Just play the games. 2019 Astros were the most overwhelming favorites to win a World Series in the 538 era.
So you’re saying they won’t take Gilbert, Korey Lee, Chas, and [insert middle tier prospect here] for Dylan Cease and Luis Robert?!? Lol this board is going to be upset if they think we are getting anyone worth being excited about giving up the “maximum” they’d be willing to give up in a trade.
A 31 year old Maldonado in 2018 is not the same player he is today. And a washed Brian McCann and Max Stassi aren't exactly the strongest competition
Only pitcher I’ve ever heard mention this is Verlander, who is no longer on the team In fact when Presley was interviewed recently all the sound clips were him praising Martin, but if you listened to the whole conversation he was just as high on Diaz Personally, I think the whole pitchers begging for Maldabado thing is way over blown. Without a doubt JV wanted him, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Framber and Javier asked for him. I’d be shocked if any other current pitchers are asking for him, especially with almost all of them performing better with Diaz.
No one's going to publicly say in an interview that they like one teammate more than another. We've heard it across the board over the years, though. Cole talked about it too, so we've now covered the 4 best Astros pitchers since Maldy has been here. https://nypost.com/2019/10/06/gerrit-cole-shows-just-what-can-be-done-with-a-personal-catcher/ Yankees even looked at signing him to be Cole's personal catcher: http://bronxpinstripes.com/news-rum...t-in-gerrit-coles-personal-catcher-maldonado/
and he's even worse this year. personally, I think it's just a narrative that must be adhered to to cover for Dusty's stubborn refusal to bench an inferior player.
So just to be clear, they absolutely needed to get rid of him last year to be good because "they didn't have the offense to survive him", didn't do so, and then won 106 games and won the World Series in dominant fashion. So that's evidence that this year they absolutely need to get rid of him to be good because they don't have the offense to survive him. People saying they absolulely must get rid of Maldy would have a lot more credibility if they weren't saying the same thing the last few years too.
Everyone preferred McCann over anyone else, but we didn't roll his corpse to play catcher in his early 40s
Ya know, I watched that throw down to 2nd yesterday in slo mo, and as the ball sailed to the left of the bag by 3 feet, Maldy's belly shook 3 more times.
Yet, his leadership showed up in the playoffs and the Astros won the WS. Not everything is about analytics. The human element is not shown in the numbers. Maldy is LOVED in that locker room.
Vazquez caught the World Series no hitter. He also had the back 9 in the 18 inning game. His playing time evaporated like no other (outside of Chas) despite already having a ring coming in.
I understand the YOFs bc Yuli won a batting title... and even the Kemp Only Fans but the Maldy Only Fans... explain it to me.
I paid my dues. I can do what I want and you can ignore what you want. And you can bump it to the top if you wish.
A bit much for my taste, especially if Lee can help NOW. I am willing to give up 2 of the outfielders among Dirden, Leon, Chas, Julks, Meyers.
Catchers have more trade value than OF'ers. It's going to take a lot of hurt to trade for a TOR guy with multiple years left on his contract like Cease has. If you want a rental like Giolito it may only cost Gordon/Leon and Dirden, plus a lower level arm. Lee wouldn't be a deal breaker for me since I think Diaz is the future at catcher.
