Value goes up closer to the deadline. There is no rush for teams not in contention. It has very little to do with the dtaft IMO
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Mark Berman says Grae Kessinger will be called up with Salazar going down and Luis Garcia to the 60 day.
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While I wouldn’t have guessed this would be the move, there was talk today that Bregman has played more than anyone and needs a day or two here and there. Guessing this means Kessinger is coming up to play some third base.
That and with Altuve hurting you only have four infielders.
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Dubon was also the only player on the team outside of Bregman to have any experience at 3B
In addition to all of that, its just good sense.
Salazar has 10 games played and 15 PA despite being on the roster the entire season.
He has had less playing time than me in little league !! Waste of a roster spot.
And now Dusty has to play Diaz at catcher on Maldy’s days off, 25% (ish) of the games.
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It really was. When I checked rosters about 2 weeks ago, the Astros were one of only 3 teams who were carrying 3 catchers on their major league roster. I could understand doing it in the playoffs or if the third catcher did something extremely well, like steal bases, but I never understood the reasoning for keeping Salazar.
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At the start of the season it made sense as a way to get Diaz into the lineup without cutting into Maldonado’s playing time. With Salazar as the backup you don’t have to worry about Diaz DHing or pinch hitting if you want to use him that way. But Diaz is spending most games on the bench anyway so there hasn’t been much need for Salazar.
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New from “my friend”
Hearing that the Astros are looking at a lot of different options, and for the first time am hearing a lot of new names.
I have heard… James Paxton, Eduardo Rodriguez, Aaron Civale, Marcus Stroman, Alex Cobb and Zach Wheeler.
The White Sox are telling teams they don’t want to sell right now, and could end up even being buyers - it is up to the owners son.
I have also heard… Joc Pederson, Josh Naylor, Cody Bellinger (yes I am serious), Spencer Torkelson (no idea why) and Teoscar Hernandez
I find it interesting because some of these guys have a background playing first. Naylor and Torkelson surprised me.
The White Sox being non-comital, along with the Giants possibly standing pat has constricted the market.
It is possible there is some bad blood between the Cubs and Astros - there was with Click for sure.
With DeGrom being out for basically ever, I am sure the Rangers are going to be active for someone at the top of the pitching market. The Phillies are not talking trade, but that could change. Their top two pitchers are close to free agency. If the Phillies decide to move some rental pitching that helps the Astros as well.
The inclusion of Cody Bellinger and James Paxton are certainly risks, but being expiring free agents may dampen any real cost. The Red Sox front office and ownership are at odds on the direction of the team. The front office wants to rebuild.
Last interesting tidbit is the Astros have asked the Braves about some of their minor leaguers.
Bellinger has 1B experience, right?
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I’d imagine the Astros look at Torkelson as a buy-low opportunity. He was a top prospect, and with the Astros development system, he might flourish here. He could DH to start, and Abreu doesn’t come around, be a secondary option at 1B.
Yes. He played 1B and the outfield with the Dodgers.
Bad blood with the Cubs over the scuttled Contreras deal?
His name also reminds me of a classic Kids in the Hall sketch, so there’s that
I know that I will get some flack for this (especially from Jim R)
If Brown can’t make a trade soon, then I think he needs to make 2 roster moves.
- bring up Korey Lee and send Salazar down.
Salazar is essentially a wasted roster spot bringing no value. Lee has the talent to justify starting 25% of the time and pinch hitting for Maldy. His clock is already started so might as well use him. And its important to have a 3rd catcher so Diaz can DH.
- bring up Pedro Leon and option Corey Julks. Leon has been very good recently and cut his strikeouts down to about 25% the past 3 weeks. Julks has been bad, his hitting has been below average all season, currently 19% below average, and has K’d in 30% of his PAs in June.
I realize that Leon may strike out just as often, but I don’t think it will be more often.
Worst case he is just as bad as Julks offensively but a superior defender with versatility. We already know what Julks brings, lets see if Leon can do any better.
No, that’s far from a worst case.
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First and foremost, if Lee is your catcher of the future, you want him hitting/playing every day in AAA. He’s not going to be some magical cure all at catcher in the bigs.
As for Leon… LOL. Dude is hitting .250 in AAA and Julks is hitting… .250 in the bigs.
There is zero reason to panic and start calling up not-ready AAA players when the Astros are still plugging along.
Neither of those guys is some huge impact bat that is going to change the outcome of a lot of games.
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Btw, Lee hit .160/.192/.240 last year and his power has disappeared this year
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His “clock” was started yes, but it only continues to tick if he is in the big leagues. Having him come up and be Salazar, which is what he would be right now from a roster standpoint, accomplishes nothing.
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