Was looking up something Josh James and saw that he got hit with a line drive a few days ago. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cb...s/astros-josh-james-struck-by-line-drive/amp/
Would like to somehow get both Max Scherzer and Brad Hand in a deal. Having hand thrown in would make overpaying for Scherzer more palatable.
I'd rather have Daniel Hudson than Brad Hand in that situation. i don't think we will know if the Nats are going to be sellers until the day of the trade deadline. They are 6 back in their division. However, the Mets have Lindor and deGrom on the IL. The Braves lost Acuna. Plus the Nationals have a somewhat favorable schedule before the deadline with 2 more against the Marlins, 3 @ the Orioles, and then a chance to catch one of the teams above them in the divisions with 4 @ the Phillies. That's their schedule through the 29th. The deadline is the 30th. If the get within 3.5-4 games they probably stick with it.
They are both free agents after the season so that isn't a factor. I like Hudson's stuff in the playoffs more. He throws 99 and isn't walking people. He's more of a strikeout pitcher with a 13.2 K/9 this season compared to 9.2 K/9 for Hand which his is worst K/9 since 2015. He's also having a better season than Hand. Hudson has been better in the playoffs in his career. Hand has an ERA north of 15 in the post season. Pressly is a better closer than both of them so for a setup guy I'd take Hudson.
Hand has only given up two one runs in the postseason besides those scored off of Correa's bat. Edit: Memory bad. I thought it was a 3-run homer by Correa instead of a 2-run homer.
Yeah his only other appearance was last year, when he blew the game (and thus, the series) to the Yankees. Got beat by Sanchez and LeMahieu. Not exactly a guy who inspires confidence. If the Stros desperately wanted Hand's mediocre stuff, they had the chance to sign him in the offseason.
Hand has pitched in 3 games in the post season and has given up 4 runs. Sure, tiny sample size, but I would rather have Pressly as the closer and Hand has primarily been used as a closer with limited appearances outside the 9th inning this season and most of his career. I'm just not a fan of Hand because it seems like I've seen ALL of his bad outings. The Yankees have owned him several times when I was watching including the playoffs last year and during the season this year. That makes me jaded as hell...
He won't have to face the Astros or the Yankees in the playoffs. Pressly should be closer. Hand's playoff experience is a tiny sample size and not a good measure on predicting his future performance in the playoffs.
Wonder what prospect capital it would take to get it done. Lee is my only untouchable, Leon would be tough to see go but seems to be the most appeasing piece. Javier, Chas, and 2 prospects 4-10 seems like a fair deal to me.
I agree. Catchers like him, who are the complete package, are arguably the hardest to find. Catchers who are great defensively and offensively are way too valuable. He's looking like a huge steal.
• In addition to looking for bullpen help, the Astros are exploring the center-field market; MLB Network’s Jon Heyman listed them, along with the Phillies and Yankees, as teams that have checked in on the Marlins’ Starlin Marte (the Miami Herald, meanwhile, connected Marte to the Giants). The Astros also checked on Bryan Reynolds, who is unlikely to be traded. The Twins’ Byron Buxton might be dealt if he does not agree to an extension, but still is not close to returning from his fractured left hand. The Royals’ Michael Taylor would make little sense. The Astros already have a similar player in Myles Straw. — Ken Rosenthal
Seems really odd to me that they stuck with Straw thru his struggles and now when he’s on pace for 3+ war they start shopping for a replacement.