While I agree that relying on Kessinger to be one of the 7 or 8 best hitters in the playoffs would be foolish, I think that if the rest of the lineup is very good he could hold down SS and not be a liability. If this team got a LF/CF/DH who was .800+ OPS vs RHP and Chas and Diaz were also starting then I would be fine giving up Pena in that deal and starting Kessinger (though it would be Dubon who started) But I agree he still needs to prove himself at the MLB level before handing him a starting job, regular or post season.
Hensley needs to swing the bat. Pitchers made an adjustment and he has not adjusted back. This isn't AAA where pitchers either miss off the plate or down the middle. MLB pitchers (most) have command and will carve up a guy who won't swing the bat.
Great trade for the Pirates. They got lucky he's had a nice little hot streak the past few games. Santana is old and not good. He is ready to hit below .200 at any point.
Astros get: 3B Nolan Arenado SP Jordan Montgomery SP Jack Flaherty RP Jordan Hicks RP Giovanni Gallegos Cardinals get: SP Hunter Brown SP JP France SP Brandon Bielak SP Jose Urquidy OF Ryan Clifford RHP Carlos Espinosa LHP Blake Taylor Astros get: OF Mike Yastrzemski SP Sean Manaea IF Casey Schmitt Giants get: SS Jeremy Pena IF Rylan Bannon RP Enoli Paredes Playoff roster: 2B Altuve 3B Arenado DH Alvarez SS Bregman RF Tucker 1B Abreu LF Yaz CF McCormick C Diaz Bench: Maldy, Meyers, Dubon, Singleton/Salazar Rotation: Framber, Montgomery, Javier, Flaherty, Manaea Bullpen: Pressly, Hicks, Abreu, Gallegos, Neris, Montero, Stanek, Martinez Cardinals solve all their rotation issues for several years. Giants solve their middle infield issue for several years. Astros build the best lineup in history for several years and shore up their 2023 playoff rotation. Downside is looking forward their SP is a big issue.
Astros Get: Ohtani Trout Verlander Robert Goldschmidt 6 new relievers $22.3M Astros Trade: Lee Leon Hensley Montero Arrighetti 5 A Ball players and a hot dog cart to be named later [the bbs approves this trade]
Why trade so much when all we have to give up is Singleton and to stock their soda machines for the next 3 years?
So the rotation next year is Framber, Javier, Manaea (he’s got another year right?) and white knuckle until LMJ and Garcia get back? And Spaghetti?
