Honestly I haven’t even thought about who could be signed in the off-season to replace those two, heck with the season Marwin is having he probably isn’t looking at a big contract and could very well be back If there was a bat like Choo available that didn’t come with 40 million the next two years I’d be in on the idea. Or if Choo was at least a decent defender, cause for a good team be would have to be DH only although he probably isn’t worse than Marwin in the OF
Our OF should be fine. And if anything we should actually look at options for right handed hitting outfielders, as Reddick, Tucker, Kemp, Alvarez, and Marwin all bat lefty (yes, I know Marwin is actually a switch hitter, but he is terrible as a RHH). As I've said, we should only trade for Realmuto to help our catching problem, or maaaaybe Moustakas, who'd give us a left handed-hitting infielder with postseason experience.
https://es.pn/2LLE88k Orioles wanted a LHP starter. Only one they likely would’ve taken from us is Cionel Perez. I’m personally glad we didn’t give him up, if that’s all the case.
I’m okay with Luhnow protecting the team long term. Although, I wouldn’t hold my breath on Iglesias. Do the Reds think they’re close to contending? Iglesias thinks so and wants to stay there. https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/raisel-igesias-discussed-trade-rumors/c-285793088
Against potential playoff teams (Hou, NYY, Bos, Cle, Oak, Sea, AZ, Col, LAD, Atl, Cub, Milw, Phil), in case any of you nuthuggers want to get out of your lane and are curious how we compare against strong competition: Hou 23-18 NYY 25-13 Bos 14-15 Cle 15-20 Oak 19-23 Sea 17-21
The LHP they got was a pitchability type who rarely breaks 90. I'm not sure he's any better than Emanuel or Hartman and almost certainly worse than Adcock or Valdez. We don't know how exactly how the Orioles would value Astros prospects vs Yankees, but my guess of an equivalent package would be Hector Perez or Alcala, Riley Ferrell, and Hartman.
Wonder if we could've thrown Giles in there and eaten the rest of his salary. I wonder if he has any value.
Realmuto is probably the best player on the trade market but that’s more of an eye towards 2019 type of move. Don’t wanna see Stassi go. McCann would be a waste of a roster spot. Kirby Yates is probably my favorite reliever still around. The starting pitcher market is atrocious. Glad we got Cole, everyone would be all in on him right now. Castellanos, Cespedes, Dickerson should be the type of OF’s too look at Lowrie would be the type of ideal IF’er (don’t think Oakland is a seller now). Dozier perhaps
No reason to get rid of Giles. He has more potential than anyone you could get back for him, and he has more value to the Astros than a rebuilding team. See if they can't get his slider fixed in AAA, and get him up in September.
Alcala, Ferrell, and Adcock was my guess for an equivalent package. We all would have been thrilled with that trade. Oh well.
With the Pirates making a run in the Central, Cole wouldn’t be on the market. As a “Luhnow Nuthugger”, I’m grateful he got Cole when he did. Kirby Yates would be a good move but I think we might have the closer we need. I think they’re prepping McHugh to take it over.
McCullers would be a top-3 closer in the league, but I don't think he'll ever voluntarily give up starting.
Sagarin (vs top 10) Hou 18-16 NYY 21-11 Bos 10-12 Cle 10-14 Oak 16-17 Sea 16-16 https://www.usatoday.com/sports/mlb/sagarin/ Just another view.
Interesting players to me/Astros on teams with <10% chance of making the playoffs: Rays: Wilson Ramos, Matt Duffy, Denard Span Blue Jays: Russell Martin, Curtis Granderson, Roberto Osuna Orioles: Dylan Bundy Twins: Ryan Pressly White Sox: Omar Narvaez, Jose Abreu, Joakim Soria Tigers: Miguel Cabrera, Nick Castellanos Royals: Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield, Jorge Soler Angels: n/a Rangers: Robinson Chirinos, Shin Soo Choo, Jurickson Profar, Mike Minor, Keone Kela Mets: Kevin Plawecki, Devin Mesoraco, Jose Bautista, Seth Lugo, Jacob DeGrom, Noah Syndergaard Marlins: JT Realmuto, Justin Bour, Derek Dietrich, Adam Conley, Drew Steckenrider Reds: Raisel Iglesias Padres: AJ Ellis, Will Myers, Craig Stammen, Kirby Yates
The questions Luhnow has to answer this week: Will McCann come back fully healthy in time for the playoffs? If not, gotta add a catcher. Options: Realmuto, Ramos, Perez, Mesoraco Will Correa come back fully healthy in time for the playoffs? If not, gotta add an elite bat. Options: Abreu, Realmuto, Castellanos, Choo Will Tucker adjust to big league pitching in time for the playoffs? If not, gotta add a veteran bat who can play in the field. Options: Granderson, Bautista, Dietrich, Castellanos Is there an elite reliever available whose cost isn’t prohibitive? If so, do it. Options: Iglesias, Soria, Yates, Kela
Don't think there is enough time before the trade deadline to get a feel for how Tucker can perform in the postseason, although with Kemp's performance this season maybe they feel secure enough about LF to avoid making a trade to secure that position.
What's the word on and opinion of Osuna from Toronto? Alert last night said they may shop him but he got suspended for domestic violence? I don't follow MLB like I do NBA, so I really only know about the Astros
