HOUSTON -- Who’s in the market for a solid starting pitcher who has postseason experience? Call the Astros, who appear willing to ship strike-throwing right-hander José Urquidy away to help with their pursuit of an outfielder, catcher and relief pitching.

The Astros, who have been using a six-man rotation and may soon get Lance McCullers Jr. back off the injured list, are willing to move one of their young, controllable starters, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. That could mean Urquidy, who threw his eighth consecutive quality start in Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Mariners at Minute Maid Park.

Urquidy held the Mariners to two runs on four hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.86, while throwing a season-high 106 pitches. He’s 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP in his past eight starts, giving up 30 hits and 12 walks in 52 innings.

Urquidy said he is well aware of his name in the trade rumors.

“I got all the social media and I saw when people tag me in some news, but if something happens, let’s see,” Urquidy said. “I will have that same focus. I would like to stay here for many years, but I know this is a business. If that happens, I’ll have to play and work hard.”

With the Trade Deadline set for 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday, the Astros are being aggressive in their pursuit to upgrade their offense. Left fielder Michael Brantley has been out for more than a month with a right shoulder injury, and center fielder Jake Meyers has slumped since coming off the injured list June 24.

Urquidy said a possible trade was on his mind when he took the mound Thursday. Among the teams who could have interest in Urquidy are the Giants, Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers and Mets, depending on the health of Jacob deGrom. A deal with a contender would mean a third team would have to get involved, though.

“Anyways, I have to do my work,” Urquidy said. “That’s not my decision. If that happens, I have to be good with myself and take it easy.”

Urquidy, 27, is one of the biggest recent success stories of the Astros’ international scouting efforts, along with fellow big league starters Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia. All four are key pieces in Houston's rotation -- a group that may soon get a boost if McCullers Jr. returns from a right flexor tendon injury that’s kept him out all year.

Houston also has top pitching prospect Hunter Brown knocking at the door with Triple-A Sugar Land, but there is nowhere to put him in the rotation. That makes Urquidy expendable. Trading him as part of a package to land an outfielder, a first baseman, a backup catcher or a relief pitcher could help the Astros improve their roster while not wrecking their starting rotation.

Urquidy, signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent out of Mexico in 2015, is a quality mid-rotation starter who is 20-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 53 Major League games (51 starts). He’s also got extensive postseason experience. Urquidy has posted a 4.05 ERA in 11 career playoff games, with six starts, including Game 4 of the 2019 World Series and Game 2 of the 2021 Fall Classic.

“He’s been unbelievable, just pounding the strike zone,” said Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who homered and drove in three runs Thursday. “Every time he goes out there, you know you’re going to get a guy who’s going to compete in the zone. He works fast, and we love playing behind him. He’s an unbelievable teammate. He shows up and he’s the same guy every single day and loves competing.”

So why shop Urquidy and not Javier or Garcia? Like Javier, Urquidy will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason, while Garcia hits arbitration a year later, in 2024. But Javier has shown tremendous swing-and-miss stuff (12.33 strikeouts per nine innings this season) and can flex to the bullpen. Garcia has better stuff than Urquidy but could also be available.

As for Urquidy, manager Dusty Baker knows the value he brings.

“He’s given us six or seven innings -- knock on wood -- almost every time out,” he said. “That’s a much-needed thing for our bullpen.”