Even though it benefited them by having him have a contract with deferred money, to me I can't see the owner being down paying him $102 mil and then additional money for the final 2 years of his contract. Lets say they were only willing to eat $5 mil per year, would that be enough for Houston to make it work ? *ok I just looked at who the owner was for the Nats. Perhaps $40 mil is nothing to him so maybe he is willing to eat that to make a trade work/ get better prospects.
I know Matt Boyd has a lot of haters, but he had a nice day in Baltimore today. 6 IP, 1 BB, 8 K. Yes, it was against the O's, but those are good numbers with good command still, in a hitter's park (so much for his "bad home/road splits"). He was the top prospect sent to DET from TOR in the 2015 David Price trade, and is putting together a great season this year after breaking out last year. He's also under control for 2 more years, so proven rotation insurance with our pending FA's and in case our prospects don't pan out. Fisher would be a good piece to center the package around, along with Toro, IMO. Maybe add in a AAAA piece or two (like Armenteros).
Disagree that Matt Boyd broke out last year, it is certainly this year. If the Astros think that this year will be the norm for him, then trade away, but it will be a buy high situation, so I am not sure Detriot will be stoked about a package centered around Fisher. I am not sure, but I think he has 3 more years of control, but Boyd was definitely not the top piece going to Detroit. That was Daniel Norris. It is interesting though, that all 3 prospects sent to Detroit have debuted in the majors
Yea I can't see Fisher as the main piece in a big trade either, even with teams less likely to move their top prospects than ever, Fisher doesn't really fit the bill there. I could see him being a #2 piece. JBB, Fisher, low level guy for Boyd works for me
Apologies, was kind of overreacting to that day when Cole had a disaster outing and Whitley got his ERA up to >12. Still want Boyd, for sure. Big fan of him, and he's controllable for 2.5 more years.
Nobody hates him, and he'd be a fine 4/5th starter just like a Mike Fiers or any number of other veterans. Get him and also get a real playoff starter. I'm all for it. You want to talk serious? Tucker JBB or Ivey somebody talk to the NYMets
MLBTR noting Toronto is ready to sell. How about this for a blockbuster: Astros get: SP Marcus Stroman 1B Justin Smoak IF Freddy Galvis Blue Jays get: RHP Corbin Martin RHP JB Bukauskas DH/1B Tyler White RHP Bryan Abreu RHP Cristian Javier Jays have an infield glut and no use for Smoak who is a rental. Stroman is a free agent after next season. They need near-ready pitching prospects to go with their emerging core of young position players. Astros have a need for a good 3rd starter, and they could use an upgrade at 1B/DH along with a stopgap veteran infielder to serve as insurance against the injury bug. Astros have a stock of pitching prospects. Resulting playoff roster: CF Springer LF Brantley 3B Bregman 2B Altuve SS Correa 1B Smoak RF Reddick (or Alvarez or Tucker) DH Gurriel (or Alvarez or Tucker) C Chirinos Bench: Marisnick, Stassi, Galvis, Stubbs Rotation: Verlander, Cole, Stroman, Miley Bullpen: Peacock, Osuna, Pressly, Harris, Rondon, James, Valdez, Devenski Extras: Diaz, McHugh, Kemp, Rodgers, Tucker, Mayfield, Fisher, Straw, Smith, McCullers, Armenteros, Deetz, Guduan, Perez, Reed
That is not a bad trade possibility, although I would rather try to hold onto Abreu and let them keep Smoak and Galvis if possible. Abreu arguably has as much or more upside as Martin. Abreu needs to master fastball command but he is extremely difficult to hit.
Although we have an immediate need to fill that IF slots, I’m not sure that Galvis or Smoak upgrade our offense once the big boys are healthy. Seems like an overpay for Stroman.
Love the idea of trading for Smoak, big fan of his. Should be pretty cheap as he's a rental. My plan would be to use him to replace not Gurriel, but White. Give him the majority of 1B at bats, and keep Gurriel at 3B, and Bregman at SS until this injury bug passes (Correa is the main one in mind). Smoak has vastly improved his plate discipline, and is now taking almost as many walks as strikeouts, and has 11 homers so far this year. Also, the Astros seem not to be too confident in Alvarez at 1B, given that he rarely plays there in AAA, even with Reed/Jones not being that great, and a call-up coming soon. Time to move on from White. Highly doubt we trade for Smoak, but if we do, he'd contribute in a positive way and definitely stick around in the lineup in some way even after the injury bug and Super 2 are over (at least I'd think). DFA White, then trade Armenteros or Sneed (they love our AAAA pitchers LOL) and a (non-Tucker/Alvarez) piece for their OF (IF is a logjam, OF needs improvement). Should be enough for a rental 1B/DH type guy with those numbers.
Alvarez is almost guaranteed to be added this week. White is most likely gone, unless our FO really wants to wait until we reach full health and sends down one of the pups.
What do you think Kemp's status will be once Super 2 and the injury bug are both gone? Hate to say it, but as much as we all love his heart, soul, and spirit (myself included), he's quietly batting about as low as White, and will lose a lot of playing time when Altuve and Diaz are back, and Alvarez is called up. I think his days in Houston may be coming to an end soon. Sad, but this is a business.
He at least offers defensive flexibility. He has a lot more to offer than White. I don't see Kemp being DFA'd. He will be insurance until the year is up, then we likely attempt to trade him.
Luhnow going to be bold and get Scherzer and Doolittle from the Nats... can settle for Stroman or dream bigger. Don’t doubt Luhnow. If anything, a deal will fall apart due to medicals or owner haha
No, there will be a trade or 2 for sure. Crane and Luhnow on same page unlike the Rockets with Fertitta and Morey lol
What does Justin Smoak do for the Astros if they are planning on calling up Alvarez? I've wanted Doolittle since way back when he was on the A's.
Kemp is batting the league average for a 2B and a lot better than White. Not sure he survives the trade deadline, but he's an MLB player.
Smoak plays 1B, Alvarez 60-70% DH, 30-40% LF. Like Doolittle. I keep hoping Nationals continue to struggle as there are a lot of great players on that team, but no depth unlike the Astros.
