Depth maybe, talent no. We really have no good corner outfield prospects. The best talent in the system is up the middle but its all at AA or lower. Despite that I'd still say flipping Hunter for either a #2 or greater pitching prospect OR power hitting corner anything prospect is a good idea. Right now we don't have a single player hits or projects to hit 30hr at the major league level in the entire organization. Our 2014 corner situation is Wallace, CJ, Pence and guy x in left. That's a pitiful power lineup.
Domingo Santana fits the bill as a prospect that could be included in the deal. Collin Delome also has power and is hitting for a good average this year while striking out less. He has the potential to hit 20-25 HRs.
JD Martinez should be promoted to AAA pretty soon, no later then their all star break. I think if he does what he has done his whole time in the system, JD should be playing LF at MMP in September. He is our top outfield prospect with Austin Wates being the biggest upside guy in our system but still in A ball.
Espn just suggested we should trade pence for Domonic Brown and Jarred Cosart. Link: http://espn.go.com/blog/SweetSpot/post/_/id/11381/five-trades-that-need-to-be-made Astros trade OF Hunter Pence to Phillies for OF Domonic Brown and P Jarred Cosart. Why should the Astros trade their best player? For several reasons: (1) He's good, but not that good; he does a lot of nice things on a baseball field, but a mediocre OBP prevents him from being a true star. (2) He's starting to get expensive. He won $6.9 million in arbitration for 2011 and will likely get at least $10 million next season. (3) He's 28, and while he's at his peak right now, he may not be at his peak as he turns 30 ... aka, by the time the Astros are likely to be good again. As for the Phillies, they are in win-now mode. Sure, Brown and Cossart are arguably their top prospects, but the jury remains out on how much Brown will contribute this season. They risk giving up a future All-Star, but Pence gives them a much-needed dependable bat for the middle of the lineup. With $24 million of Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge coming off the books after this season, the Phillies can also afford to pick up Pence's future salary.
I like the move, gives you a outfield stud to go with JD Martinez and a nice starting pitching prospect. Pence is a good player but the above told his story, can't expect to get a ton for him. Lots of Pence/Philly conversation on the interwebs lately, I'm almost ready to say that I expect to see him in a Phillies jersey by July.
They will spend the money if they have to, and I'm sure they could work out a deal that eased the financial burden if they needed it.
They need to build a nucleus before they start tossing cash at free agents. You spend money on free agents when you are one player away not when you are a whole roster away from winning.
-Link- The Astros continue to tell people that when they project which pieces they would need to build a winner down the road, they can't envision Hunter Pence not being a central part of that. But one scout who has seen Pence a lot says he's not the kind of player you construct a team around. "He's a good player, but I see him as more of a complementary piece," the scout said. "He's the kind of guy you win with if you have two other major run-producers around him. I don't want to give the impression I don't like the guy. I like him a lot. But he's not an impact guy to the point that should prohibit them from trading him for a quality starting pitcher and another piece."
No more trades under Ed Wade please. Let him draft and scout, but no free agent or major league trades until he is replaced.
Would do this in a heartbeat, Dom Brown will likely wind up producing at Pence's level within a year or two, and Cosart has ace potential.
Any GM in Houston's position would do that trade in a heartbeat. I'd strongly consider Pence for Brown straight up much less adding in a top pitching prospect
MLBTR GM Brian Cashman told George A. King III of The New York Post that he isn't getting any calls about trades just yet. "I am not getting calls," said Cashman. "We have the farm system and money, but no calls ... The headache stuff is available. The quality stuff is not available." Within the article, King notes that the team could look for upgrades at DH, in right field, and for the pitching staff. He says the Astros "will listen" to offers for Brett Myers, but the Yankees "don't have a match."
MLBTR: The Nationals are looking to acquire a center fielder and a leadoff hitter, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The club is willing to overpay in a trade, according to Ladson, who suggests they could look for a center fielder or leadoff hitter if they trade Ivan Rodriguez or Todd Coffey. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post hears that the Nats inquired about Michael Bourn, though talks didn't develop (Twitter link).
Why would the astros get rid of bourn? Guys one of the best defensive centers in the game and a decent lead off guy.
