On paper it is an utter ripoff for Houston but that’s what prices are like this deadline. Giving up all that controllable pitching would put Houston in a pretty big bind next season especially if Garcia/McCullers aren’t back until late next year. But yes it would be exciting. 4 potential HOF hitters in the lineup with 3 all-star types and 2 guys who are really good when hot; maybe the best/deepest lineup in baseball history.
Playoff roster: 2B Altuve RF Soto 3B Bregman LF Alvarez 1B Abreu CF Tucker C Diaz DH Brantley SS Pena
If we're not going to be able to resign Tuck that's one thing. However if Crane isn't willing to do these multi yr deals (and 200+ mil) we're more then likely going to lose Framber as well. So there's a good chance after the '24 season we could be without Bregman and then in '25 without Tuck and Framber. Would really like to see them push their chips in and go for it this yr as well as in '24+'25. It would certainly help if Crane would go over the luxury tax. He's said countless times he's willing to do this but never has. Took a LONG time to get this core of players and yes some of them have been replaced but to think that it goes on and on and on is foolish. They have an opportunity to be historically good. Some might say they already are. I'd like to see them win one more WS this yr or next. Easier said then done I know and so many things have to go your way (staying healthy and peaking at the right time). If I'm Crane, while I have Altuve, Yordan, Tuck, Framber, Bregman as my core, I'm going to do whatever I have to do to give them the best chance of winning it all and if that means going over the luxury tax for a couple of years so be it.
Seems light. I like Bliss but that’s 2 backend top 30 prospects and a buy low MLB utility guy. Equivalent for Houston would be something like Quincy Hamilton, Grae Kessinger, and Kenedy Corona. I would have gladly given that up for Sewald.
Switch Chas with any of our other outfielders and another prospect, and I would do it. If we are pushing our chips, I don't want any gaps I. Our lineup at all. Altuve Soto Alvarez Abreu Tucker Bregman Chas Diaz Pena
I appreciate all you do for this board. This would be the dumbest trade in Astro history. Two rentals and a year and a half for Soto and you are giving up our future ace, 3 guys that will probably be starters for the next 3-5 years after this one, not to mention two other future mlb pitchers. I think you just put these trades out for fun and are not serious. If Brown did this and Crane approved it, they will have abandoned the model that Luhow was trying to put in place to make us compete for playoffs every year for decades, like the Cardinals. I for one am not that impatient. I want the Astros to be relevant every year for as long as possible. Chas would probably be close to 20 home runs like Soto if he didn’t get injured and then stupidly benched by Dusty. Chas being out of the lineup tonight does worry me that he might be part of a package for pitching.
That's a guy I was hoping. Pressly, Abreu, and him would push Neris to the 4th spot, and Graveman would be fighting just to get postseason appearances.
Like I said, on paper it’s an utter ripoff. My intention was to respond to the gambling sites tweet listing the Astros as 2nd favorite to land Soto with what I think a market-appropriate trade with the Padres to include Soto would look like. I wouldn’t necessarily hate that trade but it would HEAVILY favor San Diego and would be a big big blow to Houston’s pitching depth. About the only way I wouldn’t hate it is if Crane had already committed to going well over the tax threshold to fix the pitching staff this coming offseason. If that were the case I think they could weather the loss of McCormick/Gilbert/Baez with their other OF prospects. And yes, everything I post on this site is in the spirit of fun and I do not take myself or my opinion very seriously.
The politics of hate for the Astros effects the way our farm is ranked. I believe we are much better than we are ranked. We probably belong somewhere between 12 and 17 after the 23 draft and giving away Lee.
I also feel the Astros have more of a luxury in not having to call up players too early. They can afford to have them in A or AA ball longer to develop skills that fit the teams need and prepare them for when our established players contracts are up.
Actual conversation: -Padres FO "We have Soto, Snell and Hader on the block" -Astros FO "Who do you want for them?" -Padres FO "Maldy and....." -Astros FO "No deal"
