MLB Trade Rumors: Astros & Rockies Becoming Trade Partners

July 05, 2026 ,
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We're within a month of the trade deadline now, and teams' needs are coming into clear focus, if they hadn't been already. 

In Houston, the Astros are 24th in OPS in left field and 23rd in center field, and getting hardly any production out of those two spots (not that Cam Smith's .220/.293/.380 slash line with a .673 OPS is killing it in right field, either). It's clear where their priority lies at the deadline, as they've got two notable names from the Colorado Rockies outfield squarely on their radar, according to insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
The Houston Astros, badly needing an outfielder, are showing strong interest in Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy of the Colorado Rockies.

McCarthy continues his incredible breakout season, and has been one of the top under-the-radar pickups of the 2026 major league season. And he's only getting better as the season progresses.

In his last 16 games going into Sunday, McCarthy was batting .377 with a .403 on base pct. and a .725 slugging for a 1.128 OPS. He's added five homers and three stolen bases in that time as well. He also recently became the first player in major league history to notch a leadoff HR, a grand slam, and a stolen base all in the same game. 

On the season, McCarthy is batting .307 with an .862 OPS, and the Arizona Diamondbacks must be kicking themselves letting him go. 

Moniak & McCarthy both on Astros radar

If not McCarthy, how about Moniak as an outfield addition in Houston? 

He had an excellent season last year with 24 homers and an .862 OPS. But the Rockies decided to hang on to him. Now he's significantly increased his trade value, with 15 homers and a .945 OPS. In just 55 games.  

It's buyer beware here, though, as we look at the old Coors Field effect. Moniak is batting 100 points higher in the thin air of Denver, his OPS is over 400 points higher at home, and he has 12 of his 15 homers there. 

The Astros are desperate for outfield help, however, as Nightengale notes, so they might just ignore those splits (at their own risk). 

Incidentally, the insider also says that the 'Stros "plan to be in the Tarik Skubal and Sonny Gray sweepstakes." Wow.


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