The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and the Astros made a flurry of moves to help bolster the big league roster.
Yesterday, the Astros swung multiple trades. Let’s break them down.
Astros Re-Acquire Shortstop Carlos Correa
The Astros made one of the most headline-grabbing moves of the deadline by reacquiring former star shortstop Carlos Correa. As fans know, Correa was a cornerstone of the franchise from 2015 to 2021. When he departed in 2022, the Astros turned to Jeremy Peña as his replacement. Now, with Isaac Paredes sidelined due to injury, a window opened for a surprising yet fitting reunion between Correa and Houston.
Several factors played into this deal, with the biggest being Correa’s contract. Before the 2023 season, he signed a six-year, $200 million deal with the Twins, which also includes team options from 2029 to 2032. Given the Astros’ already high payroll, the financial aspect had to be worked out. As part of the agreement, the Twins sent $33 million in cash along with Correa in exchange for reliever Matt Mikulski.
This isn’t a knock on Mikulski—but he’s a 26-year-old reliever that Dana signed as a roster filler back in May. Still, this deal is an incredible salary dump for the Twins. For the Astros to land Correa and $33 million in exchange for Mikulski is truly remarkable.
Carlos Correa has seen a dip in production this season after a strong 2024 campaign where he hit .310 with a 151 OPS+. In 2025, he’s slashing .267 with a 92 OPS+, though much of that decline stems from a rough April. Since May 1st, however, Correa has bounced back, batting .291 with a 114 wRC+. He’s expected to slot in at third base for the Astros, adding another above-average bat to the lineup. GRADE: A+
Astros Acquire Jesus Sanchez for Ryan Gusto and Prospects
In another trade deadline move, the Astros acquired outfielder Jesús Sánchez from the Marlins. In return, they sent pitcher Ryan Gusto along with prospects Chase Jaworsky and Esmil Valencia to Miami.
Let’s take a closer look at Sánchez.
Since debuting with the Marlins in 2020, Sánchez has posted a career batting average of .243 with a 100 OPS+, exactly league average. A left-handed hitter, he’s capable of playing all three outfield spots but primarily patrols the corners. This season, he’s hitting .256 with 10 home runs over 86 games. While the surface stats are solid, the underlying metrics are even more encouraging. He boasts an average exit velocity of 92.1 MPH (87th percentile) and an impressive average bat speed of 75.7 MPH (93rd percentile).
Another important note: Sánchez has consistently excelled against right-handed pitching throughout his career. In over 1,300 at-bats versus righties, he’s slashed .259 with 60 of his 69 career home runs and a 115 wRC+. This season, he’s taken it up a notch with a 125 wRC+ against right-handers, making him a clear asset in a platoon role or any matchup-heavy lineup strategy.
He’s also no slouch defensively ranking in the 74th percentile in range (1 OAA) and 83rd percentile in arm strength. Another key factor here is that Sanchez is under team control until 2028. So the Astros get an extra two years of Sanchez after 2025.
The Astros parted with big-league pitcher Ryan Gusto in the deal for Sánchez. Gusto has shown flashes of promise in Houston, but with the rotation getting healthier and comparable performances from arms like Colton Gordon and Brandon Walter, he became somewhat expendable. That said, Gusto still projects as a solid big-league starter and could carve out a multi-year role in a starting rotation elsewhere.
Among the prospects sent to Miami, shortstop Chase Jaworsky was the most highly regarded. A 5th-round pick in the 2023 draft, Jaworsky is known for his speed and steady defense, though his power has yet to emerge. He’s a promising talent, but clearly one the Astros were willing to part with. The final piece of the deal was outfielder Esmil Valencia, another speedster who has swiped 50 bases in Single-A this season, though he’s posted just a .682 OPS. GRADE: A-
Astros Acquire Ramon Urias for Prospect Twine Palmer
I covered this deal the day it happened — you can find that write-up here, so I’ll keep this brief. The Astros added infielder Ramón Urías, a former Gold Glove winner who’s hitting .248 with 8 home runs this season. For his career, he holds a .259 average with a 105 OPS+, giving Houston yet another slightly above-average bat. Urías also comes with an extra year of team control. While his exact role is still to be determined, it’s clear the Astros have upgraded their overall roster depth and talent.
Palmer was the Astros 19th round pick in 2024 out of Connors State College in Oklahoma. In limited time this season in Fayetteville he has pitched well posting a 2.13 ERA in 42.1 innings. He is only 20-years-old and has a lot of potential, but would still be years away from contributing. He has some high upside, but the return for a 19th round pick seems solid. GRADE: B+
Overall Thoughts
After dealing three prospects for a short-term rental at the 2024 trade deadline, Dana Brown took a more strategic approach this year. He moved four prospects and one major league pitcher in exchange for three established big-league position players — all of whom come with multiple years of team control and proven success at the major league level.
Brown acknowledged that the trade market came with steep asking prices, with rumors suggesting names like Spencer Arrighetti and Walker Janek were discussed in a potential deal for Dylan Cease. Despite that, Brown navigated the deadline exceptionally well. He managed to strengthen the roster for both the present and future without parting with any of the organization’s top 10–15 prospects, including premium talents like Brice Matthews, Jacob Melton, Walker Janek, and Miguel Ullola.
As a result, the Astros are a better team today than they were just two days ago. With improving health across the roster, this group has a real chance to hit its stride and potentially pull away in the AL West race.
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