They can have the no-vaxxer. Bring us Bell.
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Posted in wrong thread: Breathless announcement on NY media: “The Yankees are in on Soto!!!”
Yep
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If Castro’s injury is long-term — as Baker’s tone and comments suggested on Friday — it should put the Astros in the trade market for another catcher to split duties with starter Martín Maldonado.
The real negotiations are kept Soto vocce
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Josh Bell remains a priority for Astros as they also “explore” the possibility of adding a catcher says Rosenthal today in The Athletic.
Notably, they say it’s to replace Castro, so you’re not looking at a Contreras likelihood there.
Maybe, maybe not. Passan reporting today…
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The number of teams with World Series aspirations that could use a catching upgrade isn’t huge, but the New York Mets and Houston Astros have been in contact with the Cubs about the 30-year-old free agent-to-be, sources said, and the San Francisco Giants are poking around on catching options, too. Other teams could seek Contreras more as a bat with the ability to play catcher rather than acquiring him as a primary backstop.
And this nugget re Mr. Click working the phone lines…
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Whether it’s [Josh] Bell, [Willson] Contreras or someone else, selling teams say the Astros have been extremely aggressive and that they will be a better team by Aug. 2.
Not specifically mentioning the Astros but Passan says (mirroring other recent reporting) Cubbies 'likely" to move Ian Happ. Also says if Chaim Bloom decides to pull the trigger then (of course) JD Martinez and perhaps even Kike Hernandez are in play. The latter is currently on the IL with a hip flexor strain.
I absolutely believe this to be true.
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Josh Bell would look great in the middle of the Astros lineup. I wouldn’t think that he would be too expensive.
How about Stubbs as catcher insurance?
I must be missing something. Why would the Phillies, who are in contention and looking to add, want to part with their backup catcher who has performed quite well this year?
I’d love Bell too but have questions. Where is he going to play? Are we benching Yuli to plug Bell in at first base? Is Bell playing right (which he’s done before but the sample size is small) and we are moving Tucker to center? Is Bell going to be the DH with Alvarez playing left every day? What happens when Brantley (hopefully, fingers crossed) returns?
I’m just wondering how Bell fits in. I’d LOVE to have him. It would REALLY lengthen the batting order, especially if Brantley comes back fully healthy. It just seems like it would be harder to fit him into the lineup than say Benintendi, vax issues aside.
Yuli is a free agent next year at age 38. Bell is also a free agent after this season. If the 'Stros trade for Bell, it would help this year’s lineup (perhaps using all the scenarios you listed at some point - or alternating 1st and DH), be insurance if Brantley can’t come back, and provide a relatively low cost test ride for a possible future 1B.
If Bell is traded for: my take.
Both fangraphs and baseball reference have Astros playoff odds at better than 99.9% and division at 99.8%
Because of Yordan’s hand sit him 20% of games.
1B: Yuli 65%, Bell 35%
LF: Brantley 50%, Yordan 35%, McCormick 15%
DH: Yordan 45%, Bell 40%, Brantley 15%
Yordan 80%
Bell 75%
Yuli 65%
Brantley 65%
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Here’s the hitter Click should pursue: hits from the left, makes contact, fast.
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He generates tons of bat speed
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Bell/Yuli/Branley/Alvarez can rotate with 3 of the 4 always being in the lineup. We know the Astros love to rest guys pretty often so having Bell to swap in at 1B/DH for the rest of the season and having a better off the bench bat whether thats Brantley Yuli or Bell to pinch hit late would be a welcome change in the postseason
Edit: Bell should probably never play the outfield if I was managing things
With 1B or DH always an option he should never have to play the outfield
Behind a paywall but Passan does confirm the Astros are willing to move a starting pitcher. And throws out the three obvious names—Urquidy, Javier and Garcia.
Benintendi to NYY. So it begins.
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Fuck the Yankees
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