Astonishing news: Red Sox are the top landing spot, and Astros star is reportedly up for trade

Would the Boston Red Sox shake up the American League by trading for the Houston Astros ace?

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is hunting for multiple starting pitching additions and could turn to Houston to bolster his pitching staff in the form of left-hander Framber Valdez.

The Astros are not actively looking to move their ace but reportedly would like to cut payroll and have taken calls from more than five teams regarding the 30-year-old hurler according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on Sunday.

If Valdez trade talks intensify, the Red Sox are expected to be in the mix. There’s a good chance they’ve already inquired.

Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer connected the two sides after it was revealed that Boston’s reported $300 million offer for Yoshinobu Yamamoto was inaccurate.

“Though that doesn’t mean the Red Sox are out on the (Yamamoto) altogether, indications are that they’re not a favorite for him either,” Rymer wrote Wednesday. “If so, having to pivot to other potential rotation saviors may be inevitable.”

Valdez posted a 3.45 ERA with a 200-to-57 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .228 batting average against and a 1.13 WHIP in 198 innings last season, finishing ninth in American League Cy Young voting.

The southpaw is under team control for two more seasons, which would put the Red  Sox in play — Breslow has essentially shut down the idea of trading for one-year rentals.

It makes more sense to dive into the deep free-agent pitching market but if options thin out the Red Sox could invest in Valdez. He’d immediately become the best starter in Boston.

I don’t envision this move happening but Valdez certainly is a name to keep an eye on moving forward.