MLB insider speculates Houston Astros and Cleveland Guardians could be contenders for top slugger on July trade market.
A prominent MLB insider believes that both the Houston Astros and Cleveland Guardians could be serious contenders for the top power hitter that might be available on the July MLB trade market.Heading into the MLB games today, the Astros and Guardians are in very different positions. While Houston has been a baseball powerhouse for much of the last decade and won another World Series title two seasons ago, they are off to a surprisingly poor start to the 2024 campaign and are seen by many around the league as potential sellers before the trade deadline.
On the other hand, the Guardians are in the midst of an upward swing after missing the playoffs in 2023. They are off to one of their best starts to a season in years and head into their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday with the second-best record in the entire league.
Yet, despite their differing positions on the current American League standings, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney believes they could be two of the likely organizations competing for the same All-Star player that may be placed on the trade block in a few weeks.
Pete Alonso stats (2024): .231 AVG, .305 OBP, .453 SLG, 12 HR, 26 RBI, 29 R
On Tuesday, Olney claimed that the Houston Astros and Cleveland Guardians should be seen as ” possible fits” for New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso. The three-time All-Star has hit 86 home runs over the previous two seasons and is viewed as one of the elite sluggers in the game.
The Mets and their homegrown star have not gotten anywhere close to terms on a contract extension as he plays out the final year of his original contract with the team. Even before the season started his name has been at the center of trade speculation, and with New York not looking like a serious playoff contender this season many believe they could again be sellers before the July 30 MLB trade deadline.
