HOUSTON — Desperation is drawing near for their depleted outfield so, on Monday afternoon, the Houston Astros made another roster move. Trey Cabbage struck out 19 times while posting a .493 OPS across his last 43 Triple-A plate appearances and, somehow, earned a promotion.
Upon his return, Cabbage hit seventh, struck out twice more and prolonged a putrid stretch for an otherwise surging team. The Astros are out of options in their search for outfield stability, which is perhaps the only barrier between them and a total breakaway atop the American League West. That they have still built a five-game lead is remarkable.
Advertisement No satisfactory solution exists amid Houston’s carousel of struggling prospects and underperforming major-league talent. According to FanGraphs, only six teams are extracting less value from their outfields since the All-Star break than the Astros. Kyle Tucker ’s absence is crippling, but it’s not the only thing to blame.
The Astros’ anemia accentuates a two-year-old trade deadline decision . The Boston Red Sox ’s presence in Houston — and at the ballpark where the trade transpired — only furthers wonder of how well Wilyer Abreu would solve much of what is ailing his former club. Two Augusts ago, the Astros traded Abreu and infielder Enmanuel Valdez to the Red Sox for two months of backup catcher Christian Vázquez .
Abreu had not played a game above Double A at the time; he has since blossomed into an American League Rookie of the .