HOUSTON — The Astros fulfilled three of their largest wants on the Commerce Deadline on a whirlwind Monday after they acquired first baseman/designated hitter Trey Mancini from the Orioles and catcher Christian Vázquez from the Crimson Sox and reportedly acquired lefty reliever Will Smith from the Braves in separate offers.

Mancini comes over in a three-team take care of the Rays and Orioles. Vázquez was acquired from the Crimson Sox in alternate for infielder Enmanuel Valdez (the Astros’ No. 28 prospect) and outfielder Wilyer Abreu (No. 29 prospect). MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported the Astros traded veteran pitcher Jake Odorizzi, and KRIV-TV in Houston reported the deal was for Smith. The group has not confirmed the deal.

Talking in regards to the the additions of Mancini and Vázquez, normal supervisor James Click on stated they need to present quick assist.

“Our focus is to attempt to put [ourselves] in one of the best place that we are able to to compete for a World Sequence Trey Mancini, Christian Vázquez traded to Astros this 12 months,” he stated. “These are two guys we predict can assist us get there.”

The Astros are nonetheless available in the market for assist in middle discipline forward of Tuesday’s 5 p.m. CT Commerce Deadline.

Mancini offers the Astros a veteran right-handed bat that may fill out their lineup properly along with his means to play first base, designated hitter and even left discipline, the place veteran Michael Brantley is out indefinitely with a shoulder harm. Click on stated each Mancini and Vázquez are “high-contact” hitters, which is one thing they valued.

“That was a part of the enchantment … we knew [Mancini] might exit to a corner-outfield spot, he might play first base, he might DH,” he stated. “He’s a extremely priceless bat off the bench. I believe some of the interesting issues about him is he hits lefties and righties very effectively for us, and in a pinch-hit scenario late in a sport, he might be an actual weapon on each side.”

Mancini, a most cancers survivor, has a $10 million mutual possibility for 2023 and has hit .268/.347/.404 with 10 homers this 12 months and will feast at Minute Maid Park. Primarily based on Statcast metrics, Mancini might probably have round 17 homers as a substitute of 10 if he’d been an Astro all 12 months, enjoying his residence video games in Houston, the place Minute Maid Park has a brief left-field porch.

“I am thrilled to be part of the group,” Mancini stated. “They’ve had such a constantly good group for lots of years, they usually’re having one other nice 12 months this 12 months. So I am excited to be part of it and. Yeah, it is loopy. However yeah, like I stated, wasn’t anticipating something to occur at present. So I am nonetheless simply sort of taking all of it in. … However positively excited to see what the remainder of this 12 months holds in Houston.”

The Astros despatched outfielder Jose Siri to the Rays and their No. 12 prospect, right-hander Chayce McDermott, to the O’s, whereas Tampa Bay is sending right-hander (and the group’s No. 6 prospect) Seth Johnson to Baltimore and right-hander Jayden Murray to Houston.

TRADE DETAILS
Orioles get: RHP Seth Johnson (Rays’ No. 6 prospect) and RHP Chayce McDermott (Astros’ No. 12 prospect)
Astros get: 1B/DH Trey Mancini (from Orioles) and RHP Jayden Murray (from Rays)
Rays get: OF Jose Siri (from Astros)

The Astros have been getting little manufacturing this season at first base, the place Yuli Gurriel’s efficiency has dropped off from 2021, when he received the American League batting title. Houston additionally has lacked manufacturing in middle discipline, the place Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick are splitting time. Brantley, the beginning left fielder, has been out since June 26.

In the meantime, Vázquez, 31, is hitting .282/.327/.432 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 84 video games this 12 months with the Crimson Sox, who took him within the ninth spherical within the 2008 MLB Draft out of Puerto Rico. His four-year, $20.three million contract expires on the finish of this season. Maldonado was slashing .173/.239/.342 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs getting into Monday after posting a .852 OPS in July.

“A veteran man, nice game-caller, nice behind the plate,” Click on stated. “He actually works effectively with the employees. We all know that he prepares, we all know that he is aware of the scouting report and may execute it. And he is a man — having seen him within the AL East for just a few years — he’s by no means the man you need coming to the plate when there are runners on. He all the time appears to discover a strategy to put the bat on the ball and get these guys in.”

Maldonado, who performed with Vázquez in winter ball, spoke to his new teammate after Monday’s loss to the Crimson Sox. 

“We discuss lots, and we’ve got a extremely, actually good friendship,” Maldonado stated. “[He has] quite a lot of vitality, expertise, [he’s a] gamer. A man that works arduous. He brings lots to this clubhouse. He’s a man that received a World Sequence and performed many playoff video games.” 

By buying and selling away Odorizzi, the Astros unencumber a spot of their six-man rotation, which might see the return of injured right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. quickly.