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The Houston Astros own a 20-30 record this season, and while they're only 5.0 games back in the AL West, there is reason to believe this team won't be able to make up the difference and return to the postseason.
If such a future comes to pass, and come the trade deadline on August 3rd, the team is well out of the race, a fire sale might come for Houston.
But, in such a fire sale, who would the Astros actually trade? Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter instead focused on who is "untouchable," naming the one player he believes isn't going to be available for trade this season.
"If the Astros blow it up and rebuild, Yordan Alvarez would be quite the blockbuster trade chip, while Jeremy Pena would also be in demand," Rueter writes. "The only piece that looks truly untouchable, aside from Astros lifer Jose Altuve, is (Hunter) Brown in the role of staff ace."
The Astros' lone untouchable trade chip being Hunter Brown, and not Yordan Alvarez, would be a bit of a surprise. Not from the standpoint that Brown should be traded, but rather that Alvarez isn't untouchable.
Astros 'untouchable' trade chips, not including Yordan Alvarez is a surprise
The Astros might be big-time sellers this year, and if they do part with a ton of their talent, Alvarez might be a part of it.
That would be a major surprise, as Alvarez, the fan favorite slugger who's the best player on the Astros this season, would be someone fans would have a hard time stomaching a trade of.
Even if the Astros could get a king's ransom for Alvarez, it would be a huge blow to see someone as good as Alvarez leave.
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Brown being "untouchable" at least makes sense, as ace-level pitchers like him are hard to come by, and he's under club control through 2028.
But Alvarez, who's also under club control for the same period of time, not being untouchable like Brown, makes little sense.
Reuter not including Alvarez as a player who should be "untouchable" for the Astros is a bit of a surprise. Jeremy Pena being moved would not be too surprising, as would be the case with the rest of the roster.
The Astros projected "untouchable" trade chip(s) from Rueter are not what fans likely would expect, as Brown being someone the team shouldn't move but Alvarez being someone they should trade is an odd combination.
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