A team can always use more help. I think that adding a bat is the top priority and I suspect the cost for a catcher or CF will be too high, so that leaves 1st base. Having said that, the Astros I hope, are open to looking at elite bullpen arms.
Yup... just not seeing a great match for the Astros at catcher. That's where I am at.... 1st baseman and then a reliever. If they go for a rental someone like Bard or Fulmer. If they want to spend on someone with some team control maybe Jorge Lopez or Scott Barlow. I think they brought up Paredes to see if he can be the guy so they don't have to spend on a reliever. He was very good in AAA and has the nasty stuff you want in the playoffs. Just has to keep the walks down.
I have not done a deep dive but the Cardinals may be a trade partner. Jack Flaherty just had a setback after recently returning from injury and they may be looking for rotation help. They have 2 rookie players who have been very good but are not starters. They have 1B, 3B, Lf, and Rf starters in place. Neither of them look to be primary middle infielder guys who would cause St Louis to need to hold on to them. Brendan Donovan has played at least 5 games at each position except C and CF. He has 155 OPS+ in 197 PA Juan Yepez has played at least 9 games at each of 1b, Lf, and Rf. He has 126 OPS+ in 167 PA. I'm not sure where they are on prospect value or rankings list but they may be available for a reliable starting pitcher. They are trying to compete so prospects are probably not what they want. But Odorizzi, Urquidy, or Javier may be attractive to them. Which of the 3 and whether a prospect needs to be included in either direction would be depending on the prospect value as I have not looked.
C: Willson Contreras, Sean Murphy, Daulton Varsho 1B: Josh Bell, Trey Mancini, CJ Cron, Garrett Cooper SP: Luis Castillo, Frankie Montas, German Marquez RP: Scott Barlow, David Bednar, Michael Fulmer, Andrew Chafin, Daniel Bard, Brad Hand, Joe Mantiply
Given that there would be quite a few contending teams looking at Contreras (and thus driving up the price) I'm curious what the cost would be? Even though he's a FA and thus a rental the price could get steep. Nook/Snake what's your thoughts?
Bullpen does not need help, but we need another bat (someone like J.Donaldson). When playoff comes, we will have excess of SP from Verlander, F.Valdez, McCullers, L.Garcia, Odorizzi, Urquidy and C.Javier. 1st round Odorizzi and Urquidy likely not on the roster until 2nd round. Then 2nd round, they become long relivers. We need another bat, we can't rely on Yuli.
All it takes is one team to overpay but for Contreras I would think 2 grade 45+ prospects would be fair value. In Houston’s case I think that would mean 2 prospects from this group: Alex Santos, Yainer Diaz, JJ Matijevic, Enmanuel Valdez, Shawn Dubin. I would think Brown, Lee, Leon, Whitley, and Barber would be off the table.
Sounds about right however I would put Enmanuel Valdez on the no can do list as I really like the direction he's going.
I really like Emmanuel but he is blocked at his 2 realistic positions (2b, 3b) and has a bench player or DH ceiling according to most scouting reports. Should the team balk at giving up that player to improve the chances of a World Series?
Royals already dumping guys... Carlos Santana to the Mariners. You look at his numbers for the year and it looks awful. However, he has a 1.032 OPS for the month of June. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/royals-trade-carlos-santana-mariners.html
The Bull pen can always be deeper. But I think A COF would be easyier then a CFer at this point. and a 1B would be the best hope. honestly Im not even worried anymore at C lets wait and see what Yanier Daiz does in AAA and call him up. Bell Mancini Drury if I had to make a top 3 at 1B Mullins then Benintendi in that order if OF
I wonder how long before Seattle simply moves on to next year? Tied with Baltimore 7 games out of final wild card and behind Cleveland, Chicago, Angels, and Rangers who are also outside looking in but ahead of them. Playoffs in 2022 looks like a pipe dream.
They went for it in the offseason signing Ray and trading for Suarez and Winker. They will wait until really close to the deadline and see where they are. They could flip Santana at the deadline if they decide to sell.
The way Abreu has looked this year that would be a steep price, although it’s probably fair. I would be ok if Chicago covered Contreras’ salary and/or threw in a lotto prospect.
Contreras is going to be too expensive for a rental. Only way I give up the price is if the Astros are going to give him an extension. With Tucker’s situation still uncertain, I doubt they go after Contreras.
Spend some time watching literally any other team other than Milwaukee, and only then will you realize how good our pen is
