Trade talk

[juliogotay]

I hope the Astros don't deal Tucker. http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2015/5/22/8646887/astros-prospect-preston-tucker-available-for-trade?_ga=1.262313548.1911031477.1357570501

[Jacksonian]

I hope the Astros don't deal Tucker. http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2015/5/22/8646887/astros-prospect-preston-tucker-available-for-trade?_ga=1.262313548.1911031477.1357570501

The headline doesn't match the content.  He supposes Tucker's availability.  And he supposes what they need.

[Fredia]

i like tucker. and sounds like some of my wild therories   and oh yea altuve is not in the lineup for today

[JimR]

Right, that is all speculation. That said, they'll have to trade someone.

[juliogotay]

The headline doesn't match the content.  He supposes Tucker's availability.  And he supposes what they need.

Right. It says "likely" and I'm just saying I hope he isn't part of a deal. Here is why I don't think he would be (1) LH bat. Astros are a little heavy RH in their power positions. (2) A Luhnow favorite. He has talked up Tucker since drafting him (and his first Astro pick to make the big club (3) If Rasmus isn't on this club next year LF will be open. A Tucker/Santana platoon may be interesting. (4) Tucker is a little different hitter from the other mid-lineup guys. A line-drive type hitter that will also hit some HRs.

[juliogotay]

Right, that is all speculation. That said, they'll have to trade someone.

Yes. Hard to imagine but Luhnow needs to thin the prospects a little. Otherwise he won't be able to manage the 40-man and the Rule 5 will cost players for no return.

[JimR]

I know Rasmus is on a one year deal, but he is a big part of this team. You need some vets.

[Astrofan59]

I know Rasmussen is on a one year deal, but he is a big part of this team. You need some vets.

And, of course, by that you mean Rasmus

[Fredia]

wow a kindred spelling spirit

[VirtualBob]

wow a kindred spelling spirit

Guard your spleen.

[JimR]

And, of course, by that you mean Rasmus

Damn you, autocorrect

[VirtualBob]

Damn you, autocorrect autocorrupt

FIFY

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

And, of course, by that you mean Rasmus

I remember a Dennis Rasmussen and an Eric Rasmussen but no Colby Rasmussen.

[Reuben]

I'm transplanting a conversation that started in this Bus Ride Corpus Christi thread because it's much more relevant to this one.

Cueto has a sore shoulder that will cause to miss at least one start. And he hasn't really been himself this year. I worry about something serious going on there.

For that matter, Kazmir has been awful lately. He had 4 or 5 brilliant starts in April, but every one has been bad since then. Last year, I think he had a great 1st half and then cratered in the 2nd half.

Hamels, on the other hand, has been brilliant lately, and of course, has by far the best track record of any of the above-mentioned guys. The only catch is the $70m he's owed from 2016-18, and the $24m option for 2019 that vests if he throws 400 IP in 2017-18 and isn't on the DL with an elbow or shoulder injury when the '18 season ends.

[astrosfan76]

Heyman with an article up with rumors and speculation.  The focus of the article is where Ryan Howard could go:  The Astros are on the list, but he talks himself out of it in the summary, so, yeah.  He did have some more "info" under his notes:

Aaron Harang, who could emerge as a trade target for many teams, has at least been discussed by the Astros, who will need to lengthen their rotation ... While Cole Hamels is probably out of their reach financially ($24M per), Johnny Cueto is at least on their radar. But one executive says it'd be interesting to see Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty do a deal (they weren't especially close when they worked together in the Cardinals front office), "It might have to be (Jim) Crane and Castellini doing the talking," that executive suggested of the owners ...

I don't really think Hamels contract would be a hindrance, especially since the Phillies are said to want to include cash in any trade.  On Cueto,

Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto played catch for about 20 minutes and up to distances about 100 feet on Wednesday. The right-hander underwent an MRI on Tuesday, which indicated no structural damage in his elbow.

"He felt fine. He threw comfortably," Reds head trainer Paul Lessard said. "He's still a little sore from the MRI injection, but other than that, he felt very good. He wasn't really holding back and was throwing pretty firm."

Cueto would be a rental, so any club trading for him would really have to make sure his arm is fine.  Harang would be a rental, as well.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/25199194/inside-baseball-eight-possible-spots-for-ryan-howard-and-more-notes
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/players/playerpage/288900/johnny-cueto#stats

[Mike S.]

Anthony Castrovince beating the drum (unconvincingly, in my mind) for the Astros to trade for Cole Hamels.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/128697512/anthony-castrovince-cole-hamels-can-take-astros-to-next-level

[Uncle Charlie]

What would you feel comfortable giving up for Hamels (assuming some salary relief - $30 MM or basically one year + buyout)?

[doyce7]

What would you feel comfortable giving up for Hamels (assuming some salary relief - $30 MM or basically one year + buyout)?

