We need to promote Whitley to the pen soon. If he works out it changes our whole dynamic and ability to rest our starters. If he doesn’t maybe somebody will give us a flyer or two to develop.
I agree with you on most of this. When are teams going to stop undervaluing the Stros prospects? Why are you so low on Baez? I really like what little I've seen and read about him. Also how is Gomez performing this year?
I wouldn’t say I’m low on Baez. I am not as high on him as others but I think he’s a good prospect. He looks like a guy who will be a future DH/1B and so there is so much pressure on his bat, and right now he has a very low walk rate and a moderately high k rate, which doesn’t tell me he’s an elite elite bat.
He's 20 years old and should be able to improve his weaknesses. He's been in this country what, 3-4 years? I've got little doubt he can play a corner OF spots. Has he looked bad this year in the OF? Last year he looked at least avg or better out there. He's got a good arm too. I see him as a Yordan level OF.
Anderson for the Angels, totally dominant performance, lowered his ERA to 2.81. He's under contract through 2025 at $13 million. He's my other reasonably realistic trade acquisition.
I would take him but he’s nowhere near as good as that ERA suggests. Edit: Looked it up and he’s got an xFIP well above 5 coming into today. Was above 5 last year as well along with his actual ERA.
Also the fact that he was sub 3 ERA two years ago, over 5 last year, now back to sub 3 Now don't get me wrong, if the prospect cost was low I would definitely be accepting of a deal for him But he wouldn't be a major target of mine I still want Bassitt from Toronto as the SP. He isn't an Ace obviously, but one thing he has been very consistent with is staying healthy and giving a quality number of innings, and that is something this team could GREATLY use right now. If we make it into the playoffs we have enough potential elite pitching to win it all, especially with how good the offense can be. We need a lot more quality innings to get to the playoffs though
@Nook have you heard anything lately on potential Astros targets? I kinda get the feeling that they’re going to be looking at the SP situation being resolved internally by guys coming back from the IL (verlander, Bloss, Garcia). Still curious to see if they bring in a 1st baseman
I have not heard anything different than a week or two ago. Focus is bat that can play first and expect to make a run at a starter OR leverage reliever. They say they will not cripple the minor league system making deals - but reading between the lines, that doesn't include non-Brown picks, which Brown doesn't seem to have as high an attachment to. It may well be a blood bath with Seattle poised to be VERY active for bats, and willing to deal from their very good farm system. The other teams that have been really active are the Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Yankees and Padres. Right now there are too few sellers - but there has been some indication that Tampa Bay is at least listening to teams and the Rangers have as well. The best thing for the Astros in the trade market is to have the Rangers falter, the Rays remain mediocre and the Jays and Giants to play like they have given up. The Astros are interested in a number of players on the Rays - including Diaz to play 1st, Paredes (although discussions may be in the off season), Brandon Lowe and a couple relievers. This is just my guess, but I would suspect Lowe and Diaz are the most likely targets, especially Lowe because the Rays may not want to pick up the Lowe options. The Astros as far as I know are interested in the same guys with the Blue Jays - Guerrero and Gausmann (who they have a really strong interest in)... From the Giants they like a couple of relievers.... the Astros have some degree of interest in Christopher Morel.
I really like Brandon Lowe. Too bad he is best at 2B, but he’d be fine in LF for Houston. Yandy Diaz and Jeimer Candelario are the 2 best fits of the available position players. I think someone is going to way overpay for Guerrero. Kevin Gausman and Yandy Diaz would be an awesome deadline haul for the Astros. I think Matthews, Bloss, and anyone in the lower levels is probably off limits but Houston should be able to fill their needs using Melton, Baez, etc. and maybe Loperfido and Arrighetti.
Astros get: RP Matt Moore Angels get: RP Rafael Montero $3M (2025) P Bryan De Paula Astros get: 2B/OF Brandon Lowe Rays get: OF Chas McCormick P AJ Blubaugh P Miguel Ullola P Forrest Whitley Astros get: P Kevin Gausman $6M (2025) $6M (2026) Blue Jays get: P Spencer Arrighetti OF Joey Loperfido Playoff roster: 2B Altuve 3B Bregman DH Alvarez RF Tucker C Diaz LF Lowe 1B Singleton CF Meyers SS Pena Bench: Dubon, Caratini, Cabbage, Salazar Rotation: Framber, Verlander, Gausman, Brown Bullpen: Blanco, Garcia, McCullers, Bloss, Moore, Scott, Abreu, Pressly, Hader
Yeah - if they get Lowe, he would likely play several positions - including 1st base. His issue is staying healthy. As for starting pitching, the Astros appear to really want a locked in veteran high end starter beyond this season, read into that what you will.
Where does Lowe play? He's started 7 MLB games at 1B in his career, since '18. He's 2B/LF. How does that help you more than trading for an actual 1B?
I don't know for sure, but I don't think the Astros would give that much, but I guess it depends on how they view Ullola, Blubaugh, Arrighetti and Loperfido. My guess is that they wouldn't give up Arrighetti and Ullola - but would likely give up Arrighetti and other pieces. If I had to guess, any large trade like that for the Astros would involve Melton going out the door as the centerpiece and others attached. Possibly Arrighetti, depending on what Miller/Murphy view of him. Just my opinion but I don't think they would have Singleton start at 1st if they add someone like Lowe, who would likely slide over to first.
There have been several guys that the Astros have had interest that are not currently playing 1st base - Lowe is one of them, but they also have looked hard at Brent Rooker is one such player, they have asked about JD Martinez (although I don't know if they plan to have him play the field) and they have also asked about Gavin Sheets. As far as I know, none of them have played first base. Rooker I have actually heard they would have him play some 1st. Which is why I question the real reason they do not like Diaz playing 1st.
Baseball reference has Toronto's playoff odds odds down to 0.5% Gausman, Guerrero, Yimi Garcia For Arrighetti, Melton, Gordon, Wagner, Barber, and Rafael Montero.
