Aaron Civale wants out of Milwaukee after bullpen demotion. Perfect type of pickup... back of the rotation innings eater who shouldn't cost much... Thinking Whitcomb and Melton would get it done... both are blocked for the most part...
Whitcomb is available, Melton can't be given ip for a rental. At least not this year. I think the Astros would need some kind of salary relief in the deal to avoid going over the CBT, so somebody making over the minimum will need to be traded also, because no way Milwaukee picks up any of his salary.
Whitcomb yes, Melton no. Melton isn't really blocked since Altuve in LF is an experiment at this point, and Meyers only has 2 more years of control. There is also a chance of Cam going back into the infield after this season.
At no point did it cross my mind that Jacob Melton, a nearly 25 year old outfielder who has never had an .800 ops above A ball in a full season, would be our top prospect. He's a legit prospect, but I see no path for him here without injuries....
If we are trading him for a rental, it better be a good bat that can actually help us in the playoffs. Civale wouldn’t even touch the mound in the playoffs. We can win the division without Civale.
Where would this "good bat" play in the playoffs when people are healthy? Who are you getting for Melton and who are they replacing? I don't see Melton as any better thab 3rd best prospect for someone good enough to bench someone else... Maybe a 2b who can hit with Altuve at dh full time and yordan in lf full time. Brice could be that guy anyways and costs nothing.
People fall in love with "tools". Pedro Leon aged out of prospect status and we need a new guy to focus on. He had really good bat-to-ball skills in college but it has yet to translate at any level in the pros.
Melton would be available for a star rental. But the 2nd point comes up, which is a star rental is probably somebody making $20M+ and making it a costlier and thus more unlikely move. We literally started the season with nothing but question marks in the OF. Jake has had a great start to the season, and Cam is hopefully going to be a star, but we still need OF help. If I picked an MLB comparison, it would be Jason Heyward. Obviously that is on the high end of outcomes, but elite defense, fast and with some pop. On the less successful side, a LH version of Jake Marisnick. Release/Trade Rodgers, Altuve to 2B, and magically, we have plenty of OF ABs again.
Dezenzo, Smith, and Meyers... With Chas still ahead of him.... So congrats, you freed up a 5th outfield role.... and you know Yordan will see some reps so other guys can have some dh days....
