Zach Cole and Cam are who I'm excited about this year. If Cole can prove that his short stint wasn't a fluke and Cam can learn how to lift the ball, we are going to be in amazing shape.
Abreu is the better defensive player and is cheaper. He also comes with another year of control. Duran has the higher ceiling but is a mediocre defensive player and carries more risk and a higher salary.
My guess is they want their opening day OF to be Cole, a trade acquisition, and one of Meyers or Sanchez, with Smith in AAA to learn CF and give them another year of control.
Clutchfans might be upset, but I’m not sure a straight up trade of Paredes for Abreu would be terrible. I think we can get a little more, but I doubt we could get Abreu and Bello or one of the young pitchers without throwing in something substantial.
Total speculation, but my guess is that Boston wants to do Wilyer and Bello for Paredes and Bryan, while Houston wants to do the same deal but for Duran instead of Wilyer. I’d actually be ok with either deal. Bryan Abreu has a lot of value (borderline QO candidate) but getting back a controllable borderline star OF AND a controllable SP3/4 is a great value for a rental closer and 2 years of Paredes.
We will get our left fielder via one of the trades. Ideally we can trade Walker and get a serviceable outfielder if we eat some salary. Paredes for Duran makes the most sense for everyone.
I'm guessing the Astros really wants Tolle included somehow and Boston is going if the Astros want him, then we definitely want to keep him. That's just wild speculation since I think he's going to be a star with right coaching.
I would be surprised if Tolle was ever seriously discussed outside of potentially a straight up Tolle for Paredes swap which I doubt Houston wanted to do. Early and Phillips might have been talked about instead of Bello but I think if a trade is made it’s going to include Bello because of the financial considerations. Of course I too am just totally speculating, but that’s the fun part of this website.
There is no question that Duran is a vastly more important and a better fielder than Paredes. Duran played a lot of left last season, but he is better in CF and would likely play CF for the Astros. I don't think Duran's bat is necessarily better than Paredes' though. Duran has struggled some against lefties and outside of Fenway.
Boston is difficult to deal with - as they want a premium for Duran and/or Abreu. The Astros would love to add either of them, but the Sox are asking for Paredes plus more pieces. The Astros are so far not willing to do that. Again, like I said yesterday, it will require one or both sides to budge. I think that the Astros would be willing to include what Boston wants, but the Sox have to give the Astros a solid second piece in return - be that Bello or Early, or someone else that would allow the Astros to offset losing Paredes and a top reliever. The names I have heard that Boston have offered, I am not sure they would even play much for the Astros. The Sox were handling the situation the same last year when it came to Duran and Abreu. They indicated that they wanted to get Anthony PT and then wanted an unrealistic amount for Duran and Abreu.
Cheap backup catcher that doesn't have the focus and attention span of a 12 year old with ADD. The Astros would like to have someone like that. I still haven't forgiven Jim Click for trading Abreu for him... but I should get over that.
He has had negative defensive value every season except 2024. Despite his speed he has poor range and below average fielding percentage. He has a very good arm though. He would be absolutely fine defensively in CF or LF but I wouldn’t want him out there in CF with poor defenders on either side of him. An outfield of Smith, Duran, and Cole would be good defensively regardless of where they lined up. An OF of Sanchez, Duran, and Yordan/Altuve would be terrible.
He would be a very good choice for back up catcher. He is experienced, he is smart and is considered a good handler of pitchers. He also isn't a complete noodle behind the plate as well. He can at least keep everyone from running all the time. His bat has sucked lately, but he is a backup catcher.
I guess I just don't see why you'd want to spend actual money on a .500 OPS catcher. The 12 year old might actually be better.
