MLB trade rumors: Astros shopping Mike Fiers

The Houston Astros are looking to carry their winning momentum from the World Series into this year’s offseason, and they’ll start with Mike Fiers. According to Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros could swing a deal to move the veteran starter before the non-tender trade deadline this Friday at 8PM EST.

Despite receiving a World Series ring, Fiers season was less than World Series caliber for the Astros. The 32-year old pitched a shaky 5.22 ERA over 153.1 innings in 2017 and racked up a 146/62 K/BB ratio. He was 10th in the American League in walks allowed. Not only was the righty pitcher not on the postseason roster, but he’s the giant sore thumb on an otherwise very strong Houston pitching staff. It makes sense for the team to open up a little more cashflow in his place. Coming at what will likely be a $6M price tag after arbitration for next season, Houston can afford to cut these ties depth wise.

The Astros have nine players eligible for salary arbitration for 2018, including George Springer, Lance McCullers Jrs, and Dallas Keuchel. Fiers is arbitration eligible for the second of three years and out of the nine is expected to be the only one traded instead of being tendered a contract. If the Astros can’t complete a trade by the deadline, Fiers will then become a free agent.