Astros Bolster Pitching Staff with Francisco Liriano

Astros Get: Francisco Liriano (6-5, 5.88 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 74/43 K/BB, Age 33)
Blue Jays Get: Nori Aoki (2 HR, 19 RBI, .272 AVG, 5 SB, 87 wRC+, Age 35)
Teoscar Hernandez (12 HR, 44 RBI, .279 AVG, 12 SB at AAA, 118 wRC+, Age 24)

Everyone knows the Astros' offense is a forced to be reckoned with this season, as they have had no problem out-slugging opponents with Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, etc. etc. etc. The pitching staff hasn't been quite on the same level, and while that's not an issue in the regular season with the 'stros beating up on the A's, Rangers, Angels, and Mariners, it may be a problem against the AL powerhouses in the playoffs. Liriano provides rotation depth in case Dallas Keuchel gets hurt again or Collin McHugh fails to solidify himself, but for now, he'll work out of the bullpen. He's made just 29 relief appearances in his career, but the hope is that he can add a few miles per hour to his fastball and sharpen his slider. He has been pretty ineffective as a starter this year, posting a 5.88 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP over 18 starts, allowing fewer than two runs in just two of those starts. He has a history of bouncing between effective and ineffective seasons, and it doesn't look like this is his year, but crazy things can happen when you move to the bullpen. He'll be a free agent after the season, and for his career, he is 102-97 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP over 303 games (274 starts). Over his 29 relief appearances in his career, he has a 5.15 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, striking out 58 and walking 17 in 43.2 innings.

The Astros dealt from a position of strength, as the outfield is already crowded with Josh Reddick, George Springer (once he comes back from the quad injury), Jake Marisnick, and rookies Derek Fisher and Tony Kemp in addition to Aoki and Hernandez. Nori Aoki will work in with the Toronto outfield with Jose Bautista, Kevin Pillar, and Steve Pearce, bringing a mediocre .272/.323/.371 slash line over 70 games. He's a solid hitter who can get on base, but with a career-low .323 OBP this year without much power, his value is closer to that of a solid fourth outfielder than as a starter. He has one year of arbitration after 2017, so it's not just a rental for Toronto, and he should be a part of their plans next year. For his career, Aoki has 30 home runs and a .285/.350/.385 slash line over 719 games. Teoscar Hernandez was blocked in Houston, fighting with rookies Fisher and Kemp to take playing time from Reddick and Marisnick. The 24 year old slashed .230/.304/.420 with four home runs over 41 big league games last year, but has spent 2017 with AAA Fresno, slashing .279/.369/.485 with 12 home runs over 79 games. His power/speed combo makes him an intriguing prospect for the near-future, possibly even this year.