. 4 prospect; 19 years old): slashing .333/.508/.458 this season for Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
OF Justin Dirden (No. 7 prospect; 25 years old): slashing .200/.278/.308 this season for Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
Pedro Leon (No. 6 prospect) could technically be placed in this group, although Leon also plays second base.
Also keep in mind that the Astros' Julks (No. 28 prospect) is currently on Houston's active roster and the young outfielder can play third base as well.
Dirden is high on Houston's radar and will likely be kept in the organization, but that leaves the top-four prospects in the Astros' farm system as potential trade bait.
Let's say the Houston brass doesn't want to gamble too much and keeps Clifford in the club with him being only 19 years old.
Should Houston trade away Gilbert, Melton or Barber for other young position players or pitchers?
It's probably too early in the season to be talking trades, but the question still remains.
The Astros can't put 10 players in the outfield, so something has got to give.
How that transpires and who that involves has yet to be seen, but we'll know more as the season -- and the players -- progress.
However, if Houston is serious about winning another World Series championship, they have plenty of trade chips to use to gain some extra firepower.
It's a possibility that is absolutely worth exploring.
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