Genius move, much smarter than the Hal Yankees or even the modern Dodgers. Sign the top FA, then trade them after a few months and pay their salary to get other team's top prospects. We laugh at the Mets now, but don't say you weren't warned when they become the team of the 2020s and 2030s.
I bet one of the reasons Maldy is thrilled is because he views Verlander as a life line for his career. I don't think the team keeps him around as a player if JV didn't come back. Now he has a chance. Hopefully it's as a backup.
22 year old who was tearing his way thought the minors before playing with an injury that slowed him down quite a bit. A 50/55 prospect with an ETA of next year. With Gordon, Chas, Meyers, and Tucker still here for a couple of years I understand him being more expendable, but Clifford is the real blow. A dude who turned 20 a few weeks ago with an OPS north of 800 in high A, a guy I was hoping would fix the 1B problem when Abreu retires. In short, the two most hyped (though not nessecarily the best) position player prospects in the Astros' system since Tucker and Alvarez, mostly thanks to the lack of picks for two years.
**Insert “We are laughing” Gif** Especially when this move buys us another ring…. while the Mets are STILL hopeful to be the next best around 2030.
Even if JV is on the decline, it's plain to see how much everyone in the clubhouse loves him and appreciates his leadership. He might be the x-factor that rejuvenates the team and gets us to another WS.
Yeah, I thought about that. It's probably about a 90% probability he goes in the Hall as an Astro now.
Laureano & Teoscar were basically traded for nothing. Sandoval would have the most value to us today. But the main reason we'd have been better off keeping them isn't because of what they represent on todays roster, but rather that they were traded for well below their future values if we had just held on them for a little longer.
I don't think teams really regret going for it if they have a real WS opportunity. Look back at 1998. The Randy Johnson trade didn't work out. The players we gave up went on to having some good careers. I don't think anyone regrets the Astros going for it though. Barring more injuries, the 2023 Astros will go into the playoffs as one of the 2 or 3 favorites for the World Series. Even if they lose in the first round, it's hard to argue against going for it by fixing their single biggest weakness and getting an ace pitchers for 2+ years at minimal salary.
I'm not saying the trade doesn't help our rotation held together by silly string and painter's tape, or that it won't help us win again. What I am saying is that the NL will have a 2nd Dodgers with an even higher budget, and lets be honest, if the Dodgers weren't managed by a total clown in Dave Roberts, they have at least 2+ trophies in the last decade instead of one micky mouse ring.
Sorry if alrdy discussed, so with Urquidy and Verlander coming back do you do 6 man rotation or do you remove from the rotation Brown or France?
For the sake of Javier and Brown's higher career IPs, I think you go to a 6 man rotation. France has earned the starts and isn't really worse than anyone else, and it helps keep everyone fresh going into October.
With Urquidy back soon. Get ready for a 6 man rotation with Maldy catching 4 out of the 6 starters. You'll be seeing a lot more of him from now on. Dusty is very please.
Believe me, I realize what we’re getting at this stage of JV’s career and I’m almost 100% sure the Stros do too. I don’t feel like we have the most formidable pitching staff in the league but when it comes to playoff ball and stringing out innings, I can definitely see our guys having a punchers chance against any other AL squad. Agreed, they should have hauled out Roberts years ago, amazing that he’s only a few years away from manning that team for almost a decade… with only the one ring to show for.
