This may very well be their ceilings - but none of them were going to reach those ceilings *this* season. So how much is the playoff run worth? This is likely Bregman's last year; I think it's likely JV's last year... this window is closing FAST.
If you have been paying attention you know I do not believe in windows, furthermore the team is no better this morning than yesterday morning. If you believe all the hype for trades here a playoff run with the Astros as now constructed is worth nothing. Personally I think we do have a small chance to be competitive in the playoffs this season, but our chances for next season are worse than they where yesterday morning.
I disagree. Adding a healthy MLB starting pitcher to this roster makes the team better. They are not going to survive August with their current rotation and they could not sit passively and wait for XYZ to get healthy. It's a go-for-it move for 2024 in a market where there is unlikely to be better SPs available.
I don't disagree with you, I was just saying that the guys traded are not needle movers. Loperfido probably will be a starting CF with good offense but strikeout prone Bloss, a SP3-4. He's got a g stuff and really relies on control. Wagner, I'm higher on than most.
Yep. I think you’ve nailed all of their most likely outcomes. And that’s a gross package to give up for Kikuchi. It would be painful but tolerable for Snell or Flaherty
Agreed, but this wasn't a good market for pitching. I'm not sure the Stros had the talent to pull off a deal for Flaherty or Snell. So they had to overpay for Kikuchi. This is asking a lot, but hopefully Miller, Murphy can get him straightened out, they win a championship and Kikuchi can be re-signed. He's got the stuff to be a SP2.
If they think they can do that they should probably extend him now before they actually do it and he makes 3X more money on the actual back of said improvement.
Why do you think this and what makes you think they will be worse next season when the pitching should be healthier? Were you one of the they might as well sell off crowd when they started off slow this year?
So yes, like I said previously. Definitely overpay but I could understand reasoning if they want to sure up starting pitching. Loss of trade but i don't think we gave up anyone that isn't replaceable long term. Re sign tucker and I bet no one complains after.
Not sure that Bloss is "near MLB ready." He has 4 innings at AAA and his small size at the big league level wouldn't indicate he's ready. This isn't a comment on his long term floor, but the evidence would suggest that he's not currently major league level and has been called up because the Astros have no other choice. I'm not excited by the trade. Yes the Astros are better the remainder of this season, but not a lot better and this definitely makes it harder to keep the window open longer.
He needs to do something else by the deadline. This team simply isn't good enough. Kikuchi makes them better, but he's not nearly enough to get them over the top. The problem is that I don't trust Dana Brown to make another trade without totally gutting the future. So...
I hope they do more - I think they need at least one bat (1B) and two more arms (SP + RP). But.... if all they add is Kikuchi but they also get JV, Garcia and Tucker back in the next 1-2 weeks..... I know fans hate that kind of rationalizing - but that is a much-improved team.
I'm of the opinion that Kikuchi helps the pitching. Leon COULD help the hitting. Joey had enough PAs to show he wasn't likely to be an impact bat in 2024. No downside to trying. This team still needs a bat and to reduce Brown, Blanco, Arrighetti, Abreu, and Hader's work load. Maybe Scott and Pressly's too.
Yeah but Pedro is a year older, and strikes out a lot in the minors, 26% this season, 28% last season. I've been pulling for him for quite a while, but I'm not optimistic
The window doesn't have to close, spend the money on Tucker and a starter, then hope Dezenzo is ready after trading for Diaz today. They've got the money to make these moves. Luhnow built this dynasty so well, let's hope Dana is a good Steward of what Luhnow built.
LOL. Dana "So, what do you think of our team?" Dana's wife "I really like that Loperfido guy, he's hot" Dana...
