Orioles and Marlins are probably sellers more than buyers. Angels and Rangers probably won’t sell but they should.
I get this feeling as well. Every year they don't makes it easier that the Astros don't have to rebuild in the next 4.5 years.
Mainly it’s a shame to see Trouts career largely wasted on mediocre teams because ownership and management engaged in half measures and bad free agent contracts. For every move they’ve made to legitimately improve their team (Ohtani, Simmons, Rendon) they’ve crippled themselves with a bad contract (Upton, Pujols), bad farm development, and not going full bore (starting pitching). Sure they’ve had some bad luck but I am so glad I’m not a fan of theirs because it would be frustrating as hell. But yeah it’s good for the Astros that the Angels are poorly run. The Rangers have made some pretty savvy 2nd tier moves, but they just haven’t had the core of star players a team should have before they try to start winning. Odor and Mazara disintegrating really hurt them. Until they get 2-3 legit stars together they are toast. Again, good for the Astros but glad I’m not fan of theirs.
Id be cool with signing Bruce this offseason as a (much) cheaper replacement for Brantley. I doubt he is available in trade because Philly is still competing.
The Angels are proof that WAR works. They've got some of the most concentrated WAR among certain players in the league, but they haven't gotten bonus wins for having them. Their lack of depth has caused them not to have many guys that give them 0.5 WAR here, 1 WAR there. Some years they will slightly outplay their WAR, and some they will under do it. Based on depth of position players (<1.5 WAR), the Astros had a near 8 win advantage over the Angels in 2019. Already, the distance is about 1 WAR allready among depth (<0.25 WAR) for 2020. This doesn't account for Astros being better up top as well.
Here are my current top 10 trade targets for Houston: 1. LF Jorge Soler, Royals: adds a legit middle of the order bat, solves a problem for next year. Cost should not be too high since he is a poor defender, doesn’t have a long track record, and only has one year of control left. 2. IF Wilmer Flores, Giants: Underrated bat who can play all over the field, and comes with another year of affordable control. Cost should not be high. 3. CF Whit Merrifield, Royals: would be a blockbuster and likely cost Whitley plus others, but would add another core bat to replace Springer. 4. 1B Josh Bell, Pirates: middle of the order bat who could replace Gurriel, would depend on prospect cost. 5. C Salvador Perez, Royals: would deepen the lineup and take pressure off of Maldonado. He’s friends with Altuve. 6. 1B Mitch Moreland, Red Sox: cheap solid veteran bat. 7. IF Kyle Seager, Mariners: would depend on prospect cost and his willingness to move to 1B or LF, but would be a potential star bat who might find new life in a good lineup on a winning team. 8. IF/OF Brian Anderson, Marlins: underrated player who might blossom in a deeper lineup, also offers positional versatility and multiple years of control; would depend on the prospect cost. 9. LF Corey Dickerson, Marlins: another cheap veteran bat, would be more than fine in the 7 or 8 hole for the Astros and could replace Brantley for next season. 10. IF Hunter Dozier, Royals: good young bat who might still have some ceiling. No idea how much KC values him but for the right price would be a good add to replace Gurriel next season and offer depth this season. I am assuming Verlander will be back this season, which combined with the emergence of Javier/Valdez/Bielak and the return of Urquidy largely removes the need to add starting pitching. Plus I just think the prices on starting pitching, especially non-rentals, will be prohibitive. There are too many bullpen arms available to even evaluate, but I don’t really even think the Astros need to add there, as I am very happy with what I have seen from Paredes and Taylor, and I think James, Pressly, and Devenski will all return to effectiveness at some point this season. I want to continue to give these young arms the innings they need to establish themselves. I also think McCullers will be the playoff closer which reduces the need to add a proven late inning arm.
I have a wild scenario. What about Whitley, Abraham Toro and a PTBNL for Cavan Biggio and Chase Anderson
I was looking at Corey Dickerson but he's owed 8.75 million next year. So I would want the Marlins to eat some money and do you really want to give up an asset for him when you could probably just resign Reddick for a lesser contract if you wanted that type of player? Dickerson is a SLIGHTLY better hitter than Reddick.
I would go Seagor and Bell and hope for the best. We have spots to play them even when Bregman comes back
More of NBA guy, but is there a reality where we focus more on some cost cutting and focusing on the farm? Seems like in such an uncertain market (on top of the scandal impacting reputations) , we could at least keep 2 out of 3 of Springer, Gurriel, and Brantley.
Biggie would be a dream come true. Bring him home! As stated he’s also a good 1B and OF as well as 2B. Still bitter we didn’t draft him.
How do you know he is a good first baseman? He has played 33 innings in the majors at first base. How do you know he is a good outfielder? He has played 26 major league games in the outfield?
Cuz he can play he is a baller. Like his dad.wants to contribute. Wants to win. Wants to be close to his dad
How do you know he wants to be closer to his dad? Do you have a link to that? Perhaps he wants to be away from his dad's shadow. His dad was certainly a baller, but he was a terrible outfielder.
He can hit well enough that he would likely need to have the defensive aptitude and athletism of Gattis not to make it possible to get him someplace on the field.
This is a pointless conversation. Biggio is young, cheap, under control through 2025, and a part of their core. He's not being traded anytime soon.
