Altuve should be in his Edgar Martinez era. Martinez became a full time DH at 32. Extended his career. Played until 41.
This is the hypothetical trade thread so I’m going to pose a question: Would you trade Yordan Alvarez for Ronald Acuna straight up?
Anyone other than Astros fans would say yes immediately from the Astros point of view. Acuna is an elite defender and bat. Yordan is only serviceable at DH at this point. with Yordan’s injury history I would be surprised if he’s effective much past 30 at all. Acuna will be a great to above average player until 35 at least
seems like this team needs to make a run at this year. I hope Alvarez comes back but seems like we should go for it even if he does not.
I mean Yordan is a much better hitter and lesser at everything else. If they are both healthy I’d take Yordan. But, that’s pretty theoretical so Acuna 10/10.
There is a difference between injury from a catastrophic standpoint and from a degenerative standpoint.
I like Yordan but IMO these injuries are chronic and will keep popping up. He barely manages 100 games a year. I'd def think about trading him - but he's injured so his value will be somewhat diminished. We should cut bait sooner than later -- sorry that's harsh but it's a team sport, the Houston Astros not the Alvarez Astros.
Firm buyers: Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays, Tigers, Astros, Phillies, Mets, Cubs, Brewers, Dodgers Likely buyers: Mariners, Cardinals, Padres, Giants On the fence: Red Sox, Guardians, Twins, Royals, Rangers, Angels, Reds, Diamondbacks Likely sellers: Braves, Orioles Firm sellers: White Sox, A’s, Marlins, Nats, Pirates, Rockies The last 2 weeks was really good for the trade deadline outlook, as a lot of the middle of the pack teams fell out of it. The Astros should really hope those 8 teams on the fence fall out of it over the next 2 weeks. Depending on how it shakes out, it may be the least exciting playoff race in the last few years. But so far it looks like there will be more sellers than I expected and potentially more available players than in years past.
His contract will seem like peanuts compared to what Jake Meyers, Pena, and Hunter Brown will be wanting after this year.
Yep, the AL central has been a slow motion train wreck. 4 of 5 teams were multiple games over .500 after the first month. Now 2nd place is 4 games under.
They definitely need another bat without yordan. I can see this lineup getting shut down easily by playoff pitching.
Here is the list of all lefthanded hitters on those teams listed as on the fence, likely sellers, or firm sellers: Red Sox: Jarren Duran*, Wilyer Abreu*, Marcelo Mayer, Masataka Yoshida*, Roman Anthony, Abraham Toro* Guardians: Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan*, Bo Naylor, Kyle Manzardo, Carlos Santana*, Daniel Schneeman, Nolan Jones*, Brayan Rocchio, Chase DeLauter Twins: Matt Wallner*, Willi Castro*, Brooks Lee, Trevor Larnach*, Kody Clemens*, Edouard Julien* Royals: Kyle Isbel, Michael Massey*, Drew Waters, MJ Melendez*, Cavan Biggio Rangers: Corey Seager, Evan Carter, Josh Smith, Jonah Heim, Sam Haggerty, Joc Pederson Angels: Nolan Schanuel, Yoan Moncada, Luis Rengifo, Lamont Wade Reds: Elly De La Cruz, TJ Friedl*, Gavin Lux*, Jake Fraley*, Will Benson*, Tyler Callihan Diamondbacks: Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo*, Corbin Carroll, Josh Naylor*, Alek Thomas*, Jake McCarthy*, Pavin Smith*, Ildemaro Vargas*, Seth Brown Braves: Matt Olson, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies, Jurickson Profar, Drake Baldwin, Jarred Kelenic Orioles: Gunnar Henderson, Adley Ruschmann, Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins*, Jackson Holliday, Ryan O’Hearn*, Dylan Carlson, Heston Kjerstad white Sox: Mike Tauchman*, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Andrew Benintendi*, Josh Rojas, Ryan Noda, Colson Montgomery, Brooks Baldwin, Dominic Fletcher Pirates: O’Neil Cruz, Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds, Endy Rodriguez, Jack Suwinski, Adam Frazier*, Ji Hwan Bae A’s: Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday, Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, Logan Davidson Marlins: Xavier Edwards*, Jesus Sanchez*, Kyle Stowers, Victor Mesa Jr. Nats: James Wood, CJ Abrams, Luis Garcia*, Nathaniel Lowe*, Keibert Ruiz, Josh Bell*, Robert Hassell Rockies: Ryan McMahon*, Mickey Moniak*, Drew Romo, Yanquiel Fernandez, Adael Amador, Zac Veen, Michael Toglia I asterisked the guys I think make some sense as potential trade targets for Houston. Willi Castro, Gavin Lux, and Cedric Mullins make the most sense to me. Pavin Smith, Josh Naylor, Carlos Santana, and Ryan O’Hearn make a lot of sense if Yordan is out for the season.
Kwan is sort of my ideal best possible guy. It would be perfect. I think he has 2 arc seasons left after this. I would do: Melton, Matthews, Arrighetti, Blubaugh for him I think. Not sure if that’s too light for Cleveland (probably is) but you could move Altuve to DH full time since Yordan is dead and just play Dubon at 2B all through. Pena, Kwan, Altuve, Paredes, Smith, Diaz, Walker, meyers, Dubon. if Yordan is back by the playoffs he goes to dh and Altuve plays 2B. Yordan ain’t coming back by the playoffs.
Kwan would be a great fit: lefty hitter, good enough to hit in the top 2 of the lineup, good defensive LF; of course that would mean Altuve at 2B for the next 2 years. He does have 2 years of arbitration after this season. He is making $4M this season so probably $8M next season and $12M in 2027. My rough guess is about $60M in surplus value so the package you proposed feels very close but just a little heavy, maybe take out Blubaugh. If it weren’t for the Altuve complication I would be fine with that trade but it’s a lot to give up only to end up in a situation where you have committed to being terrible defensively at 2B. Based on what I know about the market, I think the best realistic outcome would be adding Willi Castro and Cedric Mullins. Both guys are rentals but Castro is a middle of the order caliber hitter and Mullins has solid upside and high defensive value. The lineup would be 9 deep and very good defensively.
It has been nearly a month since the White Sox have played a fellow AL Central Team. Come August, they will have 8 series out of 11 against the AL Central. Other AL Central teams will likely be on a hot streaks then.
Does that really make Altuve your 2B for the next two years? We sure Yordan is coming back and Altuve isn’t your dh?
I think until we get something more concrete we have to assume Yordan will at least be back next season. So that makes Altuve the 2B in 2026-2027. Now that’s not the end of the world; between inevitable injuries, rest days, late game substitutions, etc., Altuve’s negative impact at 2B can be severely reduced, but I still think it’s a consideration that detracts from the value of adding a top LF over multiple years.
I mean/ I guess I’d assume Yordan is more likely than not to be back but figure he and Altuve both probably benefit by playing 120 games each. You could have horns make an occasionally time in LF if that’s still a thing he wants to do, which would mean Altuve doesn’t need to play more than 50 or so games at 2B, maybe.
