Wainwright wasn't on a team with as good a rotation as the Astros. I expect Astros are going to try to get as many innings out of Whitley as they can early in a series as the longer a series last, the more likely Verlander, Morton, Cole, or LMJ are going to be used in relief and possibly finish a game.
Thank god we’re trading for some legitimate bullpen help at the deadline. How hard is it to get 3 outs against a mediocre team???
Astros get: C Tucker Barnhart RHP Raisel Iglesias Reds get: RHP Josh James RHP Corbin Martin RHP Rogelio Armenteros LHP Cionel Perez C Tim Federowicz $1M Int’l signing bonus pool
While it is always good to reasonably acquire extra bullpen arms, those who think the Astros bullpen is a mess haven’t watched other teams. Overall, the Astros have a very good bullpen and could win another World Series with it as is.
IS this a joke? Barnhart is good but seems only mediocre, I'd rather go after Realmuto if we're trading for a long-term catcher. And what the hell is the deal with everyone wanting Iglesias? He's overrated, and will likely draw a bidding war as other teams are interested in him too. And as I've been saying, I don't like what I've seen so far from him. Rather go for Britton (FA this winter) for cheap, and roll the dice to see if Strom can fix him or not.
Barnhart is a solid catcher, just not an all-star like Realmuto. Barnhart will however cost less in terms of prospects and $$$. Barnhart is also team controlled for 2 more years than Realmuto. Don't think the Reds trade him though.
Mariano Rivera ain't walking through that door. Craig Kimbrel ain't walking through that door. Whoever the Astros acquire, no matter who they are, will probably **** up once or twice down the stretch. It's baseball. Get your minds right.
I say we trade for J.A. Happ and go with a 6 man rotation to keep arms fresh. It keeps him away from the Yankees and he's an expiring so he shouldn't cost THAT much. It also allows us to push both McCullers and Morton to the bullpen in the playoffs, and the playoffs are all we should be thinking about anyway. Game 1: Verlander Game 2: Keuchel Game 3: Cole Game 4: Happ Split the last 2-3 innings of closing duty between McCullers and Morton - both righties who should be lockdown against the Yankees right handed hitters. Devo can come in situationally to face tough lefties and he'd probably be used more against the Red Sox. Rondon can plug gaps as needed. Other than that, I don't need to see anyone else pitch in the playoffs, with the exception of possibly McHugh in a mop-up situation.
Agreed, the Astros as currently constructed could win the World Series. I don’t think the Astros have the need to make a lot of additions. However an elite reliever would really round out our pen and a really nice rental bat at a good price would be nice. The Astros don’t need to be gutting the farm for anyone though.
I believe Yordan Alveraz, Corbin Martin and J.B. Bukouskas could get you Realmuto. But it wouldn't leave much to acquire a reliever
I don't believe that the Astros would do that deal. The Astros would get two years of Realmuto for Alvarez, Martin and Bukouskas. Alvarez just turned 21 years ago a week ago, and he has an OPS of over 1.000 in AA, even though he only has 600 at bats in his entire minor league career. He is hitting for average, he is hitting for power, he is hitting the ball to the opposite field, he is even drawing walks and stealing bases. He has the profile of a high end bat. Guys like that are fairly rare in the post steroid era. Also, Alvarez is still growing into his body and his power may be the best in the minor leagues. He can hit homers on inside and outside pitches. He hits opposite field homers and has the strength to drive the ball to dead center. He also is still developing his power and his bat speed is up this year as well. Other than the injuries, he is just about ideal for a middle of the order bat at this point in his development.
Yea if we had ANY thoughts of going to a 6 man rotation we would already be doing it. Peacock and McHugh are easy rotation arms for pretty much every mlb team except us
For 2 years of Realmuto? No way we would do that. In fact I would bet Luhnow has put Alvarez in his untouchable category, and when he puts someone there he simply don't move them. If Alvarez is not in his untouchable group, I guarantee you he wouldn't be dealt for someone that doesn't have long term control left
