I place different values on the players you would trace away and trade for. But we will have to make some moves soon or lose players to Rule 5. But it's not a reason to make bad trades.
If that is the case, then I apologize. I read, "trade the farm for SOTO." If that's not what he said then my response is in error or at least misdirected.
Bell would be my first choice at 1B as a rental. He fits the Astros profile of a low SO hitter with at least passable D. But another option is Jose Abreu, who hits better, but is a liability in the field. If Brantley doesn't get back, he could play DH with Alvarez in LF with Lee or Diaz at 1B until Gurriel shows signs of coming out of his slump. If we can fit everybody on the roster, I still want Gurriel at 1B with a lead in the late innings.
Those all seem decently realistic except for the last one. Orioles aren’t giving up one of their top prospects and a young stud reliever for Urquidy and a most likely washed up prospect. It just wouldn’t make any sense for them.
A temporary Tucker at CF could open up a wider range of targets. Tucker played 4 games at CF last year and played well. The acquired target could DH and rotate with the outfielders or rotate with Yuli if he's a 1st baseman. 100+ games in the minors at CF for Tucker. It doesn't have to be a career change thing for Tucker, just a post season shake up. All I know is you can't stand still while these teams replace their entire roster at the tradeline like Atlanta last year. F those teams.
The Whitesox... They are only 4 games out of a division lead. Have a manager who wants to win now, and a pretty solid lineup. I doubt they are sellers at the deadline. They have a set against the Rockies, Athletics, Royals, Rangers, Royals, Tigers. lined up. First place Minnesota in that same schedule Brewers, Padres, Tigers, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Angels Signs point to a division race getting tighter as is. You could argue that they have underperformed due to health and with Luis Robert coming back you still have Anderson, Robert, and Abreu which is as good as any 3 man trio in baseball. Pitching wise they also carry Cease, Cueto, Kopech, and an under performing Giolito. Personally, I would bet they go for it and may even be a team that tries for a bat at the deadline like Mancini (I would really love for the Astros to explore this guy)which would be a big upgrade over Engel. Basically, I would be shocked if the Whitesox are sellers at the deadline.
To further this thought, here is how I feel about the idea of trading some of those guys: Guys I think they should trade because they are at peak value and I don’t think they’re integral to the Astros winning a World Series: Odorizzi, Urquidy Guys I think they can shop, but should only trade if they get really good value for them: Garcia, McCormick, Siri, Brown, Perez, Matijevic, Diaz, Barber, Lee, Valdez Guys I think are probably underrated and should not be traded: Javier, Meyers, Leon, Abreu, Melendez, Dubin, McDermott, Gonzalez, Ullola, Baez, Gomez, Santos, Whitaker
Apollo has a trade deadline article up currently and they have convinced me that the very best fit for the Astros is Christian Walker at 1st base. I would concentrate my efforts on that and stand pat on every thing else except selling off 40 man roster players that are unlikely to be called upon in the next couple of seasons.
I actually would switch Meyers with Diaz. Leon is a 5 tool player that is making great progress in his one weakness of plate discipline and is most likely our CF of the future. I would at least go ahead and give Leon a call up or two as injury replacement this year to see if he strikeouts at an exorbitant rate. Diaz is a really good fit as a first base, 3rd catcher replacement next year.
Yeah- the Sox more likely to sell at the deadline are the Red Sox. Basically same record but the Red Sox have no chance at the division and while the white Sox play trash between now and the deadline the Red Sox play TOR, Cle, Mil, Hou. they could go on a 2-8 bender and say forget it- we are sellers.
I actually would switch Meyers with Diaz. Leon is a 5 tool player that is making great progress in his one weakness of plate discipline and is most likely our CF of the future. I would at least go ahead and give Leon a call up or two as injury replacement this year to see if he strikeouts at an exorbitant rate. Diaz is a really good fit as a first base, 3rd catcher replacement next year.
You forgot to say dump Maton. I don’t see Whitley in there so I assume you have him as untouchable in the same way that I and Luhnow do/did. I’d be fine with trading Leon if he was a secondary piece to a star (or straight up for a Jd Martinez quality walk year bat, but I don’t think he’s viewed that highly. If he’s the third guy asked for in a trade I say no- we value him more than you. Pick someone else. Seriously good list.
I was shocked when I saw his X stats and quality of contact stuff. He’s hitting 205 but with the walks and what has to be a case of bad luck he’d be a really good get. I’d prefer Bell but he’d be a nice consolation package.
Cardinals are only 1.5 out of first and are on a win streak. I think they have no interest in moving Goldi.
I really like Brown and Urquidy for Castillo that Snake suggested. Brown is blocked and continues to struggle with walks. We can afford Castillo and Verlander for at least this year and next. Verlander, Castillo, Valdez, McCullers wow, just wow.
I bet they would have interest in Odorizzi, do they have any top notch catching prospects? I would add another top prospect to Odorizzi if I could get a top catching prospect.
Dump Maton? When he came here last yr after the trade he struggled. From the middle of Sept and in the playoffs he was probably the most reliable reliever we had. Has he struggled this yr? Yes. However "dumping" him at this point? He still has a couple of months to get things together and become more consistent.
Could the Astros get a prospect for Odorizzi and flip them for Josh Bell? How do their values comp on the market, seems like it would make sense.
It’s a joke toward Snake. yes- Maton was awesome for about 6 weeks in September and October last year. The rest of the history of his career is him being unreliable and frustrating. If we hand the ball to him in an important situation in a October this year it’s a failure imo. He’s our #5 leverage guy and they will shorten the starting rotation and add a couple of those guys to the bullpen so hopefully he never gets the ball this October.
Bell puts us right back where we are after the season but Walker is controllable with two years of arbitration left. Walker also brings a great glove with him. those two things put him ahead of Bell in my mind.
