Looks like the Cubs are giving up the #4 prospect (#83 overall per fangraphs) and another unknown player for Avila and Wilson.

Why does that sound cheap? Surely we could beat that offer.

Ag_07 said:

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Looks like the Cubs are giving up the #4 prospect (#83 overall per fangraphs) and another unknown player for Avila and Wilson.

Why does that sound cheap? Surely we could beat that offer.

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Because we are going after Britton

Gtfo cubs

Justin Wilson should be cheap. He's an average to above average reliever. That's not gonna be expensive.

Jon Heyman tweet:

with cubs sneaking in to grab wilson, still have dodgers, astros, nats eying britton. o's want big (chapman/miller) return. could keep.

Isn't Avila the son of the Tigers GM?

As of now luhnow is pooping in his big boy pants

aggie1906 said:

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CFTXAG10 said:

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No damnit. Unless we lock down Britt.

I was on the fence about how bad we needed a deal butt after the last few losses I'm worried. Maybe I'm overreacting but a lack of a move sends a really ****ty message.

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Especially after the way Sipp has pitched, particularly this month and the uncertainty around Harris injury. Hell, even Devo has been pretty hittable lately.

While luhnow has sat back and watched the asking prices for players has gone up with every trade made. I don't agree with this approach at all..... He's a great GM but has yet to prove that he is an above average trade line GM

Today could very well end up as one of the biggest sports management flops of my lifetime.

cone said:

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this guy ****s

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Alright that made me lol

Favorite quote from the radio today "parades are better than prospects"

Pretty fair assessment. I still don't get the Lance Lynn option, but overall I'd say this sums up my thoughts on the situation.

Quote:

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All-Star Lance McCullers Jr. had his fourth straight poor start in a 13-1 loss to the Tigers, lasting five-plus innings and allowing eight hits, four walks, two wild pitches, two hit batters and five runs. It was ugly. Really, he was lucky to have given up only the five runs with that many baserunners crowding the bases. He has a 9.64 ERA in those four July starts, including 32 hits and 11 walks in 18 innings pitched. His strikeout rate of 29.1 percent entering the month has plummeted to 15 percent and batters have hammered him for a .386 average.

Here's what the Astros have to decide between now and 4 p.m. ET on Monday: Is this just a little slump for McCullers, something he'll resolve over the next two months? Is it a simple temporary loss of fastball command? Or is it a sign of a young pitcher hitting the wall at 100 innings after throwing just 81 last year? To make that decision even more problematic, staff ace Dallas Keuchel just returned from a lengthy DL stint and pitched three shaky innings in his first start back.

Even with Mike Fiers pitching so well after a shaky start -- he has a 2.74 ERA over his past 13 starts -- general manager Jeff Luhnow has to be concerned about his rotation, since he doesn't know for sure what to expect from his one-two punch the rest of the season and in the postseason. The starters had a 3.49 ERA in April and May, but that has jumped to 4.75 in June and July.

I think fear of the unknown means Luhnow makes a deal for a starter. He doesn't have to play in the Sonny Gray game, since the A's are likely to demand outfield prospect Kyle Tucker, but he could opt for a rental such as Yu Darvish or Lance Lynn to provide a strong alternative for October. Besides Tucker, the Astros had three other prospects in Keith Law's midseason top 50, plus there's hard-throwing Francis Martes, now in the majors but a top-40 prospect entering the season. There's enough talent for the Astros to make a trade and keep the talent pipeline flowing. What deal will Luhnow make?

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The Astros window is from this year until 2021 (at the moment depending on if Crane will actually fork out the money for Correa, Springer and Altuve). That's a five year window to multiple titles. The biggest necessities are a starting pitcher with multiple years on his deal and a left handed reliever. Prospects are great to have, but Kyle Tucker, Martes, Whitley, Perez are most likely all two years away. There is no guarantee these guys will be all-stars or even solid contributors. The Astros know what Sonny Gray and Zach Britton are. They are two guys who can help you win a title this year and next year. Gray is under team control until after the 2019 season, while Britton is under team control for this year and the next.

If I am Lunhow, I make moves to get those two guys. Kyle Tucker would be on the trade board and I would be willing to part ways with him for a guy like Sonny Gray. As for snagging Britton, I would think some combination of the following two (Whitley, Perez, Moran, Cameron) plus a throw in would get the deal done. The Astros need to make the moves now, not three years from now. This team is special and has a real chance at winning the World Series. It just needs to be solidified with two moves.

Until Keuchel re-aggravates an injury in a week. It's not really all that simple, guys. Lots of factors to consider, notably what the other teams are asking for. No move guarantees a WS. And not making a move doesn't guarantee failure.

It is a tough call. People keep saying prospects often don't pan out so trade them. Well I would say that is all the more reason to have as many top prospects as possible.

However we clearly need pitching help and a couple players could help fill some holes.

Today's news should be fun to keep up with at least. Regardless I think Luhnow has done a fine job to get them team to where it is.

If a move isn't made today then so be it. Get everyone healthy, get right in the next 2 months, and roll with what we got. Move on

But don't expect everyone to be quiet if we don't make a deep run because of pitching. If we have another KC 2015 situation, then you'll really see a meltdown.

There's no way Lunhow looks at this team and doesn't see a glaring weakness in pitching. Him not making a deal is him saying we can win despite our weaknesses. That's a big gamble.

Emotions aside, the trade deadline is hitting at the worst possible time for this team. 2 key offensive all stars hurt, and our two best pitchers not playing up to snuff.

Being Luhnow today would not be too fun.

Yeah I hear you.

Nothing ever means you will win, but moves can be made that increase your chances.

That's all you can do and that's all we can hope for. Additions that improve our chances.