Nothing to worry about 1. Chances the Nats move him are probably less than 5%. Their owner hates moves like that. He did sign off on Turner, but it would take an incredibly stupid offer for him to sign off on moving Soto 2. If they did move him, we don’t have the prospect pedigree to make that type of move. I hope Brown works out, and our history with pitchers makes him more likely than most back end top 100 guys probably, but even so he is the only one we have that has even that kind of pedigree. Now we as much as any team can show you don’t have to be top 100 prospects to succeed, but teams moving a stud aren’t taking that risk. For us it would take a couple of our current starters plus Brown to even get in the ballpark, and we ain’t dumb enough to wreck our pitching depth (the reason we are on pace for over 100 wins) to add a corner OF bat, no matter how good he is. Plus, that’s not the type of deal the Nats would want anyway. They would want a couple of top 25 prospect types with more years of control. It’s a stupid deal for both sides actually, and has zero chance of ever happening
We’ve yet to see Click make a “marquee” type trade. Our pitching has been pretty much outstanding as a whole. Here we are at the end of June 3.5 games up on the over-achieving Angels(who likely don’t have the pitching to keep up). Unlike years past, the Astros are winning a lot of close games and relying on pitching to do so… in years past we were able to out slug just about anyone. This year, that isn’t really the case. The Yankees aren’t far ahead of us for best record- two months into the season- but I think we are a bat away from really being in a position to do major damage and be true championship contenders. C, 1B, CF, and corner outfield are all positions the Astros should be in the market for to upgrade
Vaidez is the #1 starter on 1/2 of the teams in the league and you think he could fetch only 2 prospects? The outfield is a position of strength for the Astros, they are not in need of any outfielders. I do not think I would trade Valdez for Soto straight up right now. We need Valdez to win in the play-offs this season. Soto might be really nice to have but we do not need him to win.
It's entirely possible valdez starts no playoff games... He's best case #3 if everyone is healthy. Garcia and Javier could pass him up by the end of the year and it wouldn't shock anyone. We have an embarrassment of riches for pitching. Dealing from surplus for a difference maker in the lineup can only help unless we suddenly get several guys hurt and lose our depth... Replacing Siri with Soto every day is a bigger gap than Javier and Framber...
When I say two pretty quality prospects I mean a top 25 type and a top 100 type. Yeah- I think that would be his value on the open market if he went at this trade deadline. I’m thinking like Kyle Tucker type as a prospect and Frances Martes. Just to go with a guy that hit and a guy that busted.
I think you are right on his value, which is why there are basically no senarios we are trading him while trying to win a title Anyone who thinks we have “too much” pitching hasn’t followed baseball for very long
When all our outfielders are healthy Siri is our sixth outfielder. Are you really proposing to replace him with Soto? 26 man roster outfielders 1 Tucker 2 Meyers 3 Brantley 4 McCormick 5 Alvarez 6. Siri in AAA Starters in order of likely play-off roster inclusion. 1. Verlander 2. Valdez 3. Garcia 4. Javier 5. Brown 6. McCullers (likely play-off long relief) 7. Urquidy 8. Odorizzi (likely traded when Brown comes up)
I think Lance's return timing is the biggest factor to whether he is in the rotation or bullpen. I believe the team is 100% committed to putting him into the rotation. There is no doubt he is one of the 4 best starters considering STUFF and late season/playoff performance. Throw in his salary and the team does not want him in the bullpen. The only way I see him in the bullpen is if the timing makes it unlikely he can get stretched out.
You're entitled to your opinion even if there's no rational explanation for it. You are pegging a guy for the #2 spot that was a complete dumpster fire in the playoffs last year (being generous) except for a single game. There is zero chance framber pitches ahead of a healthy mccullers. They aren't putting brown on the playoff roster without a lot of injuries... Jairo Solis has about an equal chance if he's healthy... I'm sorry, I'm just going to block you now. Putting Brown and Framber where you did on your list tells me you aren't a rational person and so it's pointless to converse further... Lmao... you think so highly of brown you think they will waste his major league time on pitching out of the pen and kick out someone from there who is doing ok... Just complete wacky nonsense...
