Astros looking to add another ace??

I don't think one prevents the other. Hernandez is relatively cheap and still under club control. What it would mean is that there would likely be fewer prospects to include in other deals.

I'd be shocked if we got Hernandez but I don't think it prevents other moves.

 

A package around AJ Reed is what is rumor. Davis from Orioles can possibly land with Astros and add a closer.

Needs

Ace pitcher
Power arm closer that's is establish
1st baseman

 

Do you have a source?

 

"Houston Astros. They certainly make sense. Improving the bullpen is their No. 1 priority, but they've also indicated they'd like to add another starter. The Astros have a deep farm system with both pitching and position player prospects. The Marlins would certainly ask for a young starter like Lance McCullers or Vincent Velasquez -- or both -- from the major league roster. The Astros also have outfield depth with Preston Tucker and Jake Marisnick (who could play center field if the Marlins also trade Marcell Ozuna). The Marlins may ask for power-hitting first baseman A.J. Reed -- who reached Double-A last year -- but the Astros need a first baseman with the non-tender of Chris Carter and Reed currently is their best bet there. The Astros also have enticing prospects in the lower minors like Alex Bregman and Daz Cameron, first-round picks in 2015."

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/66906/who-is-the-mystery-team-in-on-jose-fernandez

 

Would we really be improving that much if we traded McCullers for him?

 

Projections have McCullers at about 60% of his value/year. McCullers has three more years of club control and likely performs better than nothing for last three years.

 

Think they'd be willing to do Fernandez for Appel straight up

 

I'm sorry I have no idea what any of that means.

 

Fernandez is projected to help his team by about 5 wins in 2016.
McCullers is expected to help Astros by about 3 wins in 2016.

Fernandez is projected to help his team by about 5.25 wins in 2017.
McCullers is expected to help Astros by about 3.25 wins in 2017.

Fernandez is projected to help his team by about 5.5 wins in 2018.
McCullers is expected to help Astros by about 3.5 wins in 2018.

Fernandez is not under contract so he's worth nothing in 2019.
McCullers is expected to help Astros by about 3.75 wins in 2019.

Fernandez is not under contract so he's worth nothing in 2020.
McCullers is expected to help Astros by about 4 wins in 2020.

Fernandez is not under contract so he's worth nothing in 2021.
McCullers is expected to help Astros by about 4.25 wins in 2021.

 

I really see Springer being the logical choice to send out in a deal for Fernandez. The Astros have plenty of big and minor league talent between Marisnick, Gomez, Preston Tucker, Rasmus, Kyle Tucker, Daz Cameron, and others.

I might go as far as Springer, Cameron, Appel, and Fiers.

Then go sign Jason Heyward to a big contract.

Altuve
Heyward
Correa
Rasmus
Gomez
Reed
Gattis
Gonzalez
Castro

Keuchel
Fernandez
McHugh
McCullers
Velasquez

 

In my opinion Springer is the heart/glue to this team.

 

If they trade Springer, they lose me as a fan.

 

Fernandez has only won 22 games in the majors. He's had a series of injuries. Yes, he's young and has great stuff when healthy, but I don't want want to give up any core members of our team to get him (Springer,Altuve,McCullers).

 

We need a first baseman so let's trade AJ Reed away.

Wait, what?

 

FWIW, Clutch banned Progs was banned from the GARM for posts like this.

#PLOWWITHPROGMAN

 

Probably?...

One of the biggest obstacles all young players face is that second year; the pressure and scrutiny are greater and the league has 100+ innings to try and figure you out (which they inevitably will). Can you make all the proper adjustments and stay ahead of the league?

Fernandez has ~170 innings of MLB experience on McCullers; if healthy, the consensus is that he's among the 2 or 3 best pitchers in baseball. But we don't know where McCullers will land. Does he regress? He's coming off the largest workload of his career - that's when pitchers are often at their most vulnerable...

The Astros, if they're smart, are being realistic with McCullers, in terms of expectations.

 

Uh, he's not a FA until after 2021

 

I'm not a proponent of trading McCullers as a part of any package right now. Straight up I would consider it, but if have to include other blue chippers like Reed ,Appel and Feliz no thank you.

While I'm not sold on McCullers being an ace or even a TOR starter, he showed flashes of overpowering dominance. He could very well be viewed as an ace after next season, and he has 6 full years of team control left. Given the ludicrous contracts that pitchers are getting, team controlled studs are more important than ever.

For that reason, I don't think Fernandez is really available. The Marlins put his name out there, but it's going to take an obscene package given what Shelby Miller brought back (the number one overall pick, a top 40 prospect, and a guy who posted a WAR over 5). Fernandez is a much better pitcher than Miller.

 

I feel the same way. I'd be happy to give them a good package, but I'm not giving them the moon, which is what they will ask for. I think the Dodgers are the likeliest landing spot, but they will do everything they can to hold on to Pederson, Seager, & Urias. I think they will build a package headlined by De Leon with 3-4 other quality prospects/young MLBers