i don't necessarily agree that it's smart for HIS trade value, as there is way more value to be gained in trading starting pitching at the deadline, but the highlighted portion is an interesting point (although there isn't a player on the roster that would qualify who could gain a bigger return than myers if he had a huge 1st half of year). i don't mind the move, but find it a little bizarre. do they consider it that unlikely that he catch regain his 2010 form and catch fire for the first half of the season?
the other thing is, he is, in all likelihood (hope i'm wrong by a crapload), going to be placed in fewer save situations than every other closer in major league baseball. so it seems impossible that this would be the better option for showcasing him for a trade. would almost make more sense to put him in middle relief if showcasing was the goal.
I get what you're saying. But given how he pitched last year combined with the lack of any interest during this season...and given his age, I feel like the odds were against him having a comeback year enough to regenerate interest. And yeah, I agree that no one could qualify for a bigger return. But hell, if Zach Duke or Livan can muster up a last-year-Myers type season on a cheap deal and if Myers can close, then maybe we have 2 mediocre tradeable assets instead of 1. Again, I get it.... but it seems like GM's still value the "save" a ton. Even if he's presented with very few opportunities, I have to think he'll see 30 at a minimum. If he is even as low as 15 saves by the deadline (with few blown saves) and a low ERA with a good K rate... I think people will be into him. It's that 9th inning phenomenon. Even if the sample size is too small...which could work in our favor
Truth. In this offseason, Wade signed a light hitting defensive catcher, Craig Tatum. Luhnow replaces Wade. Luhnow sets Tatum free and signs a light hitting defensive catcher who knows how to draw walk, Chris Snyder. Hmmm. Some say Livan Hernandez will benefit from Bret's move to the pen. I am not ruling out Kyle Weiland. Weiland is young, done his time in AAA, and has been vetted by two separate moneyball FOs. Hernandez's job this year may very well be to eat innings in long relieve of our young starting staff.
Light hitting is very subjective. For the Astros, he's like Mike Piazza offensively. It's been over a decade since Meluskey or Eusebio even. I fully expect Snyder and Castro to platoon.
This will be an interesting position battle this spring. My bet is that Castro is sent to AAA (unless he has a sterling spring training) and Q is the C2 this year, his swan song with the Astros. Castro minor league slash line is .287/376/.411 with .788 OPS. This is bloated a bit by stay in Lancaster. His AAA slash line was .265/.365/.355 with .720 OPS which a bit meh. His MLB slash line is .205/.286/.287 with a .573 OPS, which is in Mendozian territory. Castro does know how to draw a walk, which imo makes him a dark horse candidate for C2.
I think Q will start the season as the backup catcher (and platoon with Snyder, and possibly be somebody's personal catcher), but Castro will be back with the club by May. I think he is more likely to go to extended spring training than he is to AAA. Castro started very slowly in AAA, but really picked it up as his season went along, which mirrors what he did at other levels as well. Also keep in mind, Q's career OPS is .589, so it isn't like Castro has tough competition offensively. Castro had a .670OPS against righties (which isn't good, but he flat out couldn't hit lefties in his short time in the bigs), while Q can't hit either. Snyder has a .812 career OPS against lefties.
