If Valdez comes back and pitches like an ace or good #2 then the rotation is set. That’ll also push one of Urquidy/Garcia/Javier to the bullpen where they will likely be very effective in multi inning 6-7 role. If Paredes comes back and can be effective in the 8th paired with Stanek, then the bullpen should be set. That’s assuming Smith and Raley never right the ship and Baez doesn’t come back soon. Fully healthy staff: Rotation: Greinke, Valdez, McCullers, Javier, Odorizzi High leverage multi inning: Garcia, Urquidy High leverage setup: Stanek, Baez Closer: Pressly Low leverage single inning: Smith, Raley, James AAA depth: Paredes, Scrubb, Bielak, Emanuel, Taylor, Rodriguez, Solomon, Ivey, Martes IL: Verlander, Pruitt, Whitley, Solis As for the lineup, they need to do something in CF but not a ton of great options. Otherwise as long as everybody stays healthy they are set. This is still probably a 90-95 win team.
I think I would actually lean towards Javier in the bullpen and keep Urquidy in the rotation. Javier is significantly worse the 2nd time through the order, while Urquidy is actually significantly better. Urquidy is more efficient, can typically go longer in games. I'd also love Javier's strikeout ability out of the pen. A huge asset to get out of jams. A guy you're missing there is Bryan Abreu. He has looked good his last 7 outings. We knew the talent was always there.
Javier is slightly better than Urquidy, with more upside. So if that's the choice. Has to be Javier on the bump. That said, I trust Uquidy on the mound now and in the playoffs, especially with a dead ball, more so than I even trust Greinke at this point.
I don't see how that means Javier on the bump, if he struggles 2nd time through. Not sure he is slightly better or has more upside.
Garcia/Javier pitching innings 6-8 would be optimal. I trust them much more than Baez/Stanek. Looks like they've got plenty of young pitching to deal for a CF. Wonder what a guy like Adam Frazier would cost?
I think he would be a good target. He probably only has about $5M in surplus value, so really should only cost 1 2nd or 3rd tier prospect. Maybe an upside pitcher like Dubin or Torres? Or maybe include both those guys and have the Pirates eat his remaining money and take on Joe Smith’s salary? That would give them some flex to maybe add a good relief arm. Frazier is a guy who may blossom at the bottom of Houstons order. Type of guy who maybe is just a league average bat on a crummy team but might be an above average producer if put on a deep potent lineup.
I know you know, but he's just a solid all around player. Put him anywhere in the infield/outfield and he will do a solid job. He will hit between .250-.280 and make good contact. As of a couple of days ago he was hitting over .300. Would you trade a couple of the guys in your post to free up money and get Frazier?
Yeah, I think most people would. The possible exception being the Pirate's front office, especially with his start so far this year.
Frazier is making $4.3M this year and projects for about 2 fwar thru the remainder of the season. He has another year of control where he is likely to get a significant raise. So I probably undershot him and I'd say his surplus value is around $17M. Dubin and Torres may not be enough, but of course valuing pitching prospects is wildly subjective. Both guys have elite reliever upside but overall their value isn't that high. Once you factor that Frazier's versatility likely means there will be many teams asking about him, including Joe Smith's salary is probably not realistic, and it may even take a 3rd pitching prospect (maybe Ivey?).
I like the idea of Adam Frazier, he is the type of player that the Astros should target. I am not sure he is really a centerfielder though. He played there a bit in the past, but I was under the impression he doesn't play there anymore.
If we acquire someone like Frazier, I think we should consider moving Tucker to centerfield. I don't have any metrics besides watching the games, but Tucker's defense in right field has been elite, at least to my eye. I think he could handle CF. He could easily be a 5-6 WAR player if he can hold up in center every year.
If Houston is willing to let Tucker take over in CF, that opens the door to some big bat trade targets who could go into RF like Kris Bryant, David Peralta, Corey Dickerson, Trey Mancini, or Kyle Schwarber. I think that would be a brutally bad defensive outfield but if they add a guy like Bryant, the lineup could be one of the best in the history of the game, on par with the 2019 Astros and 1927 Yankees.
Yall are reminding me of Demolition Man..."All restaurants are Taco Bell!" All threads are now trade threads.
If you really thought Tucker could play CF, you could play Diaz in the OF. He's better than Frazier with the bat, and wouldn't cost anything. But like you said, that would be a really poor defensive OF. I think Tucker at CF might only be viable if you had a + defender in right.
I'm always ready for a BRYANT on the Astros. It hits close to home. ps Another potential Killer ABCs. Player Pos OPS+ Altuve 2B 128 *Brantley LF 125 Bregman 3B 140 *Alvarez DH 169 Bryant RF 181 Chops Gurriel 1B 165 Correa SS 110 *Bomber Tucker CF 111 Castro C 139
There really aren't many balls hit that a CF helps cover up for the LF and RF. The only reason to put Tucker in CF is that it might be easier to get a bat in RF than it is in CF (i.e., screw defense, chicks did the long ball). If a +defender is acquired, slap him in CF. I've been surprised with how well Tucker has played RF. His feet have helped him get to balls quickly limiting how much base runners have been able to exploit his arm.
