never understood the love for ross. maybe advanced stats will tell more of a story, but his price seems very high. yes he has the tools to be a dominant pitcher, but he has yet to be truly dominant. a great 3, sure, okay 2. is he really worth his high asking price because he's under control for 3 years?
You would trade Feldman if you had a deal for Ross, IMO. Of course, you could temporarily move McCullers to the pen to limit his innings/pitches and leave Feldman in the rotation.
My guess is they would move McCullers to the pen. By doing so you not only limit his innings, but you add a potentially dominant arm to the pen which is another "want" we have right now. A rotation of Dallas, Kazmir, Ross, McHugh in the playoffs, with VV and Lance added to what is already a strong pen, would give us a very legitimate chance to win it all
Non-advanced stats: His ERA was 16th best last year at 2.81. Year before that he had a 3.17 ERA in 125 innings. His advanced stats would suggest that the ERAs in 2013 and 2014 are legit and he's been a little unlucky this year. He gets the most value out of his slider of all pitchers. He would likely turn the best AL rotation into a beast with McHugh (or Feldman) being the weak link. Basically, think how the Nationals Rotation was viewed before the season, but a couple hundred millions dollars cheaper. Astros would have good odds at being the best AL rotation next year as well. Astros would still have a war chest of money and prospects for next year.
Over the last 3 years he has 3.09 ERA (supported by a 3.09 FIP) and he does so with a very high GB rate that plays anywhere. I'm not entirely sure what about that isn't great. Maybe not dominant, but you don't get to have 5 dominant pitchers.
The reasons why he is possibly: 1) He's now getting expensive 2) He'd bring back the best return of any player they have 3) The Padres want to take the Jeff Luhnow nuclear route
I agree. On the getting expensive, I would add it is only if he stays good. Basically, nearly the WAR expectation per year as Hamels without anything close to the financial risk if something freaky happens next year. If they go nuclear, Luhnow should empty the farm for Ross, Kimbrel, Upton, and Cashner.
Please no, I'm all for adding Kimbrel. Don't need an outfielder. Don't really need another starter definately not two. That's pushing McCullers out of the rotation. Don't need to empty the farm and send us back to 2004 barren minor league wasteland. We have amazing talent coming up that can be better than what we are looking at dealing for. Prototype Cardinals farm. Always filling the holes with outstanding prospects.
I was being facetious with "empty the farm". I don't think Astros would need Cashner. Upton would be fine as a DH. It should only take 7-9 quality prospects to get Ross, Kimbrel, and Upton. Astros farm system would be fine with only 7-9 prospects considering the sheer number of club control years Astros have at MLB level.
you're also talking about dumping or demoting a lot more current MLers, so it's more than the 7-9 prospects you mention Obviously it all depends on what prospects they are, but I wouldn't want to give up more than it took to get 1 of those 3 if each one takes legitimate guys in return
Stating that on its own means nothing without specifics. Getting Upton means you're trading who...Carter for nothing? Marwin and losing flexibility? Will he even get you anything back? Demoting Tucker, who is hitting decently? Kimbrel slots in for Qualls I suppose. Ross for...I don't know. I think we're already going to see some movement of Fausto with Lowrie and then Springer.
It means what it says minus the typo. Fausto would be cut, Singleton sent down, and Feldman or McHugh traded.
Your trading guys from a locker room that for the most part came up together, are really close and the chemistry that has the Astros a game out of first in spite of so many rookies on the team.
Clippard traded to the Mets. We haven't been discussing him, but one of the better relievers available.
