Dubon is the most obvious trade candidate for me. He's currently blocking Brice Matthews, who I think has similar utility potential to Dubon, although a lot of that is mental, and we don't know Brice's mentality yet. The tools are there for Brice to be able to play all three up the middle positions, which is what makes Dubon valuable.
Brice looked completely overmatched in his short time up with the club. I’m not counting on that guy. Hope he figures it out this year.
Matthews and Dubon are very different players. Dubon is a classic utility player: excellent defender across 7 positions, great clubhouse presence, is able to put the ball in play…but he doesn’t hit for power, doesn’t walk much, and doesn’t provide much baserunning value. Matthews is in many ways the opposite: he has elite speed and plus raw power, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he could steal 40 bases an hit 25 HR in a big league season. But he currently projects to strike out quite a bit, and his defense is pretty questionable, especially at SS and 3B. I actually kind of feel like Matthews has been a little rushed through the system and that they were quick to have him only work at 2B. It wouldn’t upset me at all if they kept him down the first half of next season to try to let him improve at SS and get some looks in CF. Thats not to say I disagree with your point, because I agree that part of the upside to trading Dubon is making room on the roster for Matthews if he shows he can consistently hit big league pitching. For now I wouldn’t want him to be the primary backup SS, but that risk is largely mitigated with Correa available to move over to SS if Pena got hurt.
If the Astros trade Sanchez, they will immediately be in the market for a league average LH bat. The Astros do have other LH bats on the 40 man roster: Trammell, Melton and Cole. The same set of LH bats that force them to trade for another LH bat Sanchez at the last trade deadline. What the Astros do this offseason in the OF will be interesting. Do they give Cam Smith starts in CF? Do they platoon Smith in RF with Sanchez (or his LH bat replacement)? How high are the Astros on prospects like Cole and Melton? Enough to trade Sanchez and replace him internally?
Totally agree. This offseason will tell us a lot about what Brown thinks of the 5 near-ready high ceiling/risk bats they have (Smith, Matthews, Melton, Cole, and Dezenzo). Making the right evaluation on that group of players and maximizing their value is huge for extending/reopening the window.
My understanding is that they are pretty confident that Matthews can be good defensively in CF and 2nd.
He has a LF defensive ceiling this winter. That could improve after another year in the minors but playing him in center field is just going to expose him. Trading him for pitching before thanksgiving would be the wisest course to follow.
Very good analysis. If the Astros feel they can’t resign Peña, then they may get a huge haul for him this summer. Myers played over his head, unfortunately he got hurt too often during the season (his trade value might be over the moon).
Blue Jays went 74-88, missed the playoffs and were a huge disappointments last season. They then changed hitting coaches and their entire offensive approach. The result was the best record in the AL, one of the best hitting lineups in baseball, 5 players having career years and the resurgence of 35 year old George Springer. Astros can easily make it back if they hire the right hitting coaches.
Wonder if he was a James Click hire..? That guy knows what he is doing. Would be pretty stupid to win a World Series with him at the helm and then immediately let him leave.
Wrt Springer, don't forget his offseason with Michael Brantley “I went to his house every day for three months,” Springer said. “And here we are.” https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6735902/2025/10/21/blue-jays-world-series-george-springer-alcs/
Our aproach is once we have Paredes back all is goot and we can continue to let everyone else do whatever they want in all situations. Hire some new hitting cheerleaders and we are all set to go . To be real, even if we nail the hires I don't have confidence we have enough leadership to get player buy in to work and change anything. Insert some mumbling about being agressive and greatness of oppo number 5 starter. Players too comfy especially with this manager.
Go back at look at his previous 3 years with the Twins (he was fired and then hired by the Jays this offseason). There's a lot more at play than just "hitting philosophy". I'm no knocking the guy at all, I'm just saying I have no opinion on pitching and hitting coaches because none of us really know what they do. Seems to be, if the players are doing well they'll say good things.
