Maybe Diaz is better from having been around Maldy, but even if that were the case, there was never any reason to have Maldy starting at catcher the last couple of years.
It isn't anything that Gurriel did - he is loved by the players that played with him. There would be a lot of media and fan pressure to play Gurriel if the Astros traded for him from Atlanta. Gurriel and Maldonado were lightning rods in Houston the last handful of years and Brown probably doesn't want that kind of controversy.
I can understand keeping Maldonado behind the plate in 2022. The pitching was exceptional, and the pitchers and coaches wanted to keep Maldonado behind the plate. I wanted an upgrade there or 1st at the time, but can see not wanting to replace a starting catcher in the middle of the season. IMO 2023 is a different story. They went after Abreu when they should have gone after Contreras, who would likely not have caught but he was capable of sliding over there when needed. Diaz was a rookie last year, but there was no excuse for not mixing him into a near 50/50 split.
The pitching development side of the organization is the chief reason that the Astros are still very good IMO. Click tried to mess with it some - but ultimately thought better of it. From what I have heard, Brown gives Murphy/Miller complete control and doesn't meddle beyond discussing who to bring into the organization, and Murphy decides a lot of those decisions.
If they are ambitious I would just as soon make them assistant GMs in charge of all pitching decisions rather than lose them.
Hopefully they’ll keep those guys as happy as they need to be. Unless they’re training their future replacements like Strom trained them.
My guess is the Braves have no interest in helping the Astros improve for a playoff run. They also have a valid reason to keep their Olson insurance.
In the postseason where you’re playing your absolute best lineup to win a friggin World Series and your options for game 1 are Dezenzo, Singleton, or Gurriel??? I’m taking Yuli all day and twice on Sunday. Yuli has been there before, knows the bright lights. We know what the alternative is already… It’s probably a moot point, but it should at least be considered.
How old do you think Jose Abreu really is? I think Yuli is actually 40 considering his father and brother have also been in the spotlight baseball-wise. Harder to cover up age when in the limelight.
If Omar Vizquel can get a gold glove at 39 at shortstop... I have more trust in Gurriel's fielding at first base at 40 than Singleton, Dezenzo, Diaz, Dubon, and Caratini.
Now is the time to figure out first base while you still have some runway left before the end of the season. If the Braves would actually entertain a Gurriel trade, I say go for it and see what you got. It could be like how Marwin had that comeback in 2021. Dezenzo can be sent down and if Yuli fizzles he can always come back. Unless they are going to start seriously giving Diaz more reps at first, then why the hell not take a flyer on a two time champ.
Jesus are we seriously still taking about 40 year old Yuli who couldn't hit MLB pitching the last 2 seasons as though he figured something out. Singleton is bad, and he still has a higher OBP and Slg% than Yuli had the last 2 years. If Dezenzo flames out the clear best option is to simply platoon Singleton who is perfectly competent against RHP. Don't go reaching into the grave.
If we cant tell by the middle of August then we're either blind or living in denial. Chas needs to work on his timing this offseason.
My experience is athletes peak years are age 27-32. Odds are Chas will bounce back to being an avg to slightly above avg player next year, depending on how hard he works at improving his weaknesses.
