If a bat is #3 in priority, then it seems logical that the organization is confident in the return of Yordan and Altuve (and maybe even Brantley). Without Yordan and Altuve in this lineup......yuck.....

I think it's a combination of that and also what's available.

I'm still trying to figure out where a bat makes the most sense. As a potential starter, platoon or bench? I would probably say, in order of "need," I would go

LF
1B
DH
SS

You can probably scratch that last one completely, LF/DH is going to be covered most of the time by Yordan, or even Abreu if you add someone that can play 1B. When everyone is healthy things look like

C - Diaz (or Maldy, barf)
1B - Abreu
2B - Altuve
3B - Bregman
SS - Pena
LF - Julks (or trade bat or McCormick)
CF - McCormick (or trade bat)
RF - Tucker

Yeah, as long as he doesn't get here and get cold.

texasaggie2015 said:

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Bellinger would be an awesome fit, but I'm feeling less confident as the asking price for him is going up and I don't expect Houston to be willing to give up what it would cost considering he's a rental.

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Agreed. Our best prospect (Gilbert) might be another teams fifth best prospect. That team may be willing to trade their fifth best prospect to rent Bellinger. Are we willing to trade our best?

How does that option for '24 affect his price?

Chandler article / mailbag on the deadline:

Quote:

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Hello, Astros fans. Good luck deciphering Dana Brown's trade deadline approach across the next eight days. This is Brown's first deadline as a general manager, so there are no tendencies to monitor or past situations to create a precedent. He has repeated all the things general managers are supposed to say this time of year, but until there is action, most of the words ring hollow.

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Spot on

Quote:

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Perhaps the most intriguing question is how much owner Jim Crane will insert himself into the team's decision-making. At last year's deadline, and at manager Dusty Baker's behest, the owner vetoed an agreed-upon trade with the Chicago Cubs involving Willson Contreras and Jos Urquidy.

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Keep this in mind for the cost of a plus hitting rental

Quote:

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Who do you realistically see the Astros being able to bring in at the deadline? I feel they need a high-leverage reliever and an impact starter at the very least. Brandon R.

Realistically, Brandon, they should focus on a veteran, innings-eating starter and a high-leverage reliever. The former is probably more pressing than the latter, but acquiring both should be atop Brown's priority list.

...

To compensate, Houston could trade from its major-league roster. Speaking on the team's pregame radio show on Sunday, assistant general manager Andrew Ball acknowledged the team is trying to be "creative" and will engage with other contending teams for "a good old fashioned baseball trade where both teams get better." Trading Maton for Straw in 2021 is a prime example and perhaps a blueprint for a deal Houston could swing during the deadline.

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Priority 1 - SP, 2 - RP. Interesting.

Also, more smoke on trading away big league guys.

Quote:

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Which prospects, if any, do the Astros consider untouchable as far as trades are concerned? Russell G.

In reality, Russell, there really shouldn't be many untouchable players. Sure, there are probably some prospects the team covets more than others, but the Astros don't have a top-100 prospect in Baseball America's most recently updated rankings. No players appeared in Keith Law's new top 60, either.

...

Dana Brown did tell the team's flagship radio show he won't move outfielder Drew Gilbert for a rental player. At the time of his comments, Gilbert was almost a consensus top-100 prospect. The new crop of draft picks has since moved him out of those rankings.

For a farm system thin on top-end talent, though, Brown's strategy is sound and should perhaps be applied to other prospects like Spencer Arrighetti, Ryan Clifford or Luis Baez. Moving them for rental players doesn't feel wise.

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No one is untouchable, but don't be done with our top guys. Seems sound to me.

Quote:

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Do you think the Astros are more likely to add rental player(s) or seek to add a player(s) with multiple years of control? J.M.

Given what they have to offer, J.M., rental players seem the most likely.

...

It's clear the Astros will need some rotation insurance next season. Whether they find some at the trade deadline or wait until the winter will be a fascinating subplot of the next eight days.

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Fair point, but I think we go after both. But I think multiyear control for an RP is more likely. 2015 mentioned it, but it makes sense. It costs less and we have just a big of a need with so much guys hitting FA.

Quote:

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What happens with the logjam in the outfield? Do the Astros trade from the mid ranks for a better pitcher or is someone like (Jake) Meyers used as a trade add-on? Neil B.

Dana Brown has already hinted what will likely happen, Neal. He told Ken Rosenthal last month the Astros were exploring trades involving exclusively major-league players and said, "If we could move an outfield piece for something that could fill another need, we probably would be interested in doing that."

...

Meyers and Julks remain the two most logical members of the major-league team to be traded before Aug. 1

---

Nothing to add just more smoke.

I would imagine not much. He's done enough to opt out and get a bigger deal.

It's a player option, right? He would 99.99% decline it so it's not a factor.

Mutual option, according to the net.

Yeah- no factor

Are you?

redline248 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Its wild how our offense has been good in July (top 5-10) yet relied on 2-4 guys for the month of July.

July Only (min 20 PA)


If I am Arlington or Tampa, I am pitching around TED and Chas. And maybe Bregman too. Since the toe tap (7/18) Breggy has a 210 wRC+.

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Pena, ugh ffs please get better

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yep, Pena has been so bad at the plate...and if there's a team that is super high on him...with a controllable starting pitcher...stay tuned

for comparison...

Correa's OPS in years one and two: .857 and .811

Pena's OPS in years one and two (so far): .715 and .665

he's way behind Carlos in offensive development

Rangerette thread posters are screenshotting this thread again. Guess they need something to talk about.

This is such a fun time of year. Deadline, pennant races, college football getting ready to start.

It's hard to beat those October weekends when you got college football and playoff baseball on Saturdays.

Braves Acquire Pierce Johnson https://t.co/jYKhxKqEKx pic.twitter.com/FXkExogUbc

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) July 24, 2023

Colorado reliever to ATL

redline248 said:

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Once Diaz stops swinging at everything his numbers are gonna sky rocket

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No kidding. There were several reasons why Cleveland was willing to part with him, and this was one of them. He's actually improved too. If he can just get a little better, like you said, his numbers are going to take off.

The Astros had been talking to the Rockies about him.

Colorado receives RHP Victor Vodnik and RHP Tanner Gordon in exchange for Johnson, per source. Vodnik is the Braves' No. 10 prospect and Gordon is No. 26 per @MLBPipeline.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 24, 2023

the Braves 10th and 26th ranked prospects for a guy with a 6 ERA that is a FA after this year.

Looks like a project. High spin curve. Decent velo but the heater gets lit up like the 4th of July. Much better away from home, but that makes sense with you reply on spin and pitch in Colorado.