Josh Hader is on the trade block. Who says no to this: Astros get: LHP Josh Hader CF Corey Ray Brewers get: RHP Cristian Javier RHP Luis Garcia 3B Abraham Toro Brewers add an everyday 3B (a heavy need for them) and 2 high upside pitchers who can help them right away. Astros get one of the best closers in the game with 2 years of control remaining along with a former Top 5 overall pick who can compete with Straw and McCormick for one of the open OF spots (likely CF).
Why are they trading him with 2 years of control left and they are contenders? Is a reliever worth giving up potential TOR guy who has more control remaining, when we already have a closer and a potentially great set up guy? Is the CF a great prospect?
Is Corey Ray simply amazing? Astros could have had Hand for 10 million. Saving 3-4 million on Hader over Hand is not worth Javier. Saving 3-4 million on Hader over Hand is not worth Garcia. Saving 3-4 million on Hader over Hand might be worth Toro.
Good point. Maybe Bryan Abreu instead of Javier? Ray is not amazing. He is a high strikeout guy with 4 other tools. He is currently the Brewers #9 prospect. But at this point it’s unlikely he ever reduces his k rate enough to be a star. But it’s possible he could be an above average defensive CF who can hit HR and steal bases. Fwiw, the Rays do not seem to have the aversion to strikeouts that Luhnow’s Astros had. 7 of the top 9 Rays in 2020 had a k rate of 24.8% or higher. So maybe Ray is the kind of forgotten prospect that Click would like.
Why not just sign Hand? While Astros had option of getting him for 10 million, he'll likely sign within 1-2M of what Hader wins in arbitration and Astros can keep Toro, Abreu, and Garcia.
If Toro is an every day third baseman, why wouldn't the Astros just hold on to him in anticipation of Correa leaving?
Because he is not guaranteed to be an everyday caliber player and is likely to only be an average everyday player even if he does pan out. For a team like the Brewers, who have no money, that’s a good value. But for a true contender and a team operating with a higher payroll capacity like the Astros, that doesn’t cut it. If they are going to replace Correa with Toro, they may as well rebuild.
That’s not a bad idea either, but I am assuming there is something wrong with Hand. If Robbie Ray is worth $8M I don’t see how Hand passed thru waivers if he’s 100%.
Ray is a starter. He doesn't have to pitch that well to be worth $8M as a starter assuming $4-5M/WAR. Hand would have to have the best year of his career to be worth $10M assuming that WAR value. I'm not sure relievers are going to get paid much a premium this year. MLB teams just aren't that good at knowing who will be great next season as a reliever.
Nice Astros tie...Springer and Correa drafted under his scouting. To be fair, he also drafted Gio over some guy named after a fish. https://www.mlb.com/news/former-top-scout-bobby-heck-proud-of-astros/c-158512636
Luhnow was the GM, but the article I linked said Heck was still the scouting director (his last year in the role) when the Astros drafted Correa. I think Elias (who came with Luhnow and was instrumental in drafting Correa) took over from there when Heck's contract was not renewed.
I misremembered. Luhnow replaced Ed Wade not Bobby Heck. IIRC Luhnow was 6 months into his tenure, by the time of the first draft. Correa was a bit of a surprise pick. Most scouts did not like Correa as much as Luhnow/Heck.
Rule 5 rosters have to be set this Friday and the non-tender deadline is 12/2. If a team is trying to clear salary or 40 man spots, this week is prime time.
I was looking at the Rockies offseason outlook on MLBTR, and they desperately need to rebuild. How interested would Houston be in trading for Arenado, assuming Colorado just wants to get rid of most of his salary and Houston knows they won’t Re-sign Correa? Bregman could play LF this season and replace Correa at SS after next season. This 2021 roster looks pretty dope: LF Bregman 2B Altuve 3B Arenado (acquired along with $15M in exchange for RHP Frances Martes) DH Alvarez SS Correa RF Tucker 1B Gurriel CF Corey Ray (acquired with Josh Hader for Abraham Toro and Bryan Abreu) C Maldonado Bench: Diaz, Straw, Jason Castro ($6M/2yr), McCormick Rotation: Greinke, McCullers, Valdez, Garrett Richards ($9M/1yr), Urquidy Bullpen: Javier, Pruitt, Smith, Raley, Taylor, Paredes, Pressly, Hader
