​Astros claim 17 home run outfielder from Cardinals after trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Houston Astros have added a right-handed power bat via the waiver wire. The Astros were looking for a right-handed swinger to complement their left-handers in the outfield, and they found a four-year veteran from the St. Louis Cardinals. Astros outfielders Daulton Varsho, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Taylor Trammell all hit from the left side. On Monday, the AL West club announced that they had claimed Nelson Velazquez off waivers from the Cardinals. In a corresponding move, infielder/outfielder Shay Whitcomb was designated for assignment. Velazquez is not a strong defender in left or right field. But he does have some pop in his bat. In 2023, the 27-year-old hit 17 home runs across 53 combined games with the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. MORE: Dave Dombrowski reveals why Phillies didn’t trade for a righty-hitting outfielderIn 34 games with the Cardinals, Velazquez hit  .216/.289/.432 with four homers but an elevated 30.1% strikeout rate. The Astros did not trade for a right-handed hitter at the deadline, instead acquiring Varsho from the Toronto Blue Jays. Austin Hays, one possible option, recently signed with the San Diego Padres. Rob Refsnyder, released by the Seattle Mariners, remains a free agent. More MLB news:Phillies receive slightly worrying 65% playoff odds projection from ESPNRed Sox get 8.2% chance to win World Series, which is more than Yankees’ oddsDodgers prospect Kendall George to undergo knee surgery months after viral bat dog incidentEx-MLB GM wishes Braves had traded 22-year-old RHP prospect for Orioles’ All-Star Trevor RogersBrewers ‘toyed’ with idea of trading for Padres closer Mason Miller