I would like to start with an offer of appel, feliz, Santana, and then like a Kemp or Fontana. Phils will probably want more but that's a pretty good starting place for me. I would be of the mind of taking on as much salary as I can to keep the prospect price down. Maybe 15-20 million taken off his price tag.

[Reuben]

I doubt they'd be offering anyone $15-20m (unless it means they can get the Sox to give up Mookie, who seems to give Amaro a fattie). Hamels' contract is now viewed as market-rate for an Ace pitcher, and 4.5-5.5 years (depending on the option) is shorter than most Aces get on the open market.

I'd like to think Appel as a centerpiece would be big enough that you don't have to give up a Feliz or VV also - would rather round it out with Santana and a couple 2nd-tier types. I mean, Amaro got shit for Pence, so you never say never.

[doyce7]

I'd be fine with trading for him even taking on the whole contract including the option year.

[Nate Colbert]

It is Heyman so fair warning but his latest Inside Baseball column has an extended look at a Hamels to the Astros scenario:

The Astros wouldn't part with Correa, who some see as a clean, young Alex Rodriguez, or the brilliant young righthander McCullers Jr. And while they'd also probably like to hold onto 100-mph-throwing righthander Vincent Velasquez, they have many more prospects, including first baseman Jonathan Singleton (who came from Philly in that boffo Pence trade), infielders Nolan Fontana and Colin Moran, outfielders Domingo Santana (who also came in that Pence deal) and Teoscar Hernandez, catcher Max Stassi and many pitchers, including righthander Mark Appel (the former No. 1 pick, who threw 97 mph in his five shutout innings Wednesday, though some still advise a change of scenery.

Also says Nolan is a  Hamels fan and has Crane's ear, the Phillies are intrigued by Preston Tucker and Brett Phillips, and that Hamels wouldn't necessarily approve a trade to the Astros.

[Fredia]

tucker needs to stay.

[jbm]

Change of scenery?  What might be behind that?

[jbm]

Oh, and while I have nothing against Nolan, I don't like to hear that someone besides the GM has the owner's ear. I prefer clear lines of responsibility.  If you don't trust your GM, get a new one but don't go around his back. Not sure if that was the implication though.

[doyce7]

Oh, and while I have nothing against Nolan, I don't like to hear that someone besides the GM has the owner's ear. I prefer clear lines of responsibility.  If you don't trust your GM, get a new one but don't go around his back. Not sure if that was the implication though.

I would highly doubt Nolan has cranes ear after a year to the point crane would go around luhnow. Crane and luhnow seem to be on the same page on nearly every move. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if heyman is just making shit up because people love Nolan

[Nate Colbert]

I have no idea the degree of influence Nolan has with Crane. However, he is Crane's advisor. He does not report to Luhnow.

[Nate Colbert]

Change of scenery?  What might be behind that?

Obviously just speculating but I suppose all the accumulated flaps (negative pushback of him being brought to Houston to work with Brent Strom, the story of Appel's alleged unhappiness with being used in the piggyback, etc.) plus the pressure to succeed and succeed quickly being the #1 overall pick with the team that drafted him.

I wouldn't be altogether surprised if there are some Scott Boras fingerprints there as well.

[jbm]

I wouldn't be altogether surprised if there are some Scott Boras fingerprints there as well.

Yeah, seems like the most likely source although I suppose some scouts might draw that conclusion.

[pots]

I wouldn't be altogether surprised if there are some Scott Boras fingerprints there as well.

Actually it benefits the Astros most if other teams feel he will regain stardom

[Reuben]

Here's a batshit-crazy idea I just pulled out of my ass: bring Appel up to the big club in 5 days and showcase him. Because:

1. It's similar to what worked last year, when he was putrid with Lancaster, finally had one decent start, then got controversially bumped to CC where he had instant success.

2. Even if he struggles, so what? Almost all great young pitchers struggle when they first get to the majors. Potential trade partners will be more impressed by him struggling in MLB than struggling in AA.

3. By the same token, having him hit 97-98 mph in an MLB game is bound to impress scouts, at least on a subconscious level, in a way that 97-98 in a AA game won't.

4. Let's face it, Roberto H ain't gettin' it done anymore. Sure, there's several guys in Fresno and CC that deserve it more than Appel, based on merit, but this is a kid who was a "polished" Junior at Stanford, potential #1 pick  three years ago. Maybe it's time to throw him into the deep end already and see how he responds.

[doyce7]

Luhnow and co would never do it reuben but I like where your heads at. Plus might make other teams think maybe he was working on stuff in AA and worry less about results.

[NeilT]

Ah shit. Now you've blown the secret plan.

[VirtualBob]

Luhnow and co would never do it reuben but I like where your heads at. Plus might make other teams think maybe he was working on stuff in AA and worry less about results.

+1