This team needs to be 100% all in to win the World Series this year. With Yuli, Brantley, Verlander, Diaz, Castro, Montero, and Odorizzi all free agents, this team will look different next year. Simply look at 2022 vs likely 2023 Astros. Which would you bet most likely to win a World Series. At the very least, there will be an adjustment period next year that could reduce the chances. I would say this team is 1-3 moves away from being a definitive Series favorite. A top run producing RH 1B or OF to hit between Alvarez and Tucker. An Ace to add to Verlander, McCullers, and Framber to make a monster 4 man rotation. A very consistent and effective LH reliever. *catcher is a non issue. As fans we need to understand that the team thinks Maldonado is an MVP level catcher and there is no catcher in baseball that would be an improvement. The team has a chance now. 1-3 of these moves would make them better.
Assuming full health and rest, Verlander is our Game 1 starter, and McCullers is our Game 2 starter. That is that.
Just to put this to bed: Pitcher A Age 23 Level AAA 2.16 ERA 8-1 58.1 IP 11.1 k/9 2.9 bb/9 1.046 WHIP Pitcher B Age 23 Level AAA 2.01 ERA 3-3 40.1 IP 12.5 K/9 3.8 bb/9 1.14 WHIP
A is Rogelio Armenteros and B is Hunter Brown. Let's not pretend success in AAA makes success probable in the majors. It makes it more likely just like success at qb in college football makes it more likely you'll be a good qb in the NFL, just not likely... To put a guy from AAA ahead of guys who have performed with success in the world series is dumb. Hunter Brown is a good prospect. He has had 40 innings of dominant baseball, not years... i hope he pans out, I'm not expecting it any more or less than Armenteros, Ivey, Javier, Urquidy, Bielak, or other players that came along... Framber has pitched in the playoffs about as much as Hunter Brown in AAA. He has a 4.53 ERA. That's largely due to outliers but those are also his most recent performances... Verlander, Mccullers, then a toss up to Framber, Garcia, Urquidy, or Javier based on hot hand and who is in the rotation...
I wouldn't mind moving 2 young arms for a dominant #1 but I'm not sure it's worth it for a rental... Maybe Alcantara as a salary dump by Miami... could see them rationalize moving him for Garcia and Javier... spread the talent out... at his age i would prefer him... Only other non contender that coul make sense is aaron nola and I'm not sure if he's worth it at his age and salary coming off a down year.... nola also only has 1 year control versus several for alcantara at reasonable money...
I like Alcantara a lot. Miami just signed him to an extension so not likely to move him so early in the deal but I hope The Astros would have interest. I know you have to give up talent to get talent so I would do this deal if I were Click and it was on the table. However I would rather send Urquidy along with Garcia or Javier and a young bat like McCormick, Siri, or maybe Joe Perez ( he's from Miami isn't he?) Urquidy has a solid track record as a good young #5 and Miami always needs bats so maybe that might get them off of both Garcia and Javier.
Please allow me to clarify. The play-off rotation I expect 1. Verlander 2. Valdez 3. Garcia 4. Javier Emergency Starter in case of injury or illness 5. Brown Tandem (long reliever / short starter) 6. McCullers Emergency Tandem in case of injury or illness 7. Urquidy The best chance of success is for each to play the part he is best suited for.
I think they could do better potentially... as you said, they just signed him. That was done though thinking they would be contending and they appear to have taken a step back... They basically have 2 dominant starting pitchers and just some guys... if I'm them, this looks promising: Pablo Lopez Luis Garcia Christian Javier Jesus Luzardo Max Meyer If they could also get someone like Leon i could see them do it. If Leon pans out then they have a cuban face of the franchise in Miami... That would leave us: Verlander Alcantara McCullers Valdez Urquidy/Odorizzi With Brown, McDermott, Solis, etc. Still in the pipeline... Preferably we would give up Valdez and Urquidy but I think they would go the younger guys...
Not bad, but I would swap Javier for Garcia. I've felt Javier was a better starter who is relegated to the bench because he is willing and is a better reliever. Not because he is an inferior starter. But speculating at this point in time WILL BE affected by the rest of the season. There will be injuries and likely trades or both. Not to mention players who are cold getting hot and players who are hot getting cold.
