The Houston Astros will use the MLB trade deadline to solidify themselves as a World Series contender in the American League. With the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers competing for the top spot in the AL, the Astros will need to strengthen any weak areas on their roster to keep pace.
Houston have their two pitchers atop their rotation in Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez, but they need to bolster the middle part of the group behind both those guys.
During Monday's "MLB Show," Bleacher Report's Tyler Ward believes the Astros are an ideal landing spot for Kansas City veteran starter Seth Lugo.
"So Lugo hasn’t been dominant with any of his stuff this year, but he throws the kitchen sink and can consistently give you length," Ward said. "He already has 100-plus innings. This is a true horse. This is a guess for Seth Lugo here. I think Lugo would blossom big time in Houston as a formidable piece of that rotation."
MORE: Astros connected to $11.5 million Orioles All-Star as deadline looms
Ward doesn't only see Houston as a viable landing place for Lugo since he predicts that the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs will rival the Astros to secure the 35-year-old.
Despite the Royals struggling this season, they're 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot, so the question will be whether they want to sell or keep a player like Lugo and push for the postseason. If that's the case, then the Astros will need to look elsewhere, but if Kansas City waves the white flag on their season, Houston must jump on Lugo.