The only problem I see with this is that most of the available starters that we hear about are controlled for a few years. That's great if we get one, but if I have a guy I can control for a few years, I trade him for what I truly want, or I keep him. The market doesn't necessarily affect me. Rentals are different but there doesn't seem to be any difference making rentals out there this year
I don't see the Astros doing anything unless someone becomes available that we haven't seen yet. Does Sonny Gray move the bar enough? Don't think so.
The thing is we have the best team in baseball (well pretty much tied with LA) and we can only keep this core together a certain amount of time before FA and players start leaving.. would be a huge bummer if we never really went for it and we slowly lose our best players and our prospects don't develop to adequately take their place.. getting caught in a crappy middle ground I'd like to see some boldness and getting a Gray would make me feel a lot better about the next couple of seasons.
Does Seattle listen to offers for Paxton if they drop out of wild card race? He's part ace, part injured. He would cost more than Quintana.
Can't see it. The core hasn't won for them yet, but they still have Felix, Cano, Cruz, & Seager. They almost have to give it another try because there won't be much demand for the big contracts of those guys.
Presumably, if we're making a trade for a starter at this point, we're looking for a playoff #3. We're not likely to acquire a Keuchel/McCullers talent, and we don't need starting pitching for the regular season, given our lead. So who out there is available and truly an upgrade over whichever is pitching better (and healthy) at the time between Morton, Fiers, and Peacock? And how much of an upgrade is it?
If the team thinks they will be competitive while guy is under control, I agree with you. However, that is not always the case for teams with great pitchers that are sellers at the deadline. MLB has gone away from giving teams a haul for a rental. If you want a haul to jump start a rebuild, a team has to deal some control or risk getting stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity.
Good point. Not sure another #3 moves the needle from a playoff perspective. A guy, any guy who can eat innings might be beneficial in the shorter term though. If we are thinking playoffs, only a strong #2 or #1 is the answer.
Even though I can't say this for sure.... but IF everybody is healthy, if health is guaranteed (which its not)... are you comfortable with Keuchel-McCullers-McHugh/Morton/Peacock/Fiers as the 1-3 in the playoffs?
no way. They like their young core of Hanniger, Paxton, Lewis, O'Neill, Seager (and thought enough of Paxton to let the Taijuan experiment die and build on Paxton as the future ace). They apparently said they're not selling Cruz...but if they were selling, it'd start with Cruz, Felix, Cano. Not Paxton.
If the prices on middling starters are too high, what about two elite relievers? If Houston added 2 of Hand, Wilson, Britton, Ramos, Reed, Madson, Robertson, Jim Johnson, would that be as effective as adding a good SP? A bullpen of Giles, Ramos, Robertson, Harris, Devenski, Gregerson, Peacock, and Sipp (or Feliz) would be pretty dope. Any game Houston led after 5 innings would be over.
The bullpen to end all bullpens hypotheticals: Astros get: David Robertson White Sox get: Rogelio Armenteros Colin Moran Astros get: AJ Ramos Marlins get: Tony Sipp Teoscar Hernandez Daz Cameron Astros get: Brad Hand Padres get: Michael Feliz Ramon Laureano Bullpen: Peacock, Devenski, Hand, Gregerson, Harris, Ramos, Robertson, Giles
If all those guys were in top form? Sure. There just seems like too many variables for me to be comfortable believing that.
