But isn't that all we can usually do? Most of us do not have insider information, and the Astro's front office is very good at controlling information. So we do not KNOW who complained about the bullpen session, we do not KNOW what happened in Aiken's negotiations, we do not KNOW why Cosart was traded, etc. If we cannot speculate, this forum is going to be awful quiet.
Bo Porter make a public fuss about it and got fired for his efforts. Several A+ pitchers made public comments about Appel's undeserved promotion to AA. But none were traded or let go. Having trouble connecting the dots here that one Cosart tweet played a BIG part in his trade. After the Cosart trade, Luhnow did say that the Astros had not been shopping Cosart.
FWIW, Folty complained about not getting called up, and was later traded. I doubt Luhnow trades a guy because they speak out, but I can't help but wonder if it factors into him being more willing to part with them.
Suspect complaining in Astros is like other places. If you are highly productive, it gets overlooked. If there is a reorganization or layoffs, the complainers are generally right after the unproductive on being out the door.
Also, complaints that we see externally are probably indicative of larger problems internally. I highly doubt anyone's ever been traded for mere complaining. The complaining is just the smoke from the fire.
@Royals: #Royals announce that they've traded RHP Angel Baez to Houston for cash considerations. Baez pitched for NW Arkansas last year.
Baez is a guy who hasn't quite seemed to put it all together. His fastball has been clocked as high as 98, but that number will vary, depending on his delivery. He also throws a curve and a changeup that both have average potential, but again, because of his delivery and control issues, remain inconsistent. After beginning his career as a starter, Baez became a full-time reliever last year in AA. He was not in the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook; he was #18 in the Royals system in 2013 and #27 in 2014. <script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=br&url=%2Fminors%2Fplayer.cgi%3Fid%3Dbaez--003ang&div=div_standard_pitching"></script>
MLBTR's projected arbitration salaries for 2016 Luis Valbuena (5.148) – $5.8MM Jason Castro (5.104) – $4.6MM Hank Conger (4.051) – $1.8MM Chris Carter (3.159) – $5.6MM Marwin Gonzalez (3.133) – $1.9MM Samuel Deduno (3.096) – $700K Dallas Keuchel (3.089) – $6.4MM Josh Fields (3.000) – $800K Evan Gattis (3.000) – $3.4MM The number in parentheses next to each player is his Major League service time (Years.Days) through 2015 (172 days constitutes a full year of Major League service, per the collective bargaining agreement). Service time data, the Super Two cutoff, and the 2016 MLB minimum salary are not yet official or known. We’re using 2.130 for the Super Two cutoff and $508K for the MLB minimum here.
completely forgot about deduno, and the guy was a starting pitcher for us this season. the season seemed to be a blur, yet it feels like ages ago that he was making starts.
I think they'll try and trade Carter, probably let Castro walk (but will need to get a Catcher in FA), I could also see Valbuena traded, Deduno probably gone, and keep the rest? Fields might be cheap enough to keep around.
