2015 Astros Minor League Thread

Does Fiers have any options?

I think you have to consider that the playoff rotation is going to be Keuchel/Kazmir/McCullers--with McHugh available when we need a 4th. That means McHugh will be available in the pen in a 5 game series, and Feldman will be a long man throughout. Fiers (or Feldman) is redundant on the playoff roster and completely unnecessary.

So if Fiers has any options, send him down. Otherwise, bleh, facing a silly issue. Agree that Carter may be the next option. Or Sipp? He's felt the least reliable to me. 1 LH RP isn't ideal, but is feasible if there's a crunch.

Hell, I'd pick 2 of the 3 I named above to get McCullers and Velasquez eligible.

Separately, I know it's been said before, but this is why we definitely can't see Springer until Sept 1

 

Personally I think Feliz' stuff translates to the pen extremely well. Feliz has a better out pitch than VV. I want to see both up this month to be available come playoff time. Their "stuff" is just better than what we have in the pen now. Yes there is fear handing the ball to a rookie in a close playoff game but I will take that over Sipp or Qualls (his sinker isn't heavy like it used to) or Harris.

 

Sipp has actually been outstanding post all-star break. He's pitched 10 innings, allow 0 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, and 10 Ks.

Fiers is an interesting call.

 

I'm at the point where I would be disappointed if the Astros don't protect Matt Duffy. He has had an awesome season on the cool. He is now slashing .306/.378/.498, and he leads all of AAA in RBI and Runs.

He's only striking out 16%, and he's now walking at his highest rate. His BABIP has been up over .323 every season, so he usually makes good contact. He has also averaged over 22 HR per 650 PA since reaching full season ball, so he has some pop.

Lastly he's right handed (he kills lefties), and plays a capable 3rd base and 1st base. He would seem to check a lot of things the Astros could use right now. I would really like to see him in September, there are quite a few guys who could be removed from the 40 man to add him. Tyler White doesn't need to be Rule 5 protected, Duffy does, and Duffy can play 3rd, so there is a reason to call him up instead of White

 

During the game on Saturday, when they were interviewing the 2005 players in the booth, he was the one guy universally lauded by the guys still involved with the minor league system (Ensberg, Everett).

I tend to put more stock in the endorsements from players who once played the game and have seen countless players firsthand over the years.

 

At this point both White and Duffy need to be protected or traded. They have value and it would be ridiculous for the Astros to gift them away to other MLB teams. They are both ready for the show and just because there is no room do you unprotected them.

 

Duffy should get protected and have a chance in spring training to battle for a spot. I think Moran is going to play 3b next year. I don't think we can afford to maintain carter as we have 3 dh on the team right now (tucker, Gattis and carter). That spot will be a battle between singleton and Duffy. Now I do agree with you Duffy should be protected.

 

Or already on the DL. Deduno & Peacock give them 2 extra playoff-eligible spots that can be replaced by anyone.

 

When I said mora will play 3b next year I meant triple a giving a chance to Duffy to win a spot in roster

 

There is some fat on the 40 man that the Astros can get rid of.

Buchanan, Chapman, Deduno, Peacock, Straily, Stassi, Grossman and Hoes.

As far as I am concerned they can let Valbuena, Chris Carter and Rasmus walk.

 

They may do the same with Castro as well (non-tender).

 

Valbuena, Carter, Gattis and Castro all have value, somebody will be willing to give them a shot. I'm positive we can trade them if we desire, I doubt they get outright non tendered.

 

I think they'll hang on to Valbuena and Gattis... Carter/Castro not so much.

Carter's trade value is basically zero... as is his role on this team.... the game of statistical chicken (as you put it) is over, and they lost.

Castro not worth the $6 million dollars/year he'll be commanding via arbitration.... but the lack of Astros viable catching options does give him a possible stay of execution.

The bottom line is they can and should strive to upgrade all those guys' roles on the MLB team... they definitely seem to favor a more "balanced" overall lineup from here on out (vs. the all or nothing approach), and I expect Lowrie/Marwin to get the bulk of the AB's going forward.

 

Gattis has been dog s**t terrible for most of the year, and he is an abysmal fielder who has to gobble up the DH spot. Unless he turns it on to finish the year, he's just as expendable as Carter to me.

Valbuena and Castro at least provide some positional value for their lackluster offense.

 

Sentiment shouldn't matter, but the Astros gave up a fair amount for Gattis so I don't think they abort after one season.

Rasmus will be gone as a free agent. If the Astros can move Carter and Valbuena for anything of value, they should. They both are close to useless. Valbuena I suppose would be fine as a reserve that can play the corners but the Astros have a number of cheaper in house options.

The DH problem will come to a head. Tucker apparently cannot play first and is bad in the outfield. Gattis cannot long term play the outfield. Tyler White is JUCO level at third. So that leaves a number of possible bats for the DH hole.

 

Expendable... and probably has more trade value than Carter.

But I don't see anybody lining up for either of them... and while he's having a bad year, Gattis is still outperforming Carter and has more cheaper/club controlled years left.

Carter made $4 million dollars this year... to be worse than a replacement level player. If I had to put money on which player i'd feel had a better chance to rebound, I wouldn't be picking the player that has been lost/abysmal for the majority of the last two years (regardless of what his stats ended up showing last year thanks to two amazing months, and regardless of what he was in 2011-2012).