Since Straw has come around a bit and their rotation is full, their needs really should be able to be filled without the Astros going over. Even if they acquire a RP with a salary in the $5-10M range, it wouldn’t be excessive to add prospects to get the other team to pay the remaining balance. I am also wondering if they might be in the market for a utility player.
There are a number of relievers on cheap deals. They might not even have to get any money in return. Yimi Garcia 1.9 million (about 650k remaining around deadline) Ian kennedy 2.15 million (about 750k remaining around deadline) Richard Rodriguez 1.7 million (about 575k remaining around deadline) Kendall Graveman 1.25 million plus incentives* (about 425k remaining around deadline) Michael Fulmer 3.1 million (about 1.1 million remaining around deadline) Paul Fry 581k (about 200k remaining around deadline) Daniel Bard 2.95 million (about 1 million remaining around deadline) * Graveman has 3 incentives: 1.5 million for 40 games finished 500k for 60 innnings 500k for being on the active roster 150 days He missed time from Covid so the only incentive he is likely to hit is the being on the active roster for 150 days. That would bring his cost up to 1.75 million for the year. Depending on who pays the incentive he would cost either 425k or 925k for the remainder of the season.
I really like your list. Would add Scott Barlow who I also think does not have a significant contract.
I'm going to pivot and suggest the Astros make a move for Max Scherzer. The Nats are going nowhere this year and Scherzer is in the last year of his deal. I think he would bring that swagger we lost when Verlander went down and have a similar effect that Verlander brought in 2017. Our young pitching has been great but untested in the playoffs. Running a 4 man rotation of Scherzer, Grienke, Valdez and McCullers/Odorizzi smells like a championship to me. Package Garcia or Javier plus 1-2 B level prospects.
It’s tempting to look at him since he’s the most impactful available player. And if Houston doesn’t get him it means they may have to face him in the playoffs. But given his salary, Houston’s financial limitations, and the fact that Valdez is pitching like an ace and the rest of their rotation projects to be pretty good, I don’t think it makes good sense to trade for him. Now, signing him this offseason is another story. He is likely to avoid the QO by being traded, and Houston having a full 3-4 seasons of Scherzer, Framber, McCullers, Urquidy, and Odorizzi/Garcia means no worries on the SP front. And Houston should have the payroll flexibility to make that move.
I was looking at this list... https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/top-mlb-trade-deadline-candidates-rumors.html
So a trade with the Marlins did happen.. Lorenzo Quintana to the Marlins https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/minor-mlb-transactions-6-14-21.html
Agree. I still think there is an outside chance we sign Verlander if he looks healthy. Grienke is gone. Wouldn’t be surprised if Astros offer Correa a 7 year 210 million contract if he finishes a solid offensive year.
Only spot I see a need for is a bullpen upgrade and there are plenty of options to choose from..Y. Garcia, I. Kennedy, R. Rodriguez, T. Rodgers, P. Fry, K. Graveman. Playoff roster: Maldonado, Castro, Gurriel, Altuve, Bregman, Correa, Tucker, Straw, Brantley, Alvarez, Diaz, McCormick. Last spot between R. Garcia, Toro, maybe Pedro Leon. Valdez, Grienke, McCullers, L. Garcia Pressly, Trade acquisition, Baez, Paredes, Taylor, Javier, Urquidy, Odorizzi, Pruitt Still would have options of J. Smith, Stanek, Raley, J. James, Scrubb, etc as well
Cash. Likely almost nothing. Quintana was getting squeezed out of playing time by Papierski and with Stubbs and Shaver also on the roster he’d likely have been released. I’m sure it was just a few thousand dollars.
Quintana was pure roster filler in case of emergency in the big leagues. I'm ready for Lee to move up.
Through 65 Games, we (kinda) know who the 2021 Astros are Here’s what the 2021 Astros are: a team with an explosive offense and the best starting pitching in the AL. The Astros glaring weakness is its bullpen. Too many of its arms have been bad, and too few reliable. https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2021/...5-games-we-kinda-know-who-the-2021-astros-are Seems obvious. Hopefully that translates into reality (getting more BP arms).
