My current ideal post trade deadline lineup: SS Pena DH Alvarez 3B Paredes RF TBD LHH trade acquisition 1B Walker 2B Altuve LF Loperfido C Vazquez CF Trammell Bench: Shewmake, Allen, Diaz, Matthews SP: Brown, Arrighetti, Lambert, Teng, Imai, Burrows RP: Hader, TBD trade acquisition, King, Okert, Abreu, Pearson, De Los Santos tradeable assets: Smith, Cole, Blubaugh, Pecko, Ullola, Santa
If the Astros don’t keep up this hot streak and need to become sellers what is Christian Walker value if he keeps up this level of production? I’m thinking we’re well past salary dump talks and should get a pretty solid haul considering the production and cost control next season.
Problem is......... Astros can't trade Walker unless Walker says ok to a trade. So, it's really not up to them in the end.
It might not be a pure salary dump but Walker still probably doesn’t have much of any surplus value. Hes 35 and owed $20M next season at age 36. He showed last season he’s not guaranteed to rake. Yes, he has rebounded nicely and if he stays on track for 40+ HR with an 880 ops near the deadline, he would have some surplus value but wouldn’t demand significant prospects unless Houston paid down a significant amount of his remaining contract. He also has a 6 team no-trade clause; his market as an aging 1B would likely be limited so depending on when he had to submit his list, he might be able to essentially destroy his trade market. Regardless, the way the last week has gone, it’s hard to see Houston trading Walker.
You've spent the last 3-4 weeks saying the Astros absolutely need to be sellers and start a rebuild. Now they win 4 games and suddenly you want them potentially trading away their top young talent and keeping their older guys?
I get this. This team has me on the fence too. I have changed my mind multiple times. The AL is terrible and very very winnable. This team has shown a different attitude the past several days. Good fundamentals and a fire I have not seen often recently. Selling may still be the best long term path, but I don't see Crane giving up until he is forced to. I don't see Brown selling in a lame duck season. We would all rather win. We all also want to avoid a long playoff drought.
As long as our Hunter and Hader come back like their normal selves, we have a very good shot at the playoffs with potentially a pretty decent rotation. The only thing I'm kinda worried about is playing with half a legit mlb lineup. One of the kids needs to turn the corner especially with Correa out for the season.
I personally would sell regardless. The Astros could win 10 in a row and I would start dealing guys. I am not buying that this team can compete for a World Series. Having said that - if the Astros are only a few games out, they likely will not sell and may even add.
I'm a big believer in pot odds in terms of MLB playoffs. If the Astros get into the playoff hunt, I probably would not outright buy, but the AL is weak right now. I might try to do the trade Paredes, Pena for AAA guys that are ready. Maybe something like Brown for Skubal if Skubal is healthy (maybe not this exactly). Mostly, I think a lot of MLB value in 27 and 28 should either be traded for 26 MLB value or for upper level players if the Astros are in it. If the Astros aren't in it, trade for younger prospects.
You have a valid point, teams do sometimes beat the odds. It is also possible that Crane will surprise. The Astros have run into some tough trade deadlines recently and eventually they are going to get a deal that really pays off.
If they are this close in the division I can’t see them having a pure seller’s deadline. Given their unique situation I would like to see them play both sides: Out: Pena, Meyers, Abreu, Lambert, 2-3 upper level pitching prospects (Pecko, Ullola, Blubaugh, Mayer, Santa, Nezuh), 2-3 young OF (Cole, Matthews, Smith, Dezenzo, Loperfido, Sullivan) In: 2 Top 100 prospects in A ball, 4 Org Top 20 prospects in A ball, 3 Org Top 30 prospects Dana Brown likes, 1 controllable setup man, 1 controllable LHH OF who can bat in the top 5 of a contending lineup Yes that means rolling with the Allen/Shewmake combo at SS this season, but it dramatically improves the farm system and rebalances the big league roster in the short term.
If Skubal is healthy. The Astros are a dying team. Trade for 26 MLB value or for prospects. 27 and 28 MLB value doesn't matter much. Maybe ask for a prospect or send a prospect if thay is needed to make deal work value wise.
Hunter is much more valuable than Skubal lol he’s got two more years under control. I don’t see what that does for us either. I don’t think the gap between Skubal and Brown is large enough to make any difference on this team.
I would hate for the Astros to go all in this year based on Walmart playoffs. Just because we may be within a few games of this cheap division at the deadline doesn't mean we should bite.
