Good one. Vogelsong, McHugh, Keuchel, other guys... I assume we move Feldman for prospects in that scenario and improve overall? Thoughts?
Why would you assume they would move Feldman? He's a strong candidate to be moved next season/offseason, but not this one.
Brett Olberholtzer is a better pitcher than Vogelsong. I would rather give the 5th spot to a young pitcher with upside, instead of wasting innings on Vogelsong just so we "may" win a few extra games this season.
At this point in his career, Vogelsong is maybe middle rotation guy, 3rd-4th? Last really solid year was 2012 where he went 14-9, 3.37...the years after he posted a 5.73 and 4.00 ERA and went 4-6, 8-13... hmmm. not to excited about this. He'll also be 37. Keuchel Feldman Vogelsong McHugh 5th Starter
Purely because it doesn't seem like we want to tie up 4 of our 5 slots in the rotation to "definites" with 2 of those being older vets. If Feldman or Vogelsong were a 24-27 year old, sure. (Or if the team were actually going for the playoffs this year, as opposed to .500 ball.) But at their respective ages, I'd anticipate keeping 1 with McHugh/Keuchel and allowing the freedom for multiple younger question marks to find their way. Otherwise you don't find your McHugh's or Keuchel's easily (or ever). I'm open on this. Just seems like we still have so many question mark arms that are "maybe a 4/5 starter", and only having 1 slot (that now might be Straily's to lose) really hinders their development.
I rather wait till the deadline to acquire a guy like vogelsong. Maybe I just don't see what he brings, but it seems like comparable starters are always available in July. At that juncture it's also a lot more clear how much your roster would benefit from having a guy like vogelsong. That's kind of how I felt about Feldman too.
Rambling thoughts... I know I'm in the minority, but I think there is a decent chance Appel is on team early in the season. He needs to work on consistency a little, but appears to have the homers out of his system. Astros appear to either be big believers in having a 6th starter for injury replacement, want additional starters to trade when other teams get injured in ST/early in season, or combination of the 2. Astros are working hard on depth, but have not gone after stud yet. I suspect Astros open up wallets next season by about 60 million more...which could buy about 8 projected WAR. I have heard that Astros are leery of more than 3 yr contracts for FA pitchers. Pitchers are for long deals. It will be interesting to see how Astros spend next season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Free agent pitcher Ryan Vogelsong is n Houston.He told FOX26 Sports he's not ready to comment at this point on his situation with the Astros</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/557398075149254657">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [rquoter]HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Free agent pitcher Ryan Vogelsong arrived in Houston Monday night amid reports he is in serious negotiations with the Astros. When reached by FOX26 Sports Vogelson said he was not ready to comment at this point on his situation concerning the Astros. It's likely Vogelsong is in Houston for his Astros physical. He most recently played for the San Francisco Giants in 2014, his second stint there. Vogelson has a combined six years with the Giants and five years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was 8-13 for the Giants last season, with an ERA of 4. Overall Vogelson is 49-57, with a 4.22 ERA. He did not play in the big leagues from 2007-2010. However, in Vogelson's first year back in the Majors (2011) he was 13-7, and made the National League All-Star team. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/27888389/free-agent-pitcher-ryan-vogelson-is-in-houston[/rquoter]
Astros have been busy. Fr all the complaints people have about the moves, at least the Astros are trying to field a ML baseball club. As opposed as the past few years where it was a middle of the toad AAA team. Folty, Ruiz, Tropeano, Fowler, etc. were real assets to the team. But the Astro scouts saw them first hand and made the call. I dont like giving up Folty, he was on several of my line up cards for the 2017 team. But so was Cosart..... Appel Folty Rodon Cosart Obby or Velazquez But now, only Appel remains. And he was pounded hard in A ball. Hence not a sure thing himself.
I really don't see what Vogelsong adds to the Astros. They traded for a possible #5 pitcher in the deal with the Cubs... They have several pitchers in the organization ready or close to ready... Yet they target a guy that lost his spot in the rotation last year and is 37 years old? Might as well give Jim Clancy or Danny Darwin a call.
Appel had injury issues in High A. Pitched very well in AA and AFL. Not a sure thing, but neither are free agent pitchers with a great track record.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>astros have backlog of backstops (castro, conger, corporan, stassi, gattis). rangers, dbacks among teams that could match.</p>— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/557564107487207424">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Had heard <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> linked to Colby Rasmus earlier in offseason. With Fowler trade, wonder if chances increase there.</p>— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/557594400302575616">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> talking to Rasmus. Reports earlier today said he was in Houston.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/557606712522575872">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
interesting moves if they sign him and vogelsong. if counting him vs marisnick (i understand that fowler is better than both), then they've made a string of relatively small upgrades, but upgrades nevertheless.
