Eh, I tend to think that people overrate 'messages to free agents.' It seems like 95% of decisions come to money and competitiveness. It's not like they would be trading Brantley to Detroit or anything. If any free agent was really concerned about it, I'm sure the Astros could assuage them with a no trade clause. It would have taken a perfect storm of moves to work, and with Rendon off the board, it probably doesn't make sense now.
Trading Correa now is a similar mindset the Pirates had when dealing Cole. A thus far good, but not amazing, former #1 pick who while still inexpensive... could be more expensive a year from now before he hits free agency where he's unlikely to sign an extension prior. The Cole trade (and the subsequent collapse of the Pirates organization) is probably the worst case scenario when trading flawed club-controlled players... but you have to acknowledge the possibility of that playing out since we all witnessed it first-hand.
FWIW, the Astros wouldn't be trading Correa for prospects, we would be doing so to acquire major league talent and then using the extra cash to acquire more talent. The possibility certainly exists that he manages to stay healthy and wins an MVP award. Nobody can question his performance when healthy, and he's just entering what should be a hitters prime age. But I'm certainly in the camp that simply has no faith in him to stay healthy (although I have no personal issue with him like many around here do). So if a good deal presents itself that's a risk I would be willing to take.
The Pirates regret likely isn’t in trading Cole, but in the prospects they got in return. If they had gotten JD Davis, Myles Straw, and Josh James instead of Moran, Martin, and Feliz, they would likely be totally satisfied with the trade despite Coles improvements afterward. Houston would in a similar situation in the sense that it wouldn’t matter if Correa put up 2 mvp seasons after being traded; it would only matter what the Astros got in return. If they trade him for Castillo and Castillo turns into a top 10 Cy young guy, it doesn’t matter how well Correa plays.
I wouldn’t mind Houston taking on David Price (assuming Boston picks up at least half of his contract). He’s probably got enough left in the tank to be a solid #3 for the next couple of seasons.
If the Angels sign Ryu and Puig they would be right there with the Yankees and Astros. If they don’t add a good SP, OF, and a RP, they are monumentally stupid and pound foolish.
Dang, just saw that Austin Romine signed with Detroit. I don't know how well of a defensive catcher he was but he could hit.
And if Cole didn't improve, they would have been perfectly happy with Musgrove who is still pitching for them while Cole is in NY. Musgrove is more a 2 times through the order SP though (like most SPs), and his stats suffer from the Pirates mentality of keep him in until he gives up a bunch of runs.
Right now they are projected to be ~10 wins behind the Astros. Adding a 3 win pitcher, a 3 win OF, and a 1 win RP would put them within 3 wins.
Correa isn't making much this year... much less than what Cole was making at the same point when we acquired him. Certainly he has to prove to stay healthy to warrant any sort of long-term commitment, but I don't think its impossible he plays the majority of the next two years at a high level for whichever team he's on. I also think his improvement defensively (and overall value he adds with his arm) doesn't get enough credit.
I'm concerned that the uncertainty of what's coming with respect to MLB's response to the cheating allegations are going to have an effect on the willingness of free agents to sign here.
It depends on what you get in exchange. You don't move him just to move him. However if you believe you will not resign him (not likely) and you get back someone like Luis Castillo or another starter then you have to strongly consider it. The Cole trade was made for prospects and was at the time obviously a light return. The Pirates felt compelled to trade him and that isn't the scenario for the Astros.
