https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/...n-nationals-trade-bryce-harper-houston-astros The Astros Should Trade for Bryce Harper and Make the Rest of Baseball’s Contenders Cower in Fear With Washington slipping further out of the playoff race, the Nationals should consider shipping off their free-agent-to-be—and who better to send him to than Houston, which has the fit, prospects, and precedent to pull off a deadline stunner
What about Carlos Gonzalez? Free agent at the end of the year and his 2018 salary is only $5M so he prob only has $1.66M left for the year. Not a huge splash but he fills a hole in LF if Marwin is still hitting .230 at the end of the year and Tucker hasn't taken off as expected.
You keep saying that, and I guess believing it, but the numbers don't really back it up: 2-5 against the Yankees 4-3 against the Indians 2-2 against the Red Sox You certainly want to sweep every series, but playing the number one team in all of baseball even, and the Central Division leader +1 is hardly struggling. I'd agree with your sentiment on the Yankees. They've gotten the better of us this season. BUT, of the 10 games we've lost to NYY, CLE and BOS, 3 have been 1 run games and 2 have been 2 run games. We've scored 83 runs and given up 75 to arguably the 3 best teams in all of baseball (other than Houston). I think management probably feels ok about our chances to win a 7 game series against any of them.
And such a small sample size it has very close to 0 meaning If we played the Yankees this weekend and swept them all of the sudden we would be 5-5 against them and have a winning record against the group. That whole argument that we are not that good because we aren't beating the best teams is ridiculous To win in the playoffs you need pitching which we have, you need to be playing well which we will see, and the big thing is you need players who step up in big situations, we are loaded with those kind of guys
Of course it isn't going to happen, but it would be nice. He'd be that LHB that would finally fit in the top of the lineup. Washington won't trade him for anything even halfway reasonable, IMO.
That’s the trade that sends Tucker, Whitley, Alvarez/C Perez & Bukauskas away and sets the Astros back in trying to plug holes of future departing FA’s like Yuli, Reddick, etc with top prospects. Everybody seems to think we need a mega-star but adding a reserve OF or reserve IF or a setup man are luxuries but I’d still welcome them. Don’t need too give up top prospects yet. Springer Bregman (far improved from 2017) Altuve Correa Yuli Tucker (he gets over the curve soon) Gattis Stassi (his offense is an upgrade, still the best framing catcher this year) Reddick McCann Marwin Kemp Essentially the same lineup that wrecked shop in the postseason and has wrecked shop all season. Everyone is either on par with the numbers from 2017 or has considerably improved like Bregman (close to getting into MVP discussion), Yuli & Kemp (hitting over .300). Stassi has played well enough to deserve to stick around. Marwin & McCann have regressed in possibly their final seasons in Houston but their defense and club house presence are valuable in Sig’s algorithms and they’ve proven they can have big time spots hitting perhaps the two biggest momentum shifting home runs in the World Series. Adding another player on the bench would be nice if you want to carry 13 position players but at the same time Astros have plenty of internal options if they decide on it; JD Davis (the most versatile), Fisher (was on the postseason roster), Marisnick (healthy now), etc Don’t need too be concerned with four starters for the postseason. McHugh, Peacock could put up numbers better than 80% of what’s on the trade market if called upon. I think the 2018 Astros bullpen is far superior than the 2017 bullpen. The additions of Rondon & Smith (who’s given up two runs in 3 months) & McHugh have been great. Tony Sipp is having his best season, Devo and Peacock are the same. Plus Hinch will use the bullpen in uncovential but effective ways (the Morton relief in GM.7). It’s really a competition between Morton & McCullers for those roles. A quality setup man would be great but at the same time Astros have internal options. C Perez is going to get a long shot at earning a spot, Giles still hasn’t allowed a run in a save opportunity and is 12 for 12. Harris may have regressed, his career numbers say he bounces back. Whitley was mentioned as a likely call-up earlier in the season, Martes, Paulino, Armenteros, etc could all be September call-ups I think they have plenty of capable arms but wouldn’t object to another.
Trade don't happen the same in the other leagues but it'd be nice to see what other team's needs are versus what needs the Astros have. For instance, the Astros have very good starters but needs a shutdown closer. What team needs a starter and could do without a closer? Imagine a Dallas Keuchel for Aroldis Chapman trade.
Astros trying to trade Giles....but don't want to sell low. According to Athletic... "According to sources, one club contacted the Seattle Mariners about a possible three-team trade involving Giles, telling the Mariners, “We can get him. Would you have interest?” The Mariners, intrigued by a potential buy-low opportunity, said yes, but the talks went nowhere."
I know this isn't the way it works- but lets assume MLB is like the NBA for a second and Harper went to Washington on the DL and said look- I'm not signing here next year for a penny under $400 million. I don't really like it here I'd just as soon move on, unless you want to trump the next highest bid by $100 million or something like that. This is just a heads up- you might want to trade me to a contender or I'm going to walk and you will get a draft pick in the mid 60's as compensation (or however those draft picks slot) So, Washington calls around and says- give us your best offer for Harper we are trading him Tuesday morning. It's a sealed bid auction, no negotiations, we are just going to take the best deal that we like the best. Bids due in 24 hours. I, of course, realize this isn't the way this works but it's just a thought exercise for me on valuation. If you are the Astros what's in your sealed bid envelope and do you think it wins? I'd go Tucker, Martez, Giles. People will probably kill me for saying I'd do Tucker for a rental. But seriously, I'd do Tucker for Harper, Giles is salary relief and getting rid of a headcase, and Martes is a sweetener in case they like him better than I do. I can't imagine anyone liking Martes less than I do. I 'd sort of imagine that my bid would win. Upthread someone said that it would call for trading away our entire top 10 in the organization. I find that absurd hyperbole. I think that if they were serious about trading him away they would end up with 1 top tier prospect and a couple interesting guys. No way would it take- send us everyone that grades out at 50+ in the entire organization. That's just silly.
Marlins trade: JT Realmuto Adam Conley Astros trade: Max Stassi Yordan Alvarez Josh James Cionel Perez JD Davis This package seems comparable to the Yelich return. It gives Miami a decent cost controlled replacement for Realmuto in Stassi. Alvarez would immediately be their #1 prospect. Two SP who are close to major league ready in James and Perez. Another cost controlled corner IF in Davis. For the Astros they get a first division catcher through 2020 and a lefty RP who's trending up, plus they hold onto their blue chippers in Whitley & Tucker. Who says no?
