The Houston Astros acquired infielder/outfielder Trey Cabbage from the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Carlos Espinosa. The move comes after the Angels designated Cabbage for assignment last week. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter had a great year at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2023, hitting 30 home runs and stealing 32 bases, but he went just 11-for-53 (.208) with a home run, seven RBI and 26 strikeouts in his first 56 major-league plate appearances after being called up. Despite posting a 30-30 campaign, Cabbage struck out a third of the time in the minors. He'll give the Astros some minor-league depth in 2024 at first base and in the outfield. Espinosa, 22, had a 4.29 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 26 walks and 70 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings over 15 appearances (seven starts) in 2023 while reaching Single-A Fayetteville in his first full professional season.
The Los Angeles Angels have designated outfielder Trey Cabbage for assignment. The lefty-swinging outfielder was the 40-man roster casualty required to make room for reliever Matt Moore, whose one-year, $9 million deal has become official. Cabbage got into 22 games with the Halos in the 2023 season and hit .208 with one home run, one stolen base, and an enormous 46.4% strikeout rate across 56 trips to the plate. He was far better in the minors, hitting .306 with 30 homers, 32 stolen bases, and a .975 OPS across 107 games at the Triple-A level. The 26-year-old is a career .261 hitter in the minors with 96 homers and 62 steals across 567 games. His big-time production at the Triple-A level in 2023 should attract some interest on the open market, although he can still be traded or retained by the Angels.
