If the Astros can get Britton and someone like Hand or Wilson then sign me up. Building a 'bully' pen (sorry for the pun) is the optimal route for the team this season in my opinion.
I agree. With the days off built in to the playoffs, having a pen that allows your starters to only have to get through 5 is huge. Add in a (hopefully) healthy and fresh Keuchel and a (hopefully) healthy and fresh McHugh, I believe we have a staff we can win the WS with.
Honestly with the bullpen flexibility a SP could go 3-4 innings and they'd still be fine. Devenski, Peacock, Martes can all go two innings if necessary.
If he isn't part of a deal then I am 100% sure he will be in the pen come playoff time. BP Acq 1 Martes Peacock Feliz Devenski Gregerson Harris Giles Might even go 9 man with 4 starters. In this scenario Hoyt would be sent down and Sipp DFA'ed if I had to guess.
I don't trust Martes, Gregerson, Feliz at all. Even Giles for that matter. In the postseason I only want Harris, Devinski, elite ACQ 1, elite ACQ 2, Peacock, Giles going in the playoffs come OCT. You might have to keep Peacock as the #3 SP in the postseason, reward him for his play of late. So that's one less bullpen arm. I can't trust McHugh and sadly can't trust Fiers as SP.
If all it takes is Martes and another prospect for Britton... I think we do it. Especially since he has another year of arbitration eligibility.
He had what they called a "forearm strain". He's been money since coming back, though. They've put him back in the closer spot.
So.....front office really motivated to get britton huh? looks like the giles debate is about to be over.
True, but when healthy he's one of the better closers/relievers in game. Pretty much lock down. Devinski, Harris, Peacock, Giles, Britton? I'm in. With Greggy/Feliz/Sipp coming in for the blowout wins.
I think people miss the danger of this shortened-SP and a whole bunch of relievers strategy. Even good relievers are going to have bad days. The more relievers you throw out there in a game, the more chance you have of a guy just being off. If your SP has been doing well for 4 or 5 innings, you're better off leaving the guy in that you know is good, rather than relying on 3 or 4 different guys to all be on their A-game the rest of the way. The more times you voluntarily change away from a pitcher that's doing well, the more uncertainty you create. If they get Britton, Giles still is likely closing unless he falters. Britton becomes your left-handed complement to Devo for the late innings. They just aren't going to mess with a formula that's worked all season.
