Trade Deadline Miss: No Starting Pitching Added

The Astros failed to acquire a starting pitcher at the deadline, dealing Spencer Arrighetti for Daulton Varsho while passing on upgrades. Internal sources report frustration with ownership meddling and high asking prices. A former GM confirmed the blocked Abreu-Larnach trade. The rotation now relies on internal returns (Blanco, Wesneski, Javier). The team won the first game of the Padres series 6-3 with Blanco's quality start, but concerns persist. The team continues to explore replacements after optioning Mike Burrows.