The Astros are looking for pitching help, but their biggest swing at the deadline may already be off the board.
Houston, sitting at 55-55 and just 1.0 game out of an AL Wild Card spot, is expected to buy as the deadline approaches. The club has been linked to upgrades in the rotation, the bullpen and even the outfield, where it wants a left-handed bat. But when it comes to starting pitching, the Astros have reportedly aimed high.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Houston is among the teams that have called the Giants about Logan Webb, the $90 million right-hander who has a 3.93 ERA this season. The answer, though, has been the same every time.
"The Houston Astros and other teams keep asking about San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb," Nightengale reports. "And they keep being told he's not going anywhere."
That makes Webb a tough fit for Houston’s deadline plans, even if he checks a lot of boxes. He’s not a short-term rental, and that matters. The 29-year-old is signed through the 2028 season on a five-year, $90 million deal, giving any acquiring team 2.5 seasons of control.
That kind of starter is hard to find this time of year, which explains why the Astros would at least make the call. If Houston is chasing a controllable arm, the market is thin. Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano would fit that mold, but both are with the Angels, and the AL West tax could make those talks especially expensive.
San Francisco is expected to sell this summer, but Webb appears to be the exception. He’s a three-time All-Star with a Gold Glove award, and the Giants are reportedly planning to keep him no matter where they stand in the standings.
So while the Astros have been aggressive in looking for help, Webb doesn’t sound like a realistic landing spot. If Houston keeps shopping for a controllable starter, other names could surface, including Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha or Hunter Greene. But the message on Webb is clear: he’s not moving.
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