The Houston Astros are no strangers to making tough decisions, especially given that the season has been predictable at best. Injuries are piling up, and the bats are getting cold by the week. The front office has been trying to tweak here and there to make things better. But their latest move does cut deep, especially for fans who were hoping to see a compelling comeback story.

Jon Singleton, the 33-year-old slugger who has one of the most inspiring stories in the sport, has been designated for assignment. He had clawed his way back into the big league after a seven-year absence. Singleton finally made himself feel at home in the Houston uniform. It is the kind of second chance that doesn’t come around so often. But now it’s over.

And this news didn’t come from Jon Heyman or Jeff Nelson or even as a Houston Astros clubhouse whisper. It came right from Singleton’s wife, Linzy, who posted on X, “Let me break the news. Jon was just DFA’d.” Period.

Sure, it’s a no-drama way to announce, but for the Houston Astros fans who have followed Singleton’s journey, this stung. There was something about hearing it from Linzy that made it feel even more personal. Like the team was not moving a piece; it was brushing away the family’s dreams.

Honestly, Jon Singleton’s story has never been the usual one. He was once a top prospect, but he vanished from the big league after 2015. He spent years away before returning in 2022, and last season, he had more than a feel-good angle to his name; he had a productive bat. In around 119 games, he had 13 home runs and 42 RBIs, and he posted a .707 OPS with a 102 OPS+.

Hence, it’s understandable why suddenly this feels cruel. This year, he barely got a chance—just three games, nine at-bats, and one hit. That was it, and that chance to prove himself had vanished into thin air. It’s a reminder of how fast things move in the baseball world.

Houston Astros eye Mitch Keller as rotation struggles continue

The Houston Astros are feeling the heat, literally and figuratively, too. After clawing their way back from a sluggish start to the season, they finally got their top spot in the AL West. But as things were starting to stabilize, there came another bump—a four-game losing streak that has given the Seattle Mariners ground to creep within four games of the lead.

It’s not a panic mode in Houston, but the gaps are getting too huge to ignore, especially in the starting rotation.

Injuries have piled on, and with the trade deadline hitting in just two days, the Houston Astros are in the market to get help, and this is where Mitch Keller enters the story.

According to Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, the Pirates’ right-hander made it into their top 50 trade candidates. The Astros were seemingly a potential suitor, too. And it’s simple to see why, given Keller has been putting together a stellar career year of his own with a 3.53 ERA. Plus, he is also under the team’s control for three more years at an affordable $55.7 million.

For now, the Pirates need a bat, and the Astros need arms. They already got Carlos Carrasco from the New York Yankees. Now, coming to Keller, he has racked up 97 strikeouts over 125 innings. Sure, his 4-10 record does not turn heads, but his value goes beyond the win box, right? It’s now all about stability for the Astros.

Of course, pulling off the deal won’t be simple. Houston had also slipped into their prospect pool to get Yusei Kikuchi last summer, and it left the farm thin. However, if Keller can stop the bleeding the team is facing and give Houston the second-half push they need, it just might be worth the shot and the price tag.