Astros' reliever drawing trade interest amid $95 million Josh Hader comparison

Despite being three games below .500, the Houston Astros are in the thick of the AL West division race. 

They are just two games behind the Texas Rangers for first place with a ton of baseball left to play. 

Yordan Alvarez should be considered the top candidate to take home the AL MVP, as he can lead the Astros to a victory on any given day. 

Still, Houston's roster has a few attractive pieces if the club were to fall out of the race in the coming weeks. 

According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, right-handed middle reliever AJ Blubaugh is an attractive trade target for many clubs in the Majors. 

"To what degree may soon become a pertinent question. Blubaugh has emerged as a sought-after trade target during the Astros’ discussions with other clubs, according to multiple people with knowledge of the Astros’ conversations but not authorized to speak publicly about them," Rome wrote. 

In 34 appearances this season, Blubaugh owns a 3.36 ERA with 53 strikeouts compared to 29 walks in 56.1 innings. 

He's held opponents to a .186 batting average against his fastball, and they are only hitting .170 against his changeup. 

"Middle relievers merit little outside fanfare, a fact AJ Blubaugh’s first major-league season has underscored. According to Baseball Savant, he is worth the same pitching run value as $95 million closer Josh Hader," Rome added. "Blubaugh does not receive the acclaim or attention of his higher-paid peers but sometimes must clean up the carnage they leave behind." 

Hader's pedigree and history of success obviously make him a more attractive trade option than Blubaugh. 

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But the contract status of the two players could be a clear indication of why other clubs are showing trade interest in the 25-year-old rookie. 

It remains to be seen if the Astros will sell. If they do, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Blubaugh on the move. Or, Houston can keep him as a centerpiece of their bullpen for years to come. 

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