The Astros have a knack for striking when least expected, often staying quiet until a blockbuster move sends shockwaves across the league. Remember 2017, when they stunned everyone by landing ace Justin Verlander from the Tigers in a last-minute waiver-deadline deal? Now, with just a few hours remaining until the 2025 trade deadline, that history lingers as a reminder. Houston might be silent now, but the baseball world is bracing for the possibility of another surprise.
In his latest column, ESPN’s Jeff Passan revealed the Astros are actively seeking a starting pitcher, a move that comes as no surprise given the rash of injuries that have thinned their rotation. Even with the impending returns of J.P. France, Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier, and Spencer Arrighetti, Houston still appears to be one arm short.
And as the clock ticks down, now another MLB insider, Jim Bowden, has linked up the Astros with a reliable arm who is considered a hot property this deadline. “The Dylan Cease thing, I think, will probably happen,” Bowden said on the Foul Territory.
Dylan Cease to the Astros will probably happen, says @JimBowdenGM. pic.twitter.com/SBtAfVaGGL
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 30, 2025
Adding Cease to their rotation would give the Astros a much-needed boost on the mound. However, there’s a catch. Cease is nearing free agency and is currently nowhere near the form he had shown in his Cy Young runner-up season in 2022. So, why are the Astros chasing a starter who’s carrying a 4.79 ERA this season?
Bowden got the answer for that: “All you have to do is look back 12 months ago. What happened at the deadline? Yusei Kikuchi, at the deadline last year, was 4-9 with a 4.7 ERA… Kikuchi came over and dominated. He went 5-1, one of the best ERAs in the league after they got him in August and September. They believe they can do the same thing with Dylan Cease.“
Well, Cease has been one of the Padres’ big-name arms, finishing in the top five for the Cy Young Award in two of the past three seasons. Yes, he’s sitting with a 4.79 ERA currently. But Cease still brings some serious heat to the mound. Notably, his fastball averages 97.1 mph, putting him in the top 12 percent of NL pitchers. Moreover, his walk rate is 9.2%, the second-lowest of his career, which shows he’s keeping things under control.
However, to get this materialised, the Astros may face the Red Sox barrier. Boston’s pitching staff has already made plenty of noise this offseason with the additions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler. But they are in the market to arm up their pitching line further. And with prospects like Marcelo Mayer and Franklin Arias in the mix, the Red Sox are shaping up as a serious contender to land Dylan Cease.
The Astros have other names to look at
If the Cease trade doesn’t materialise, the Astros may have to turn elsewhere. Houston is bracing for the possibility that power-hitting third baseman Isaac Paredes could miss the rest of the season with a strained hamstring. And thus they’re weighing options to fill the void. According to USA TODAY, the Astros are considering a move for the Twins’ shortstop Carlos Correa or the Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado.
At the same time, they are also pursuing the Diamondbacks’ All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez. As per Astros insider Michael Schwab, the team is also looking at versatile options like Twins switch-hitter Willi Castro and Arizona’s Jake McCarthy. So, quite a few names are linked with the Astros at the moment. But they seem to be focusing more on infielders.
However, nothing comes without competition, and that applies to the potential Willi Castro trade as well. As reported, the Mariners are also interested in Castro. And why not? Castro is currently sitting with 10 HRs. But what really makes him valuable is his defensive versatility. Notably, he has played at second, short, third, and even in the outfield, making him one of the most flexible defenders in the league. For the Astros, that kind of versatility is hugely important, given they are dealing with multiple injuries,
Amid these speculations, we will have to wait and see who lands in Houston eventually. What do you think?
The post Astros Set to Land Cy Young Runner Up Linked With Red Sox as Trade Deadline Day Looms: Report appeared first on EssentiallySports.