Astros trade rumors: Houston interested in Chris Sale, Chris Archer

The Astros are looking to acquire a pair of Chrises, reports Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com. Both Chris Sale and Chris Archer could be making their way to Houston in the near future.

It’s likely that Tampa Bay will be dealing either Chris Archer or Drew Smyly this winter reports ESPN’s Buster Olney. So it makes sense that a team like the Astros, who are looking to strike an even blend of young arms and veterans, could swoop in and give the Rays an offer they can’t refuse. In 2016, Archer had a career high of 19 losses and a 4.02 ERA with 233 strikeouts, though he still maintains strong value on the trade market.

Previously, the Braves were also tossing their hat into the ring for both pitchers. After acquiring a new arsenal of veteran pitchers like R.A. Dickey, Bartolo Colon, and Jaime Garcia, Atlanta could still make a serious play for Archer of Sale.

Sale had a 3.34 ERA across 226.2 innings pitched and is the top starting pitcher on the market this winter. The Cy Young finalist will be owed a team-friendly $38M over the next three years.

While having a pitcher like Sale in your rotation is sure to be a stronghold, that luxury is only really available for teams who can afford the payout. According to Jon Heyman in late November, the lefty was still fetching a hefty price, one that’s potentially higher than what it was in July. Other teams in the mix include the Red Sox, Nationals, Rangers, and Dodgers.