First off, I know there is an offseason thread but I figured it had to do more with an observation/suggestion then a rumored move but if necessary please merge into that thread. Josh Johnson has been made avilable by the Marlins and this represents a major oppurtunity for the Stros to make there statement move. The guy is cheap even after a potential high raise and very young with a tremendous future. The guy has gone 22-6 in his last 47 starts with a nice mid 3 ERA, while having a 1.16 whip last season. Marlins Looking To Deal Josh Johnson? By Zach Links [November 27 at 7:18pm CST] 7:18pm: MLB.com's Joe Frisaro warns not to buy into the Johnson trade speculation based on what he has heard (via Twitter). 6:20pm: The Marlins are "very willing" to trade Josh Johnson for the right package, according to John Perrotto (via Twitter). Just a few weeks ago, it seemed as though the Marlins intended on signing the 25-year-old ace to a multi-year deal. The 6'7, 250 lb righty is arbitration eligible and due for a big raise from the $1.4MM he earned last season. Johnson earned a trip to the All-Star game in his best campaign to date, registering a 3.23 ERA with 8.2 K/9. With a lackluster pool of available free agent starters, what teams should look to acquire Johnson? What, in your mind, would be right package for the young hurler? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments section. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/odds-ends-johnson-.html The Stros need to make a smart and financial responsible move that would help rejuvenate the franchise because they have fallen very much behind the Rox and Texans. Adding Johnson would not come at a cheap price but may be the kinda move that keeps Oswalt happy along with sets up the franchise for years to come. The prospects needed would be the intriguing aspect of the potential move because according to Keith Law it would only take 2 mlb ready players and two top prospect. While it would hurt to lose lets say Pence and Castro along with Seaton and Lo or someone like them, it would be more then worth it. •ESPN's Keith Law notes that the Marlins have a history of moving players early, and says that they could land two big league ready players and two Double-A prospects for Josh Johnson. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/odds-ends-johnson-contreras-dye.html Question is would Pence, Castro, Lo and Seaton be enough or how much more will it take? I know the idea is to replenish the system but this kinda pitcher only comes along very rarely and it would create the buzz the team needs.
Remember a previous trade for a pitcher with the initials JJ? (Jason Jennings) Because its a young cheap player, it allows a few more teams to get into the bidding. More competition, which the Astros do not need. If it was a high dollar player like Roy Halladay, it'd trim down the number of potential teams. I'm slightly more leaning to replenishing the farm system. Not sure they can be content with thinking they're just one player away.
Not worth trading Castro. I'm counting down the days until I don't have to watch Towles/Quintero. Pence has proven he can hit for a decent average and power in the big leagues, and is a nice defensive right fielder.Plus he's one of our young farm grown players that can be a fixture for a while. I wouldn't risk trading anything we currently have right now unless we could get a steal.
i would trade just about any package for Johnson, but unfortunately, i don't think the team has the chips to make this deal.
No trade. Replinish farm system. We know what Pence iscapable of. Castro is supposed to be "mauer with power". Lo looks like he could be a stud closer maybe as early as this year. Seaton looks like he could be solid starter down the road. I'm not trading 4 good young players for 1.
Jason wishes he had Johnson's stuff, look I wasnt a fan of the JJ trade but the problem with JJ was health and the Stros got played when they got him. Johnson is 25 so he is still young and very much curving upwords so this wouldn't be a win now move only but rather gives us a chance now and it lets him grow in the rotation for years to come. Halladay is great but older and free agency is looming so I understand no going for him, pretty obivous but Johnson is what they hope Seaton can become. This kid could be a once in a lifetime type player! Oswalt Johnson Wandy Norris Paulino/Moles
Castro is a decent prospect but if you expect him to be "mauer with power" you'll be severely disappointed.
One bad season by Oswalt doesn't show what he's done through his career. If you asked any major league team who what wanted as their #1 it would be Oswalt by a landslide over Johnson.
Yeah, maybe if you asked them three years ago. I'm not saying Oswalt's done - I'm just saying Josh Johnson is better. Not a shot at Roy - Johnson's a stud
I don't know if I would classify him as a stud. The guy has only pitched over 200 innings once, and that was this past year. Not to mention he hasn't really proven he can stay healthy over his career. At the age of 25 he's already had tommy John surgery. I wouldn't mind trading anyone on our roster for him except Castro, and Pence.
Blame Joe Girardi for that - he put JJ back into the game after a lengthy rain delay, and IIRC, that was the last game he pitched before the injury (and why he was run out of town after winning manager of the year). Either way, you're right, he hasn't put up season after season of dominating stuff - but he's 25, and dominated last year. I don't think we can afford to gut the system again though.
I'd love to have Josh Johnson (if he signed a long term deal), but this team has waaaaaaay too many holes to be trading multiple high-level prospects for 1 player. They need to build their depth so they can have decent players all over the field before going after superstars.
The best time to trade for players like Josh Johnson is when you have a good nucleus, and you need to add some extra talent to compete for a playoff spot. The perfect example was the timing of the Moises Alou trade. Right now, the Astros simply don't have the plethora of young, underpaid talent that's needed before trading for players like Josh Johnson.
I only mentioned Jennings because even then people were griping that the Astros were losing too much prospects, and it hasnt gotten much better since. I dont want Halladay, just saying because Johnson is so desirable around the league compared to a player like Halladay, it means everyone wants in the bidding. And the Astros might need OVER-bid with an already bare cupboard. I'd love the get the possible next Tim Lincecum. Maybe I'm doubting them too much but simply put I think the Astros are too much a darkhorse to be in the running. They better get in there before a team like the Rangers or Red Sox steps in. Even then dont want to repeat the Jennings thing have not have him under long term club control. Even THEN there would still need to be something else later like the Lidge for Bourn trade. Other than that, yeah lets get him
We need pitching bad so of course we should! Johnson really caught my eye last year and the Marlins are really good at restockpiling good young talent in trades. Like previous posters have said, I dont think we have the assets to make this trade. A package of Hunter Pence and Bud Norris might not even get a sniff out of the Marlins
