It's tough to pick flaws with the trade deadline approach that the Houston Astros have had in past years because more times than not, they take the right gambles. For example, last year, they took a gamble that veteran starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi would be better than he was with the Toronto Blue Jays, and they were right.
That is about the extent of the type of moves the Astros usually make in seasons of contention. For example, in 2022, the Astros steered away from making a blockbuster splash for the Cubs' All-Star catcher Willson Contreras.