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The Houston Astros are not selling.
Certainly, MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez is not going anywhere.
Recently, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the Astros are planning to make moves at the deadline, hoping new additions will help them make a deep postseason push.
One potential area of need is in the outfield. Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer predicts that the Astros will make a call to the Colorado Rockies for a former first overall pick.
"Their best play would be to lean into an offense that badly needs a left-handed hitter," Rymer wrote.
Of course, arguably the best left-handed hitter in baseball is Alvarez, who leads the American League with 25 home runs and the Majors with a 1.076 OPS.
"As a rental with a 115 wRC+ against righties since 2023, [Mickey] Moniak fits the right kind of risk/reward ratio for the Astros at this juncture," Rymer added.
"Given how hard his value has tanked, a trade involving former first-rounder Brice Matthews would be interesting."
Moniak is having a breakout season with the Rockies, hitting .277, along with 12 homers and a .925 OPS in 45 games.
He was the first overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016.
There are valid concerns with how Moniak will fare at the plate outside of Coors Field, but he managed an .802 OPS in 85 games with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023.
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Houston doesn't appear to be a World Series contender now, but a few strong moves at the deadline could put them back in the conversation.
Perhaps Moniak, a lefty hitter the Astros could desperately use in their lineup, is a good starting point.
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