The Houston Astros are on the lookout for a left-handed hitter to enhance their roster, and there have been ongoing discussions this offseason about the possibility of acquiring Brendan Donovan, a versatile player from the St. Louis Cardinals. This interest isn’t new; the Astros had their eyes on the 29-year-old last trade deadline as well. Donovan, a former Gold Glove winner, possesses several qualities that could address some of Houston's weaknesses. For instance, he boasts a high contact rate, having batted .287 last season and maintaining a .282 average throughout his career. His career strikeout rate of 13.5% would certainly complement a lineup that tends to feature a number of aggressive hitters.
However, a significant challenge arises when considering Donovan’s primary position. He excels at second base, but can also play left field, which complicates his integration alongside José Altuve—who has had his own difficulties in left field. Consequently, it may be more prudent for the Astros to seek out a dedicated outfielder instead. A more fitting option could be Donovan's teammate, Lars Nootbaar, who swings from the left side.
Focusing on Lars Nootbaar rather than Brendan Donovan could be a smarter strategy for the Astros when negotiating with the Cardinals. The infield for Houston is quite congested, featuring talents like Altuve, Carlos Correa, Christian Walker, Jeremy Peña, and potentially Isaac Paredes, if he remains on the team. Paredes' versatility allows him to handle third, first, and second base, further reducing the need for another player at second base.
On the flip side, while the Astros have various options for their outfield, there is a lack of consistency among them. Jake Meyers, who is also likely to be traded, faces potential regression in performance heading into 2026. Jesus Sanchez has not lived up to expectations and may also be moved before the winter ends. Additionally, younger players like Cam Smith and Zach Cole are part of the outfield mix. Although Yordan Alvarez could see time in left field, it’s advisable to keep him primarily at designated hitter after a tumultuous injury-affected last season.
While Nootbaar may not be a superstar, he meets the Astros’ pressing need for a left-handed batter and could bring much-needed stability amid the uncertainty surrounding their outfield. Like Donovan, Nootbaar has two years of team control remaining and an affordable salary of $5.35 million, yet he is likely to be less costly to acquire in a trade.
Despite facing injuries previously and coming off a challenging year—where he posted a .234/.325/.361 line with 13 home runs over 135 games in 2025—Nootbaar still shows considerable promise. He carries a career wRC+ of 110, indicating he is typically an above-average hitter. Notably, a significant portion of his value stems from his impressive plate discipline; even during a down year, he maintained an 11% walk rate last season, with a career walk rate of 12.8%, which surpasses that of Donovan.
Moreover, Nootbaar excels in hard contact, evidenced by his 50% hard hit rate, which ranks in the 87th percentile, along with an average exit velocity of 91.3 miles per hour, placing him in the 79th percentile. While he consistently makes solid contact, there is room for improvement in his launch angles—his sweet spot percentage was only in the 29th percentile last year. By adjusting his approach to elevate more of those hard-hit balls, he could significantly boost his offensive output.
In summary, even if Nootbaar doesn’t drastically improve his launch angles, he aligns well with both the Astros' lineup needs and positional requirements, arguably outperforming Donovan in this regard. What do you think? Is targeting Nootbaar the right move for the Astros, or do you believe they should stick with pursuing Donovan? Share your thoughts!
