The Houston Astros continued an active deadline day, following their stunning trade for Carlos Correa with a move to get outfield depth in the way of Jesús Sánchez.

No lineup in baseball has received fewer at-bats from left-handed hitters than Houston’s. Sánchez solves that dilemma — and will provide balance until designated hitter Yordan Alvarez returns after fracturing his right hand.

Sánchez could also spell rookie Cam Smith in right field. Smith, who has struggled since the All-Star break, is reaching a workload he’s never played before. The Astros have had no choice but to keep playing him given their rash of injuries.

A league-average hitter and adequate defender, Sánchez could raise Houston’s floor as a corner outfielder and designated-hitting option. The 27-year-old has hit double-digit home runs in each of the past four seasons, and he is striking out less often than ever in 2025. He has experience at all three outfield positions, and while not a fast runner, he has emerged as a serviceable base-stealer.

Sánchez had been the rebuilding Marlins’ most expensive position player. He is earning just $4.5 million this season, with two remaining years of control. He may not possess the highest ceiling, but his combination of skills and affordability should continue to make him a useful player.

The Marlins received right-handed pitcher Ryan Gusto, minor league infielder Chase Jaworsky and minor league outfielder Esmil Valencia in the deal. Gusto, 26, is 7-4 with a 4.92 ERA in 24 appearances for the Astros this season. Jaworsky, 23, was the Astros’ fifth-round pick in 2023 and has spent the entire season in High-A while Valencia, 19, was hitting .263 with a .682 OPS in Single-A.

Trade grade

Astros: B-
Marlins: C+

Tyler Kepner: Basically, this is a league-average position player for a starter who might be league average, but has more club control.

The Astros desperately needed a left-handed bat and they got it in Sánchez, who in over six years in the majors has hit .243/.310/.426 – for a 100 OPS+. The good thing is that he’s squarely in his prime, at 27, and under club control through 2027. If there’s more upside in that bat, the Astros will find it.

For now, the question remains who is going to replace Gusto in the rotation. He hasn’t been great, but he’s been healthy enough to make 14 starts – and only Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown have made more for the Astros this year.

Gusto beat the Nationals Wednesday with six strong innings, so he can slide right into Miami’s rotation. A 26-year-old rookie, he has a good strikeout rate (9.1/9, basically the same as he had in the minors) and a 4.92 ERA. Feels like Miami should have gotten a prospect as a throw-in for an everyday player, but this one’s mostly a push.

(Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)