I expect them to be as good as their pitching and infield stay together. Look at this year as an example, they added Brown and Diaz and have Gilbert, Arrighetti on the way.
Wouldn't be if I was GM unless I could get a veteran #1 Starter for the next 2 1/2 years and an above avg bat. From what I've read, these are the ext stars. Otherwise I will give up Lee, Leon and any other pitchers in the system to get rentals.
That is an awfully good reason not to make that move. The Astros are not even looking like a sure thing to make the play-offs let alone to go deeply into them. Not a good team to bet the farm on. I would wait til our futures become a little clearer.
Surprise? Yainer Diaz has been in trade discussions for players under control beyond this year… starting pitching and higher end bats discussed. Drew Gilbert has likewise been discussed for non-rentals.
if Diaz gets dealt for something meaningful with club control, does that mean James Click was a good GM? Maybe crane shoulda kept click? (I think Click was pretty decent, and I’m only kidding about crane keeping Click).
I hope we don’t deal Diaz or Gilbert, they only extend the Astros window of contention. But if we did it better be a huge haul starting with Cease AND Robert. Might have to throw in Graveman as well.
I can’t think of a player who would have any chance of being available that I wold be ok giving up Diaz for. Maybe in some impossible monster deal with the white Sox where they get Cease, Robert, Graveman, and Grandal for Gilbert, Diaz, France, Meyers, Arrighetti, and Whitley? Maybe a similar deal with the Cardinals that brought Nootbar, Montgomery, Hicks, and Contreras (with the Cards picking up a good amount of Contreras’ contract)? Would never happen.
I bet Adam Wainwright could be had Wainwright plus one or more top ten prospects and one or more plus top 20 prospects for a pu pu platter of Astros DSL and FCL lottery tickets. Who's in?
https://theathletic.com/4654392/2023/06/30/mlb-mets-trade-deadline-options/ Astros open to trading outfielder The potential lack of sellers in the trade market is prompting executives to explore alternative solutions. Astros general manager Dana Brown, for example, is looking into exchanges of major-league players that would help both his club and a fellow contender fill respective needs. The Astros, under previous GM James Click, made such a deal at the 2021 deadline, sending outfielder Myles Straw to Cleveland for reliever Phil Maton and catcher Yainer Diaz, who was then a minor leaguer. Brown is open about again trading an outfielder. The Astros have three who bat right-handed, Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers and Corey Julks. “We’re exploring trading major-league player for major-league player with teams that are contending that make sense,” Brown said. “We have a lot of outfielders right now. If we could move an outfield piece for something that could fill another need, we probably would be interested in doing that. Player for player? Yeah. We have to get creative to open up the market. We’re definitely exploring that.” The Yankees had previous interest in McCormick, according to major-league sources who were granted anonymity so they could speak candidly. McCormick’s opposite-field power would appear ideal for the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium. The teams, however, never got close on a deal. Brown, comfortable with the performances of his young starting pitchers, identified “a bat” as the Astros’ biggest need. Michael Brantley, recovering from right shoulder surgery, is expected back around the All-Star break. The same goes for Yordan Alvarez, who is dealing with a right oblique strain. The Astros, five games back in the AL West but only a half-game out in the wild-card race, begin what could prove a telling four-game series against the Rangers in Arlington on Friday night. Brown, who was the Braves’ scouting director before joining the Astros in January, dismissed any notion of bolstering his thin farm system by trading off veteran parts. “I can’t see any scenario where we sell,” Brown said. “The thing I keep remembering is last year in Atlanta, we were 10 back and we ran the Mets down. I have no interest in selling, zero.
I hate to say it but dealing with the Yankees makes sense for two borderline playoff teams especially with Judge out...
McCormick, Meyers, and Gilbert probably give Houston the ammo to acquire pretty much any player who comes available, assuming the other team isn’t already also flush with OF. It also would not shock me if France was made available in a trade for a veteran/ToR SP. He would also seem to have a lot of value right now. The talk of trading Yainer Diaz scares me. Diaz is so clearly a good MLB hitter who is at least passable at C, trading him just doesn’t seem to make any sense for any player who I can imagine being available.
The handling of Yanier Diaz is absolute lunacy. Every time he catches the Astros win. He's a 5 WAR player right now, as a rookie, if he catches 110 games and DH's or plays 1st in 40. And until he was literally forced by injury into the lineup he had less PA than a David Hensley who had been demoted for 1 whole month. It is so maddening. I will be morose if he's traded unless it is for something absolutely spectacular. I can't even think of any return that is within the realm of realism that would make me happy. Maybe something like Diaz and Abreu for Contreras and Goldy. which would never happen.
