People have been proposing to trade Chas for a year while his value was perceived to be high typically for guys with less control. Of those proposed trades, Chas has probably outperformed 90% of them at least to date from their first mention.
Wow. I had to look up Baez. Luis Baez, 19 years and big move up the rankings. Signed for $1.3 million, largest international bonus for Stros in 2022. From Dominican Republic.
Neither was JD in the grand scheme of things. The bigger difference was that JD never figured anything out here. If anything, he got worse and worse the longer he played here. Also, he tore it up in the minor leagues. Chas had been a long, methodical build up to what we are seeing.
Chas is part of what I now consider to be the main structure of the team that a trade would be trying to add to. He is no longer an expendable piece.
@Nook what's your best case trade scenario Brown is able to pull off this year? Just interested in your opinion, no one will hold you to it because there are too many variables in play.
Murphy will be approaching the end of his prime about the time Gilbert becomes an everyday player... He also was due a huge extension... They could very well be better with Diaz and Gilbert while saving 20 million in payroll for someone else.
I don’t know about untouchable, but unless you believe McCormicks 2023 performance is the result of favorable matchups, he should be viewed as a star level player. His .339 xwOBA is excellent. Players with a combined wOBA between .345 and .335 over the last 5 seasons includes guys like Realmuto, Soler, Starling Marte, Yaz, Bellinger, and Lindor. If Houston trades McCormick they should demand a major haul, something on the order of multiple top 100 prospects or a controllable star similar in stature/value to McCormick (I.e. someone who projects to be a 3+ war player and is controlled for 3 more seasons). I say all that as someone who has never really been a big fan of McCormick or expected him to be more than a 4th OF. But I have been consistently wrong about him and now he has a big enough sample to see that he is very likely a quality everyday CF and possibly a star 4+ war player.
Chas gets no F'ing respect. He's playing at an all-star level and has amazingly consistent since his rookie season. Has not had many bad months and has continually improved as a hitter and outfielder. His stats and eye test support that. He has the second highest OPS on the team and hits well in the clutch. We aren't trading Chas unless it's for someone with perennial all-star potential with similar years of control.
All I know is Chas use to only rake against LHP. This year he's been awesome against RHP as well. Dusty hasn't played him everyday and now that he is he's blossoming right before our eyes. Kid had some huge hits in the playoffs last year and of course THE catch. He also has THREE more years of ARB. People have been clamoring for us to find a CF we'll here he is!!
A Chas trade that I think might be fair and make some sense (assuming Houston either gets Brantley back or trades for another bat): Phillies get: CF Chas McCormick SP Brandon Bielak Astros get: SP Ranger Suarez RHP Mick Abel RP Seranthony Dominguez Phillies get the righty bat they need and a pitcher to replace the SP they are giving up. Nola/Wheeler/Walker allows them to give up Suárez, and Dominguez has been hurt so hasn’t been a big part of their BP. They still have Painter and McGarry as ToR SP prospects in AA so while giving up Abel is painful they can weather it. Astros get a #3 SP with another year of control capable of starting a playoff game, a very good RP with another year of control, and a MLB Top 30 pitching prospect. Not sure the Phillies would do that deal (maybe swap Urquidy for Bielak) since it puts pressure on their 1-3 SP to stay healthy. But I think it is fair value for McCormick and makes some measure of sense for both sides.
I love Chas, and as an Astros fan, I'm praying what we've seen recently is what he is going forward, but the "our guy" bias has gone too far here. Zooming out, a month ago (even less), his perceived value was a fraction of what it suddenly is. He's gone on this surge at literally the perfect time to potentially be able to sell high, IF there's something big out there that makes sense that he can help fetch. The bigger risk is expecting this mega hot stretch to be his new norm and be sustainable, imo.
My (realistic) deadline thoughts: 1) I don't really understand why the ChiSox would trade Robert, but if he's somehow available, he'd be my priority. If they can't land him, get Bellinger. 2) Basically the cheapest available quality starter. All these rumored available pitchers have their warts imo. You're hoping to get lucky that the one you pick is on point come postseason. It's a crapshoot, so give me one that requires the least important assets in return. 3) A decent reliever. That's it. They are going to have to beat them with their bats this year, and a lineup with Robert/Bellinger plus a healthy Yordan and Altuve would be as good as it gets. The staff is going to be a little sketchy regardless of which available pitcher they acquire. Gotta hope that 2/3 of the acquired pitcher, Javier, and Brown (can possibly throw Urquidy in France into the mix) are in form come playoff time.
My (realistic) deadline thoughts: 1) I don't really understand why the ChiSox would trade Robert, but if he's somehow available, he'd be my priority. If they can't land him, get Bellinger. 2) Basically the cheapest available quality starter. All these rumored available pitchers have their warts imo. Basically hoping to get lucky that the one you pick is on point come postseason. It's a crapshoot, so give me one that requires the least important assets in return. 3) A decent reliever. That's it. They are going to have to beat them with their bats this year, and a lineup with Robert/Bellinger plus a healthy Yordan and Altuve (maybe Brantley) would be as good as it gets. The staff is going to be a little sketchy regardless of which available pitcher they acquire. Gotta hope that 2/3 of the acquired pitcher, Javier, and Brown (can possibly throw Urquidy in France into the mix) are in form come playoff time.
There's a "hot streak" and there's "great under pressure" Chas with 2 outs batting .290 2 outs, RISP .345 late & close .275 Innings 7-9 .352 Against teams with a + .500 record - .317 avg He's not just on a hot streak but he's hitting in pressure situations when the game's on the line.
I think a good trade that fits a need is Lane Thomas OF and Edwards Jr or of the Nationals for Meyers, Joe Perez and a Micheal Knorr would be a good start. Then your not hamstrung on adding a OF or LHB. This doesn't stop you from trying it just means hey we don't have to.
Then I'd look at a Chris Drury and Estavez from the Angels for Pedro Leon, Miseal Tamareaz and Quinzy Hamilton. This gives us extra insurance in the middle and OF. You could then possibly Move Julks and Dubon to nab you yhe SPs you might need going forward
He's been a .800+ OPS guy all season with well above average CF defense and elite LF defense and 3 years of control. He's also been hitting close to 1.000 OPS against lefties for the last 2 seasons. That is his value regardless of what anyone thought it was when Baker was going full r****d with his playing time.
Let's take what Chas has done over the course of the last 6 weeks and replace that with what Robert has done. Would we have been substantially better in that period of time? I am trying to find a way to get better this year by replacing someone with someone better. Chas is part of what has stabilized the team over the last month or so. I don't see how you can trade him now.
