Colorado Rockies: Daniel Bard and Mychal Givens could be on the Houston Astros radar

The Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies could soon be trade partners as the Astros are in desperate need of bullpen help.

Entering Thursday, the Astros have a 58-39 record and a three game lead on the Oakland A’s for first place in the American League West. However, arguably, their biggest weakness is their bullpen.

Overall on the season, the Astros bullpen has an ERA of 4.18, which is 16th in baseball and they have five relievers on the injured list.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Astros are looking to improve their bullpen and the Rockies could help them on the cheap.

The Colorado Rockies could provide the Houston Astros with two, backend relievers on the cheap.

The Colorado Rockies could provide the Houston Astros with two, veteran, backend relievers in closer Daniel Bard and Mychal Givens.

The Astros will likely be looking to stay on the cheap end of things as they are about $3 million shy of the luxury tax threshold. For the rest of the season, both Bard and Givens are going to earn roughly a combined $2.7 million.

Bard, 36, would give the Astros a possible closer who has pitched very well for the Rockies recently. In his last eight appearances, he has an ERA of 1.23 with an opponent slash line of .185/.313/.259.

Givens, 31, has a good overall ERA on the season (3.04) but his FIP (4.98) suggests that he has had some good luck. In his last 11 appearances (since May 22), that has been highlighted even more as opponents have hit .263/.349/.421 off of him but in that same span, he has an ERA of 1.64.

The main concern with Givens other than that opponent slash line is that he has only has four appearances since he returned from the IL himself as he was out for three weeks due to a lower back strain.

Both Bard and Givens could be on the move in the next week plus before the July 30 trade deadline and with many contenders, like the Astros, looking for bullpen help, the Rockies could be shipping them elsewhere soon.