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12 hours ago
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The Houston Astros are stuck in the middle.
Stuck between a postseason contender and a trade deadline seller.
Houston's problem starts with the contracts of its general manager, Dana Brown, and manager Joe Espada.
Both are in the final year of their agreements with the AL West organization. That complicates the future of shortstop Jeremy Pena and other potential trade chips on the roster.
"General manager Dana Brown has insisted the team will be buyers, but he is working in the final year of his contract. So is manager Joe Espada," The Athletic's Chandler Rome wrote. "Both men must save face and try to save themselves, so saying anything to the contrary is illogical, especially if they hope to keep this clubhouse intact."
According to Rome, the Astros asked right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. to waive his no-trade clause to free payroll in preparation for the deadline. McCullers was subsequently traded to the Milwaukee Brewers.
MORE: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani injury update essentially ends Cy Young chances
With two weeks remaining until the deadline, the Astros are 47-54. They are four games back for first place in the AL West and 4.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the third and final Wild Card spot.
Houston owns a -53 run differential and failed to score more than two runs in any game of their three-game weekend series with the Baltimore Orioles.
"Fifteen days and 12 games before the trade deadline, this is the state of an Astros team that still fancies itself a championship contender," Rome added. "Being in the American League can help to verify its claim, but a shrinking calendar is removing the luxury of relying on others’ mediocrity."
More MLB news:
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- White Sox have strong interest in Mets’ Clay Holmes with scout attending rehab assignment
- Yankees send scouts to Cubs vs. Twins series amid trade interest in three players
- MLB execs believe Padres will trade Mason Miller at trade deadline
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