HOUSTON -- Have the Astros done enough to fix their bullpen by making two deals to acquire three relief pitchers this week? Of course, we won’t know the answer to that until the end of the season, but there’s no doubt Houston’s bullpen should be much improved when they take the field Friday night in San Francisco.

The Astros’ biggest move came Tuesday when they traded for Mariners relievers Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero, in exchange for reliever Joe Smith and infielder Abraham Toro. Graveman is the key figure in this deal for Houston, considering he’s been one of the best relievers in the American League this year. General manager James Click said the goal was to add more swing-and-miss ability in the bullpen, and Graveman throws hard.

So does Yimi García, the former Marlins closer who the Astros acquired on Wednesday for pitcher Austin Pruitt and Triple-A outfielder Bryan De La Cruz. Astros manager Dusty Baker now has more options at the back of the bullpen beyond All-Star closer Ryan Pressly. The quality of the bullpen depth has drastically improved, even if they get nothing from Montero.

Let’s answer some FAQs as Friday's Trade Deadline approaches:

Q: Will the Astros make any more trades?
A: On Wednesday, Click hinted there could be another trade in the works. Granted, it’s rare for a GM to say a team is done dealing prior to the Deadline. Why close any doors before you have to? The Astros could still add another reliever and maybe even a starting pitcher, but even if they don’t make any additional trades, they’ve done enough to increase their chances of being able to advance to the AL Championship Series for the fifth year in a row.

“We’re going to use all of those hours to continue to try to improve the roster,” Click said Wednesday. “I’m happy with the options we’ve been able to provide for Dusty so far, but our job is not going to be done until 3:01 [p.m. CT] on Friday. We’re going to continue to look for more ways to improve the team. I don’t know where that’s going to come from. That will depend on conversations and how they go over the [remaining] hours, but we’re open to anything and we will continue to be aggressive.”

How will Graveman be used?

Perhaps Baker put it best when he said the addition of Graveman gives them more versatility in the bullpen. Graveman, a converted starter, closed with the Mariners and certainly can be used in that role with the Astros, too, though Baker said Pressly will remain his primary closer. García will join right-handers Ryne Stanek and Cristian Javier as key bullpen weapons for Baker, who isn’t afraid to use right-hander Bryan Abreu in big spots as well.

But on days on which Pressly isn’t available, Graveman can close, and vice versa. Graveman has also dominated right-handed batters this year (5-for-63), so that’s a significant weapon to have in the bullpen in close games against tough right-handed bats when you’re not ready to use Pressly.

“It gives us a lot of interchangeable parts,” Baker said. “It gives us a couple of guys [Graveman and Montero] who both closed and pitched in high-leverage situations at the end of the game. And it gives us some more quality firepower and gas in the bullpen, to go along with what we have now.”

Q: OK, the Astros added three right-handed relievers, but who’s going to get lefties out, especially with Brooks Raley’s recent struggles?
A: Outside of Pressly (.522 opponents’ OPS against lefties) and southpaw reliever Blake Taylor (.361), Raley has been the Astros’ most effective reliever against left-handed hitters (.528). But right-handed hitters are punishing Raley this year (.304 average, .861 OPS), so he could be used more in a lefty specialist role and not as much in high-leverage situations.

“Getting righties out was something that we identified as a priority coming into the Deadline,” Click said. “I think we’ve had a lot of success getting lefties out to this point and we wanted to make sure we supplemented ourselves on the right-handed side of things. I still think with Taylor and Raley from the left side, we have weapons to get lefties out. Beyond that, we have some right-handed relievers that have shown the ability to get guys from both sides out. I think we’re in a good spot.”

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Q: I know the Astros were trying to stay under the collective balance tax threshold. Do these trades put them over?
A: Nope. By trading away Smith, who was making $4 million, and adding Graveman, García and Montero, Houston remains under the threshold. Graveman ($1.25 million salary in 2021) and Montero ($2.25 million) are both free-agents-to-be who will be owed the pro-rated portions of their salaries, and the Astros are on the hook for the rest of García's $1.9 million salary for ’21.

According to sportrac.com, the Astros projected payroll is $209,306,267 million, which leaves them with $693,733 space under the $210 million tax threshold.

Q: Can the Astros make any more deals after 3 p.m. CT Friday?
A: No, teams can no longer make August trades like the one that brought Justin Verlander from the Tigers on Aug. 31, 2017. Whichever players are on the Astros’ roster by Friday afternoon, will be the ones they’ll have through the end of the season.