If they really are keeping Walker and Paredes then Urias would probably not have much playing time. Paredes, Correa, and Dubon can play 3rd Pena, Dubon and Correa can play SS Dubon, Matthews, and Altuve can play 2nd Walker, Paredes, and Dubon can play 1st Astros need every dollar they have to go to starting pitching right now.
A’s DFA’ed JJ Bleday, that doesn’t make sense. 3 win player in 2024. Some pretty good players getting cut loose. Jake Fraley also DFA.
I honestly think it is the best thing for him. He gets a new start against elite - but not quite the best competition. He will be exposed to new philosophies and coaches and be in a culture that will limit his issues off the field. He can pitch there for a few years, if he does well - there will be a strong market in the USA if he wants to come over. The difference between MLB and top tier Japanese league has shrunk. The game is different, but at this point if you do really well there, you can probably be a contributor in MLB. They also will force him to change how he does some things or he will be sent home. Some of these AAAA guys with high talent indicators but failures in the big leagues should strongly consider Japan or even South Korea.
Unless the Astros clear some clutter and another infielder, Urias is likely traded or DFA. It’s too bad because he is a good player. He was shaky for the Astros but he is A very good glove and can hit at the bottom of the line up… he is a plug and play second baseman.
$$$$ Some teams think there is going to be a glut of inexpensive guys like that on the market $$$ Has made it more challenging for Astros to successfully shop some arbitration eligible guys.
You’re sorta making the case that it is due to the upcoming work stoppage (and those player’s agents basically hinted to as such). They’re not going to get paid during it. There’s a good chance that the end result will be either further tax penalties or cap-like structures to keep spending reasonable (as well as a much needed floor or tax penalties and decreased revenue sharing for the poors), which could lead to all salaries open for re-negotiating or a bunch of amnesty clauses when the game returns (which would impact the middle tier the most). And none of these guys will make $22 million next year as is. I don’t think the union is as strong as previous work stoppages. More international players. More of a general sense of who suffers the most in the current structure (the veteran/middle-tier guys who can’t get more than 1-3 year deals). More owners dug-in and financially solvent enough to survive extended stoppages (no more mom/pop types or people whose only revenue is the ticket gate). But I fully expect both sides to make ass-hats out of themselves in the process. Hell, they’re already doing that (Harper vs. Manfred, Manfred planting agents as spies) and they still have another season to get through.
Today’s move might portend a relatively bland offseason, which would consist of something like: Signing a NRI to compete with Salazar for the backup C job like Luke Maile Sign a BoR free agent SP like Verlander Trade prospects (not on the 40 man) for a ToR SP like Rasmussen Resulting opening day roster: SS Pena DH Paredes LF Alvarez 3B Correa 2B Altuve 1B Walker RF Sanchez C Diaz CF Meyers Bench: Dubon, Maile, Dezenzo, Trammell SP: Brown, Rasmussen, Verlander, Javier, Pearson, Alexander RP: Hader, Abreu, King, Sousa, Okert, Ort, McCullers Optioned: Arrighetti, Gordon, Ullola, Murray, VanWey, Salazar, Whitcomb, Matthews, Smith, Melton, Cole 60-Day IL: Blanco, Wesneski, Walter DFA: De Los Santos, France
Not to mention, Ward is a FA after the 2026 season and Rodriguez is under team control thru 2029. Not sure wtf Elias is doing but I wouldn’t be very happy if I was an Orioles fan.
It could work out that way but that isn’t their plan. What it tells me is that they don’t have anything lined up right now - but it’s extremely early.
No If he is traded the receiving team is required to offer him arbitration. If they just wait for him to pass through waivers they can sign him to a minor league, or much cheaper MLB contract. Keep in mind the Astros traded a 2024 19th rd pick who had not improved his prospect standing half way through his 1st full pro season to get him. His trade value was always negligible at best.
This isn’t a move Elias would make, I wonder if ownership is making these moves. Short of really bad news on Rodriguez’ rehab, this is a bad move.
Interesting to see tags floating Dubi's name out there. I don't see us trading him but I wouldn't hate it. https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-ull...ex&rsid=mlbios.at.bat.new.implementation&s=09
The roster sure looks a lot better if you’re able to view Altuve as an everyday 2B and Alvarez as an everyday LF. Because at that point the only really questionable spots are RF and CF, where they have 4 really high ceiling young players (Smith, Cole, Melton, Dezenzo) they can let compete, with Sanchez and Meyers offering solid floors (if they aren’t traded). But once you view Altuve as somebody who needs to be hidden defensively and Alvarez as somebody who needs to avoid defense in order to stay healthy, the roster looks poorly constructed. I’ll be surprised if they trade Dubon since they cut Urias loose. Hopefully they get something meaningful back because I do think Doobie has value to Houston.
If Walker, Paredes, and Pena are all on this team once opening day, then Dubon is strictly insurance. He is valuable because he can play 7 positions, (most of them very well) and Altuve and/or Yordan (and possibly Paredes) will need defensive substitution if the game situation dictates it. However he will get an arbitration salary where he likely will cost more than his value. If Correa can back up Pena and Matthews can back up Altuve (or Paredes) then he is a luxury the team does not need. I hope multiples from Matthews, Dezenzo, Cole, and Melton get an extensive audition this year and having Dubon on the roster hurts the chances of that.
I think that the thought of trading Dubon likely worries Espada more than Dana Brown. It's all about how much confidence they have in the young guys. Don't forget Matthews was Dana's first ever draft pick. He will want to give him every opportunity.
Everyone is available - they are trying to get an early read on the market and what teams will pay for Astros players/prospects and what it will cost to sign and trade for guys. I know it sounds like common sense - but the Astros are more aggressive in this way, and especially this year. They can put together their puzzle many different ways, but want to maximize their chances. Some teams go into an off season looking for a particular free agent or to fix one or two spots. Astros are willing to be a lot more creative. I personally would have been fine with a combo of Altuve and Urias at second in 2026 and if Matthews is still around, he could start getting playing time in 2027 at second if he looked good in 2026. I personally think Alvarez playing in the outfield a lot is a mistake at this point, he has done and been everything they could hope for out there and at this point he is a top 5 bat in baseball, let him DH. Let's see what happens - I know that they want their starting pitching and another good pen arm and are looking for a legitimate outfielder with a bat. They seldom do everything they set out to do, but I think the last two trade deadlines likely has pushed Crane to perhaps not hold as much back and address issues now --- especially with the plan to play the regulars less in 2026.
