Astros Set to Boost Roster with Ramon Urias Acquisition: What This Means for the Team

The Houston Astros have reached an agreement to trade for infielder Ramón Urías from the Baltimore Orioles. In return, the Orioles will receive minor league pitcher Twine Palmer.

Urías adds depth and versatility to the Astros, particularly at third base. The team recently lost Isaac Paredes to a significant hamstring injury, which may require season-ending surgery. Although he’s seeking multiple opinions to avoid going under the knife, Paredes is out for at least two months.

At 31, Urías joined the Orioles in 2020 and quickly proved his worth. He won the AL Gold Glove award for third base in 2022, even while playing fewer than 800 innings there. His recent defensive metrics show a resurgence – after some inconsistencies in earlier seasons, he’s regained his strong defensive skills.

Urías has also been a capable hitter for Baltimore. He had impressive offensive seasons in 2021, 2022, and 2024, although his performance has dipped slightly this year with a wRC+ of 90. However, he excels against left-handed pitchers, boasting a wRC+ of 124 since 2024.

This acquisition serves as a sensible stopgap for the Astros. They didn’t have to invest heavily in a player after moving several third basemen like Eugenio Suárez and Ryan McMahon in recent trades. Urías will earn a raise from his current salary of $3.15 million, but he’s under the Astros’ control through 2026, giving them flexibility for future moves.

After the recent win over the Nationals, the Astros hold a 62-47 record. They are 4.5 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL West, while the Mariners made a notable trade themselves, acquiring Suárez.

The Astros have also explored other trade options. They showed interest in Carlos Correa from the Twins and Dylan Cease from the Padres, but it looks like third base might now be settled with Urías in the mix. There’s still chatter about the Astros wanting a left-handed bat, with Brandon Lowe considered a potential target.

Baltimore, meanwhile, is seeing a shift in its roster. Along with Urías, they shipped Andrew Kittredge to the Cubs and have let go of other players like Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto. This indicates a willingness by GM Mike Elias to reshape the team, moving players with contracts that extend beyond this season.

Twine Palmer, the prospect headed to Baltimore, has shown promise in A-ball with a 2.13 ERA this year. Although not highly ranked among the Astros’ top prospects, his strong groundball rate and ability to miss bats highlight his potential. This trade exemplifies how teams can acquire experienced players like Urías without significant sacrifices in their prospect pipeline.

For more on how trade strategies are evolving in sports, you can check out this analysis by FanGraphs.

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