Werent we tied to Ramos earlier in the year? Quality for such a cheap asking price, yet here we are trying to be "ballers" and spending heavy.
It's not over until 2:59:58... then there is another month of grumbling and we add Donaldson after he clears waivers. Championship.
? Ramos will be due a 3 year, $45 million min contract in the offseason the Astros wouldn't pay him. It would be a 3 month rental and the Stros are only trading for cost controlled guys.
Isnt Maldonado is also a rental and wont he command a bigger contract than what hes receiving in his last year, albeit smaller than Ramos? You get your rentals that can help now and deal with the off season in the off season.
Or they're adding two all-star/MVP caliber hitters... and a possible adjustment from a 21 year old stud prospect.
Overall Luhnow had an excellent trade deadline. The Astros added an elite closer, a very good set up man and a back up catcher without touching any of their top ten prospects. Also, Osuna and Pressly will be back in 2019. The Astros did not add a bat, but I didn't see many bats moving around that would be an upgrade. The Astros can always target a bat at the waiver deadline if they need one. The only complaint I can see is perhaps someone can ask why we added Maldonado and not Ramos to catch. It could be that we didn't think Ramos would bottom out (at one point the Nats wanted him) and be available for so cheap. The other possibility is that the Astros wanted a catcher that could throw runners out and handle a pitching staff. Ramos doesn't do that. I was very critical of Luhnow last year when the Astros made no moves of note at the July deadline, so he deserves credit for maximizing the talent he brought in and minimizing the talent it cost him. The Astros have helped themselves as much as anyone other than the Dodgers and possibly the Yankees. Overall a very frugal but effective trade deadline.
Well, by the time they return, we will definitely need them all to contribute in our attempt to climb back into the playoff race.
