Man, if our slide would have continued in June/July we could have revamped our farm via Tucker, Framber, and Bregman. 8 top 100 guys with this market. Glad we are winning though!
Yeah - this is why I am saying that Brown did not over pay, he paid what the market price is. The Baltimore Orioles just traded their #5 prospect for a pitcher that was almost designated for assignment earlier this year..... They gave up both of their #2 draft picks from last year and a very talented CF for the Rays starter...... The trade market for pitching is scary thin.... to the point where I am surprised a team hasn't changed course and made their starting pitching available in trade. Trevor Rogers has also been every bit as bad as his 5 era as well, and he isn't in the AL East.
I was the biggest Loperfido guy on this MB. But Cole has a higher ceiling. They're a lot alike as prospects. I've always said don't trade Blubaugh because his stuff translates better than Bloss stuff. They've just gotta get his command to become more consistent.
Hey, I love it when people have confidence behind their own systems. I'm genuinely curious to know how many people mentioned the names or were generating expectations on: Loperfido, Bloss, Blubaugh, Cole, or Wagner after the 2023 season? Things can move fast in baseball... even faster for organizations that are possibly drafting well and fast-tracking guys as much as the Astros seem to be doing this last year. Brice Matthews, Melton, and Baez seem to be the current stable of "untouchable". A lot of this reminds me of how the NFL is now with QB's. We know they're not all going to make it despite now 5-7 (or more) being drafted in the first round every year. Even when some seem to make it, not all of them can eventually have full careers and make the HOF (despite them all now getting $200-300 million dollar contract extensions). We've reached the point in sports that just being average at your position of need leads to a potential max payment.
We have nothing left to deal unless we gut the whole farm - Chas nets you a basket of fried pickles and maybe some ranch thrown in
There are very few leaks today - and that is across the board. I think that the high cost of trades yesterday and this morning have made teams clam up a bit. The Astros are still looking at relievers and a bat. The cost of pitching has been insane (as Astros fans know), so it is unlikely the Astros get another reliever of any accomplishment. The Astros better bet is to add a bat. Diaz from the Rays is the name mentioned the most. The Yankees and Pirates are among the teams that want him as well. The Rays have interest in Baez and Ullola among others. I don't know if the Astros will reach a deal but they would really like to add a competent hitter.
Loperfido and Cole both were well known. Cole less so, but with baseball people he was the guy with the massive ceiling and unconventional story. I personally do not get the Melton hype - at some point you actually have to hit, and Melton has never done it. Baez at least COULD be a Nelson Cruz type player if everything breaks right - the body is not great, the glove won't impress anyone but he can swing a boom stick.
I bet the Astros could get a very decent haul for Arrighetti/Urquiddy right now. Hell, may throw in LMJ as a sweetener!
Household names, Nook... household. You can easily search this board for the first frequent mention of Loperfido. It wasn't household in 2023.
I will be posting an update of my top prospects after the dust settles on the trade deadline and the newly drafted players are assigned to teams.
why wait? The ratings demand to be known!!! Have you ever retro-actively graded your ratings after guys got promoted and either succeeded or failed at the MLB level? I'm sure there's still some here wondering how Seth Beer is grading...
