The Houston Astros are on the lookout for starting pitching after Luis Garcia experienced a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, forcing the team to shut him down due to elbow soreness. This has left Houston thin in the rotation, and one team they could consider as a trade partner is the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies, who added lefty Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins this offseason, seem to have a solidified rotation with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Luzardo, and Christopher Sanchez. While they could opt for a six-man rotation, right-hander currently appears to be the odd man out.
Top veteran could benefit from a fresh start after struggling in 2024, finishing with a career-worst 7.10 ERA over 19 appearances. In fact, he’s only posted a sub-3.50 ERA once in the past four seasons. Houston could explore a trade with Philadelphia to see if Walker is available.
One potential deal could be:
- Astros receive: RHP Taijuan Walker
- Phillies receive: RHP James Hicks (Astros’ No. 20 prospect) and C/1B Jancel Villarroel (Astros’ No. 29 prospect)
This trade would give Houston much-needed depth in Garcia’s absence, while Philadelphia would acquire two young prospects—Hicks (23) and Villarroel (20)—to develop over the next few seasons, with no immediate major league pressure.