To be clear, I'm not advocating for this. However, if the team plans on continuing to use Altuve at 2B, even semi-regularly, into 2026 and 2027 then getting Matthews reps in LF would be smart. Another thought is that Dubon is getting very expensive for a guy who doesn't have a position or project as an everyday starter. Maybe if Altuve continuing to get time at 2B is a thing, prepping Matthews as Dubon's replacement is also smart. Of course these are all post 2025 issues. Unless this team adds at least 3 and possibly more legitimate MLB bats to what it currently has, Matthew's is needed in Houston.
Now that we are down to 6 days till the deadline, it's become pretty clear who the sellers are and aren't in the AL, Toronto, Houston, Detroit, NYY, Seattle and Boston are currently the playoff teams. Texas is 1/2 game back, TB 1.5, Cleveland 2.5 so all of those teams are either buyers or standing pat. KC and Minnesota are both 4 back so they would be the only two still in limbo. The Angels are out of it but they aren't smart enough to realize it, so the only likely AL sellers are Players listed are impending FA's unless noted, as well as their Luxury Tax Salary for this year Baltimore: Eflin (16.2), Morton (15), Sugano (13), Mullins (8.7), O'Hearn (8), Seranthony (7.5) CWS: Houser (0.9), Civale (4.6), Robert (two more years of Arb but rumored to be available, 8.3) West Sacramento: Luis Urias (1.1) **Overall numbers don't look great, but he has over .700 OPS vs RHP and can play 2B/3B NL: NYM, Milwaukee, LAD, Chicago, Philly and SD are in as of today. SF and Cincy 1 game back, St. Louis 1.5 back Sellers Miami: Quantril (3.5) Atlanta: Iglesias (15.3), Ozuna (15) Washington: Soroka (9), Bell (6), Finnegan (5.6), Ahmed Rosario (2) Pittsburgh: Keller (controlled but rumored to be available, 15.4), IKF (6.3), Heaney (5.2), Pham (4), Caleb Ferguson (3), Bednar (1 more year but rumored to be available, 5.9) Arizona: Gallen (13.5), Suarez (13), M Kelly (6) Colorado: Moniak (in arb but rumored to be available, probably want to cash in on his hot streak and their best prospects are mainly OF) The best rotation fit for us in my opinion would be Soroka and M Kelly. Gallen has upside obviously, but would be harder to take his salary and stay under the tax if we are adding anything else. Morton would be very cheap when it comes to prospect capital, but that's a lot of money to take on for someone who would be basically an innings eater. Couple of other guys who could upgrade our roster and are cheap are IKF and Pham, but damn, it would be hard to root for either of those two This is gonna be a very interesting deadline because other than a few players listed above, anyone major that is moved is more likely to be controlled players which means the prospect cost will be very high. Also could see a couple of major leager for major leager type of trades, but with our injuries we don't have depth anywhere I'm getting the feeling that if we add anything of significance, it's gonna be a bat that is controlled, hits RHP, and the cost will include Arrighetti
I’m starting to have my doubts about this trade deadline. Per reports from different sites, the price for some of the players thought to be available seem rather high. I believe this is why Suarez isn’t a Yankee and it seems rentals are what will sell for less (Naylor to The Mariners for two pitching prospects that weren’t ranked too high in the system). The next couple of days will be interesting, but think it may be a less active trade deadline.
I think it’s always like this 5-8 days before the deadline. But teams have already committed as buyers and sellers so the levy will break. I actually feel like this is less of a seller’s market than last season. But that’s one reason this Correa storyline is so interesting. If the Twins are under a mandate to slash payroll for the new owner and Houston is the only team Correa will approve a trade to, what a boon for the Astros to be in such a situation where they have that kind of leverage. Huge competitive advantage.
Carlos Correa can play second and probably as well as anyone in baseball. Having said that, I would expect he would end up at 3rd. Crane has “his guys” and will go above and beyond to get them. Mean while Dana Brown is trying very hard to get a deal done with the Rays to fill two holes (starter and bat).
I just did an exhaustive search and can tentatively confirm that Correa's #1 jersey should be available for him if he returns. If Rodgers gives it up.
Didn't read all you wrote because it was long and windy. 1) Framber Valdez is in trade scenarios because the Astros know they can't re-sign him, so they have two options : A) shoot for gold with him , as Astros are a number 1 or 2 team in the Conference, but risk losing Framber for nothing in free agency. B) trade him now and get another pitcher or other talent at another position.... possibly top prospects in return. I've seen enough of Melton. Whitcomb, and Dezenzo. Brice Matthews is a keeper. Look the team can't keep and pay everyone. Astros have won with and lost Springer. Carlos Correa, Bregman, Tucker and are probably going to lose Jeremy Pena next in order to keep Yordan Alvarez. Its up to Diaz, Dubon, Jake Meyers and players like Cam Smith and Brice Matthews to carry the torch. Astros have been reported to have a terrible farm system in Spring Training, but yet with all the injuries....these kids have us near the top. Luiz Garcia, J. P. Franco, Arrighetti, Christian Javier have months to get in shape to pitch coming off injuries. It's going to get crowded soon. Dont assume you know more than others.....you end up looking stupid when you do that.
Need "these" situations indeed. Makes it happen and make it good for us! Like when Yordan fell into our laps trade from LAD! Hay Hoe. Lessgoe!
Not sure about IL but was sent down to the minors. Lowe is on the IL. Would Lowe and Littell cost too much? Is Bradley even good? I'm just looking at stats but his ERA in his 3 years are high. Sure, Astros pitching coaches could fix him but aren't the Rays pitching coach good as well?
What is wrong with you fools and trading Framber? If we lose Framber the season is done. Nobody is trading Framber. Damn! Yall act like hes some 3rd or 4th starter. Everyone anointed Hunter the ace. Well here he is struggling and Framber keeps going out there doing his thing. Amazes me how underappreciated he is.
You’ve “seen enough” of Melton? He’s had 29 major league AB’s and was looking pretty good before he got hurt.
For the record im fine either way the Astros play it. Make a run at a title with Framber or Get multiple prospects to stock up our minors. I didn't want to lose Tucker.....but we got a younger/cheaper Cam Smith from the deal. I played second base, so I don't see a problem with Brice Matthews going from second to SS. I don't have a problem with SS's playing third base. Dubon can play them all.
The idea of trading Framber comes about a minute after the realization that we do not have enough healthy players to get past the first round.
As much as I want to roll the dice and go for it I can appreciate the hypothetical of pushing for 26 ... Especially if we aren't going to resign him (which seems to be the case ) If yordan isn't coming back , paredes isn't coming back , Pena isn't coming back , Meyers etc That's for sure 4 of our best 5 or 6 players .. it's hard to see us making any noise ... Even with framber and hunter (who is falling off ) If we can get some premium talents for him it may be worth it .
Not good enough to "Not trade" for an upgrade at left fielder or second baseman like Jarren Duran, Eugenio Suarez (inf), Ryan O'Hearn (pitch) My goodness, with some of you Drew Gilbert wouldn't have been traded. How often are we hearing his name in the majors. Get over it. We may never be in this position again this late into the season.
Agreed, like I said, there's no Bregs/Tucker currently in the system. Although I'm really against trading K. Alvarez/Gomez/Brito.
I definitely don’t know this stuff as in depth. There’s a lot of y’all, but it seems to me that you can make a five or six person list of prospects that you want to keep and then still have enough fire power to make a couple trades. Farm system goes back to **** at low levels but we have a real shot this year.
