The Houston Astros are still in first place in the AL West, but they’re now struggling. Injuries have taken the place of wins, and momentum has slowed. A club that was supposed to be ready for October is suddenly facing uncertainty. Amid this, their ace, Jose Altuve, has delivered a strong message to the front office.

The Astros are dealing with more than just losses right now. With 18 players on the injured list and losses to teams that should have been beaten, it’s creating a worrisome situation. Altuve’s words reflect that the players in the clubhouse feel like they are trying, but they might need the front office to make some calls as the trade deadline looms.

Altuve recently shared his thoughts on the trade deadline. “I’m thinking about the guys we have here. The guys that are showing up every day to play the game. We’re still in first place, so we’re going to leave it up to (the front office) and see our guys get healthy at some point and join the club.” 

The injury bug has hit hard, and the damage is done to both pitchers and position players. Seven starting pitchers are out, including Lance McCullers Jr., Cristian Javier, Spencer Arrighetti, J.P. France, Brandon Walter, Hayden Wesneski, and Ronel Blanco. Key everyday hitters like Isaac Paredes, Jeremy Pena, Yordan Alvarez, Jake Meyers, Brendan Rodgers, and Luis Guillorme are also out. The front office is now trying to keep track of injury timeframes and how urgent trades are.

And when the roster is not healthy, it reflects on the scoreboard. July has been tough on offense. The Astros lost four straight home games to the Oakland Athletics, scoring only seven runs and going 3-for-29 with runners in scoring position against a weak pitching staff. Their offense faltered at key moments. And the losses weren’t limited to A’s. They also lost against Seattle, and Texas compounded their struggles. The skipper has also observed and is aware of the struggles.

After the 7-1 setback on Sunday, manager Joe Espada couldn’t hide the reality. He told the reporters, “The injuries, they’re part of where we’re at right now as a club. But that’s no excuse. We’ve got to fight through this. And we’ve been fighting through this … And while we wait for some of those players to return, we have to find ways to win games.” 

Still, if the front management doesn’t act quickly, what was once a season of promise could turn into one of caution. Altuve’s comments weren’t demands; they were a whisper of trust, conviction, and gentle insistence. Luckily, it looks like the front office has a well-structured plan for what they want.

Astros eye lefty power with deadline looming

The Astros’ GM, Dana Brown, has made it clear that offense comes first when it comes to trades. His main focus is enhancing the lineup. He said, “If we can get a bat, it would be really good for this team, particularly a left‑handed bat … the priority is getting some more offense.”

Meanwhile, pitching is also under his radar, only if a good starter is available. However, the lopsided right-handed lineup made left-handed power the main focus. As per Brown, adding a lefty would have an instant effect, with talents like Jeremy Peña, Isaac Paredes, and Yordan Álvarez in IL, and their return timeline is still up in the air.

Brown is clear with his plan. He said, “When I’m talking to other clubs, if there’s a possibility to get a starter, I’ll take a starter. That said, I’m really locked in on the bat.” His perspective highlights the Astros’ roster imbalance, focusing on offense over rotation depth.

Brown also explained the roster flexibility. As per him, adding a good left-handed hitter, especially one who can play infield, would allow the move of Jose Altuve back to second base while the new bat takes care of the outfield.