I don’t think he’s saying those guys can’t start a playoff game, just that they aren’t likely to be considered superior to whoever they are facing. I think he’s right. As much as I love JV I’ve never felt like JV is my number one pick to win one game.
What about Brandon Drury from the reds? Maybe pair him with Ross Detwieler in a trade and put Him at 1B?
FWIW I really like a Mancini deal too at the right price. He isn't an elite hitter, but he is a good overall hitter that can hit in the middle or the back of the order and play multiple roles. He can play 1st, both corner outfield spots and pinch hit for Maldonado late in a game. He can hit well against both lefties and righties and he has a reputation as a professional and a solid enough fielder to not be a major liability.
I think the Astros are actually in a better position from a starting pitching perspective than they have been since Verlander/Cole. Verlander is back and while he is older and a few advanced stats are down slightly, he is still very capable. Valdez is always a risk for a stinker, but has had a very good year..... and Garcia has had some back luck with homers or his season would be viewed as a breakout season. I would be open to adding someone like a Wheeler if Philadelphia decides to move him, and wanted the Astros to sign Gausman this off season... and would even consider a Castillo from the Reds.... but right now it doesn't feel it is a necessity.
McCormick not McCullers, you are right of course. I thought I had read that Leon was down to a 10% strike out rate. Either way if Meyers is out for the year going into the playoffs with McCormick in center and Siri as the 4th outfielder doesn't scare me too much. But a fifth outfielder with some experience would make me feel a lot better about it.
Last I saw Leon is progressing with the strikeouts but still at 24% in AAA. 24% in AAA is likely much higher in MLB. He could be a super star but is still very young and needs the full season, and maybe even time next year at AAA.
The Astros just promoted Yanier Diaz to AAA. Do they view him as a viable MLB catcher? The bat is great and he has flown through the system since the trade. He may make Korey Lee a possible trade piece? I know Lee has had a disappointing year but is still one of the top 2-3 prospects in the system that would have value in a deal for Reynolds. Javier or Urquidy - their choice McCormick or Siri - their choice Korey Lee Pedro Leon. That feels closer. Another lottery ticket type prospect like Corey Julkes or Misael Tamarez may need to get added. Am I still off? Does a 5th legitimate top 10 type need to replace Julkes/Tamaraz? Cristian Gonzalez? Joe Perez?
Biggest problem is, IF Pittsburgh decides they would move Reynolds, other teams would top that offer by a good margin. We all love Leon's upside and have become enamored with Valdez Truth is, Leon isn't even a top 100 prospect by a great majority of the rankers, and Reynolds would require multiple top 100 guys I'm not sure if Brown, Leon, Valdez, Abreu and Solomon gets it done. I think that would be considered a legit offer, but could easily see other teams top it for a guy like Reynolds
With Rutschman and Moreno in the majors, Henry Davis might be the top C prospect left in the minors and he is in Pittsburgh's system That's not to say Lee doesn't have value, but if you are the Pirates he is just another non-top 100 type that doesn't even really fill a need
I think JV could definitely be that guy...what I worry about is him wearing down. We are riding him pretty hard right now (on pace for over 200 innings), and last time we saw him in the playoffs it was obvious he was wearing down. Verlander is a stud, but he is an older guy coming off of TJ. I would like to see us back off of him right now a bit
Thanks. I didn't look at their system. Their MLB catchers are actually performing worse than the Astros. And we all know that until a prospect shows it, he is a potential bust or several degrees less than hoped for. But I see and agree that either Lee or Diaz would be valued more by a different organization. I hope they don't trade Lee ( or Brown, Leon, or Barber) but realistically if the team decides to improve the team ( outside of a rental) one or maybe multiples of those guys will be included because regardless of how we or the front offices feel about guys like Corey Julkes and Emmanuel Valdez, other front offices don't consider them worthy of bring a centerpiece of a deal.
Mancini for Pete Solomon and Josh James? 2 high potential arms with MLB stuff that Elias is familiar with for a rental ( Mancini will decline the mutual option) Then J.J. Matijevic, Taylor Jones, Emmanuel Valdez, and Yanier Diaz battle it out for 1B ( and possibly bench/ backup catcher spots) Maybe letting Diaz work daily with Maldy while Korey Lee repeats AAA would not be a bad idea?
Yea, our only chance of improving without involving any of those three would be for a rental. I think we also have to accept the fact that with more teams in the race for the playoffs now, less teams will sell. Not only will that reduce the number of players available, but it will drive up prices. Baseball's own version of inflation I still think Mancini is the best option. Maybe if the White Sox have a terrible stretch and are out of it then Abreu, who would be a rental, would become available.
what is up with all these trade proposals that are the Stros scraps for functional players on other teams?
If we do make a deal for a guy like Mancini, my guess is many (most?) people on here will not like the cost I think most fans look at our "top 30" and think of those guys as having a certain value. They don't realize that our "#10" prospect and another teams "#10" might not have anywhere close to the same value. Truth is, our system isn't in great shape right now. There are a few players there who we really like and hope will be great, but it's far from the loaded system we had several years back. Going back to back years without a top draft pick really hurts the system from the standpoint of top end prospect value
I don't have time now but will look over the rental trades ( Bryant, Rizzo, etc) from last year and try to get a better idea what these rental bats may go for.
I expect something like below for a Mancini type rental.... 1 of Endersby or Tamarez 1 of Dirden or Wilyer Abreu
The Astros system has consistently far out produced the expectations. I am not going to call the Astros system a top 5 system right now, but I will take it over a lot of the systems ranked in the teens right now. There are a number of players that have upside that are not highly regarded in commercial publications. The Astros system got off to a slow start this year and is just now coming around, it is somewhat of a bridge year for the players lower in the minors to come up and produce at a higher level. Colin Barber for example is a lot better prospect than commercial publications have him ranked. They are very please with him. Brown is one of the best pitchers in the minor leagues.... Leon is still highly thought of by the Astros and Diaz is one of the most polished hitters in the minors. Dubin and Paredes are high end bullpen arms. Santos, Lorenzo and Nerio Rodriguez all are very talented and promising. Tyler Whitaker is in A ball at 19 and is learning to play SS, even with his offensive struggles he is a good long term prospect. Edinson Batista gets little press because he is a part time reliever, but at 19 he is doing well in A ball too. They also have some good teenagers on their DSL team.
