Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Astros will try anything. Parading out a mixture of prospects and veterans in both their lineup and rotation, the Astros’ roster is a revolving door. With most of their talent — excluding 2B Jose Altuve — still a few seasons away, the Astros will give many different players to show their talents.
Currently, their first baseman is 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, with a 39 percent strikeout rate. Though this mold differs from the new emphasis on athleticism in infields, Chris Carter has been around average (which is 100) wRC+ and many other metrics.
Carter has already hit eight home runs this season and figures to, if given 550-650 at bats, get close to 30 in the 2013 season. If Carter’s walk rate, however, stays at or below his career rate of 11.5 percent, he is going to struggle to get to a .300 OBP. His .212 batting average, which is actually aided by an abnormally high BABIP, is just at his career levels. Carter is a fascinating player, but he does not figure to ever offer much tangible value.
As with all Astros players, Carter is certainly available via trade. As a right-handed power bat, he could have value as a pinch-hitter for a contender. Carter is a below-average fielder, but his bat would represent a potential spark off the bench.
The Astros don’t have anyone available that would be a regular for a first-division team, but players like Carter and Wesley Wright could be bench bats and middle relievers on other teams. It will be interesting to see how the Astros handle Carter, as they have a very similar player in Carlos Pena also on the roster.
Gabe Isaacson is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter: @gabeisaacson.
