Cubs Rumors: Looking at 5 potential landing spots for Marcus Stroman

5 potential partners in a Marcus Stroman trade: #3 - Houston Astros

Pitching and defense wins championships. That could bode well for the reigning World Series champion Astros, whose starting rotation ranks second in the league in ERA (but a middle-of-the-pack 12th in terms of WHIP). Injuries have decimated this team all year long and adding rotation reinforcements is hardly the worst idea in the world.

Houston 'checked in' on not only Stroman, but also former MVP and Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger in recent weeks, per reports - so you know the Astros are, at the very least, doing their due diligence.

Framber Valdez is in the AL Cy Young conversation, but pairing him with Stroman to start a postseason series would be a big move for Dusty Baker's club. Houston has the prospect capital to swing a deal like this and he'd be a perfect fit as the Astros try to make it back-to-back titles and reach their fourth World Series in the last seven years.