Before each of the last two seasons I wrote articles examining the Astros’ prospective pitching depth and suggested that they needed to sign another starting pitcher. The Astros did not do that...but they ended up requiring more starting pitchers as the seasons progressed in 2023 and 2024. As a result, the Astros drained more of their thin farm system to acquire a mid-season starting pitcher in both 2023 and 2024.
At this point, relying upon mid-season starting pitcher acquisitions to solve starting pitcher depth problems is a very bad idea. Trade prices are exorbitant at the mid-season deadline, and the Astros’ leaky prospect pipeline can’t sustain any more mid-season trades of prospects So, if the Astros can foresee a lack of rotation depth, they should probably deal with it this off-season when the cost won’t be as expensive.