I'm 90+% sure that the Astros owe him that money regardless of anything, and all any team would inherit salary-wise in a trade is his MLB minimum. But I know more about bats than contract stuff, so take this with a softball-sized grain of salt.
5 off-the-radar potential Astros OF trade targets: MJ Melendez (Royals) Brendan Donovan (Cardinals) Jake Fraley (Reds) Jesus Sanchez (Marlins) Jake McCarthy (Diamondbacks)
Arizona has a glut of lefty OF bats and doesn’t have a proven closer. They also need to dump Jordan Montgomery’s salary. Pressly for Montgomery and one of their LHH OF (Jake McCarthy, Pavin Smith, or Alek Thomas) seems like a decent match. Houston may need to toss in another live MR arm or lower level prospect, especially if they want Arizona to eat enough money to keep Houston under the CBT.
If AZ wants Pressly this makes a lot of sense. I have no idea what to think about Montgomery other than he gets fixed or he gets cut at some point, his salary's dead money anyway. My opinion naturally also depends on what prospects/money are going their way and what is coming to us.
Originally posted this in wrong thread- sorry Jeremy Pena for Wilyer Abreu, David Hamilton, and Franklin Arias. Red Sox want to add RH bats to the lineup. They announced Rafaela is going to play mostly CF leaving SS in flux. They have a high prospect in Mayer who is unproven, so Pena gives a team wanting to contend a proven MLB option with GG defense. Contending teams rarely want to rely on a prospect to man SS (2022 Astros excepted) and Story simply can't be counted on. Mayer is blocking Arias who is probably 2 years away, but a true SS prospect. Mlbpipeline #95 and would instantly be Astros #3 prospect. Hamilton is not an everyday or impact player, but between he and Dubon SS and #9 spot in lineup should be fine. He brings no power but excellent speed and defense. Abreu instantly adds an everyday RF and lefty bat to the #5-7 area of the lineup.
I disagree Between David Hamilton and Mauricio Dubon, the drop in SS play should be minimal. Pena isn't exactly a star.
I didn't say that . . . but I'll take the current outfield ahead of trading Pena away. (and I think the current outfield SUCKS). Plus, no way the Sox make that trade. I'm pretty sure they'd pass on JP for WA straight up.
Let me get this straight - the Red Sox, who want to contend, need a Jeremy Pena in their lineup to do so (while removing Abreu)… but the Astros, who want to contend, need to subtract a Jeremy Pena from their lineup and add an Abreu to do so? Sounds like a perfect fit.
Fair enough. Your point is that Pena is too valuable for the Astros to win without, but not valuable enough for even 1 of the players I suggested, much less 3? Do I have that correct? I think 3 years of Pena in arbitration has a ton of value, but the Astros would be better off getting multiple players for him.
I know nothing about Hamilton really, but Dubon is not a regular SS for a reason, he's excellent at what he does: backup IF/OF Defense matters. SS defense matters a whole lot. eta: apparently upon initial review Hamilton is a horrible SS I do not like your plan.
Yes. Adding Abreu and Hamilton while subtracting Pena makes the Astros better, because they have a serious lack of projected OF performance but Dubon and Hamilton should to come close to Pena's performance. Adding Pena while subtracting Abreu and Hamilton makes the Red Sox better, because they have Duran, Rafaela, Yoshida, Refsnyder, and Anthony. SS is an area of opportunity but they have OF talent.
Pena is what he is. He is replacement level (or slightly above) until he can cut down on stupid errors and swinging at bad pitches.
