With an undermanned rotation in a winnable division, the Houston Astros are among the teams that have expressed interest in Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, according to league sources.

Taillon would fill a need both this season and next for the Astros, who won’t have José Urquidy, Cristian Javier or J.P. France for most of 2025 after all of them underwent season-ending surgeries.

Justin Verlander won’t pitch the 140 innings needed to trigger his vesting player option, either, meaning he’ll enter free agency after this season.

For many teams, the decision of whether to add or subtract at the MLB trade deadline is as simple as checking the standings.

But every summer, there are a handful of front offices that have a more difficult dilemma.

Some teams are on the edge of contention — or have legitimate hopes of contending the next season — while also holding some of the deadline’s most intriguing trade candidates.

ESPN has identified six such teams, and with the July 30 deadline less than a week away, time is running out for these franchises to choose a direction.

Complicating the decision this year is muddled races for the final playoff spots in both leagues.

Even sub-.500 clubs could be one good run away from a legitimate chance to play in October.