Astros acquire Trey Mancini from Orioles in expiring deal

As the trade deadline approached, the Astros removed a potential Mets target from the board.

Baltimore trades utility Trey Mancini to Houston, as first reported by The Athletic on Monday afternoon.

The move is part of a three-team trade between the Orioles, Rays and Astros. He sends Mancini and right-hander Jayden Murray – via the Rays – to Houston. The Orioles get right-handers Seth Johnson (Rays) and Chayce McDermott (Astros) and Tampa outfielder Jose Siri from the Astros, according to ESPN.

Mancini is hitting .268 with a .751 OPS and 10 home runs this season. He expects to see frequent playing time at first base, taking over for brawling Yuli Gurriel, and will add a powerful right-handed presence to the heart of Houston’s lineup amid southpaws Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker and Michael Brantley.

Mancini became one of baseball’s feel-good stories last season, when he hit 21 homers and earned American League Comeback Player of the Year honors after missing the entire 2020 season struggling against stage 3 colon cancer.

The resurgent Orioles came just three games out of last place AL Wild Card on Monday, with a 51-51 record. Now, however, any playoff pursuit will go without one of their best sticks.