<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Confirmed: And yes, Carlos Gomez has passed his physical. He goes to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> with RHP Fiers for Hader, Houser, Phillips, Santana.</p>— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/626901089141440512">July 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Officially official
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">gomez has already passed astros medical review. done deal. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/astros?src=hash">#astros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/crew?src=hash">#crew</a></p>— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/626900717446524928">July 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
tbh i only really care about phillips, but i can see why some are mad at what we gave up. fiers is very average. i'd say mchugh and him are on the same level. our outfield right now though...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Presumed removal of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> from Ross/Cashner derby might create opening for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a>, who have been pursuing Ross along with other clubs.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/626902089755684864">July 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Source says the Astros are still in on Craig Kimbrel, though it seems they're now even more unlikely to meet the Padres' asking price.</p>— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/dennistlin/status/626901413994610688">July 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If we're going this hard THIS year with the additions of CarGo and Kazmir...how can we NOT try to go ahead and improve the back end of the bullpen as well with maybe Kimbrel or Chapman. I like to think/hope that we're still very much in on those two.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I saw Josh Hader earlier this month at the crazy Pan Ams gold-medal game. Up to 96 but secondaries, control and delivery weren't great.</p>— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler/status/626903003761672193">July 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Hader and Houser are arms that we have plenty of in the system. Phillips is the only one that really stings, the rest are duplicated throughout.
A couple of thoughts... 1.) 4 for 2 deal, but only Santana was on the 40 man roster. Houser would have been Rule 5 eligible, though probably not a huge risk of being plucked. 2.) What do you do with Marisnick? His value is as an elite CF, but Carlos Gomez is a gold glove CF and is signed through next year. Marisnick would be an attractive piece for a number of clubs - big time glove, some hope for his bat, and not arbitration eligible till 2018. I think his value as a defensive sub is diminished when you have an elite CFer in the every day lineup, and when healthy, two other very capable potentials CFs in Springer and Rasmus.
If you added Fiers and are looking for Kimbrel it seems like VV is the logical choice to be dealt. Adding Gomez means maybe Jake or Tucker are now expendable.
Chapman is too expensive. Astros must not be as high on Phillips as some think. I think Reed, Appel, VV and Sierra are the ones they really value.
I could be wrong but from what I have heard from people that work for the Astros, they are very high on VV. I wouldn't be shocked if they go to a 6 man rotation.
I could buy them not being sold on his power and that is what makes the most sense to me. Would not like dealing VV for a closer. He was good in his time in the rotation.
You keep him and hope he improves his bat enough to be an everyday guy next year (remember, Rasmus is only a 1 year guy... didn't think they'd go hard to sign him beyond this year, and now its far less likely with Gomez here). If he is what he is, Adam Everett of CF, then its not totally terrible if you have productive hitters elsewhere... its when you don't get anything out of 1B, C, CF, and sometimes 3B that something has to give.
Even without Rasmus, you still have Tucker-Gomez-Springer as your presumed starters. Tucker is poor defensively, but putting Marisnick (or moving Gomez/Springer) to left isn't maximizing their value. We also have Tony Kemp, who presumably will challenge for a utility role next year.
Not good enough. If you can get Kimbrel... Luhnow will get Kimbrel. As has been stated before, getting a guy like Kimbrel pushes gregerson down to set-up duties which he is best suited to do. Plus the control over Kimbrel makes him a hot commodity. It's like adding a Billy Wagner or Brad Lidge (the good one pre-pujols).
