Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets watches after hitting a ball deep for a home run during the eighth inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 2, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Todd Kirkland/Getty ImagesThe week got off to a somber start for some in Houston, as Astros ace and three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander agreed to a massive deal with the New York Mets. Perhaps some more positive news is on the horizon for the franchise and its fans.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Astros are currently "eyeing three left-handed hitting outfielders." Andrew Benintendi, Michael Brantley and Michael Conforto were the players mentioned by Rosenthal in his report on Monday.
All three of these individuals are former All-Stars, though they also all come with varying levels of injury concerns.
Re-signing Brantley seems as if it would be a popular move for the Astros. The 35-year-old has earned the moniker "Uncle Mike" across the past four years, serving as a valuable contributor, as well as a mentor to younger players on the team. Two of his five All-Star nods have come in Houston, and he was off to a decent start in 2022—posting a .288/.370/.416 slash line with five home runs, 26 RBI and 28 runs scored in 64 games—before a shoulder injury ended his season.
Conforto, an All-Star in 2017, missed all of 2022 after undergoing shoulder surgery and batted .232 the previous year. However, he did post a career-high .322 batting average and .927 OPS with the Mets during the shortened 2020 COVID season.
Benintendi's injury issues seem less severe—he underwent surgery for a broken bone in his right wrist in early September, and after early hope he could return for the playoffs, did not see the field again in 2022. He also made his first All-Star appearance this season after earning his first Gold Glove nod the previous year, hitting a career-high .304 with the Royals and Yankees in 2022.