Houston Astros: Make A Play For RHP Chris Young?

Here we are, the Houston Astros are on the cusp of starting another baseball season with pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training Friday.

My optimism is high for this season but my concerns about how this team will realistically perform is likely a promotion from a really bad team as in past seasons to a team that’s quite competitive but unfortunately mediocre.

Here’s the deal.

We need to bolster our pitching rotation even more and there’s a free agent on the market that’s just waiting for a fair deal and a shot to excel.

According to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors, right-hander Chris Young is available and has yet to sign with any team.

I can see it now — because he’s out there fledgling on the market, we can sign him at a discounted rate, even in the minor-league deal realm just like the Astros did with Joe Thatcher.

Adding Chris Young to the Astros will not only encourage competition amongst the guys battling for a spot in the starting rotation but allow us to see the absolute best out of them.

Which can be entertaining!

Now let’s be serious here.

Jun 6, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher

John Buck

(4) comes out to talk with starting pitcher Chris Young (53) on the mound during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

We’re talking about the back-end of the rotation, the first three slots in our rotation are definitely locked up by Dallas Keuchel, Colin McHugh and Scott Feldman.

Young, 35, went 12-9 and posted a respectable 3.65 ERA with a solid 1.23 WHIP in 165 innings through 30 games — 29 of them starts — with the Seattle Mariners in 2014.

Adams says that in addition to the Astros, the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Ray Rays are potential landing spots for the 6’10” hurler.

He does also hint that his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) is an abhorrent 5.02 and that he allows so many fly balls — 58.7 percent in 2014 — as part of the cause teams are shying away from him.

Those numbers could be prove to be disastrous in the intimate surroundings of Minute Maid Park.

But let me say this…

Sometimes long shots pay off big and I think it’s worth it for this veteran that still has plenty left in the tank to give.

He’d be a better option than to land Kevin Correia, who was rumored a few weeks back as a pitcher the Astros were targeting. The guy lost 17 games last season! 17?!? Really?!? Sign me to a deal — I can go out and pitch a few frames and not lose that many games.

Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating but it’s still hard to believe that a human being could conjure up such a feat!

The Astros have to strike while it’s hot and there’s never been a contender out there without a strong pitching rotation. One doesn’t have to look further than this past World Series to see that it does win championships.

September 6, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow before the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

I really like what Jeff Luhnow has done as of late because building a team from scratch is not easy. But it’s his responsibility to ensure that we have a quality product out on the field and that starts with pitching!

We as fans must hold him accountable for every move that he makes because the future success of the team is essentially in his hands.

Speaking of aces…

Max Scherzer signed with the Washington Nationals for seven years, $210 million and James Shields recently signed with the San Diego Padres for four years, $75 million.

Why haven’t we gone after those guys?

I just need to get a level of understanding whether Luhnow is permitted to pay a premium price for goods or is he relegated to the clearance rack?

I understand that building this team into a winner takes time but for how long?

With those moves he has made as of late, my best guess is that he is forced to stick with the latter.

But when will that change?

Aug 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; A general view of the field during the game between the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Blue Jays 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

We shall find out — I imagine that the Astros landing a television deal with ROOT Sports has certainly helped their situation but to what extent?

We as fans deserve some answers!

I love my Astros, always will and my attendance at games hovers around the double-digit mark each season with me spending my hard-earned money to go out and watch them on the road as well.

I’m not some fly-by-night, fair-weather fan just posting this. I’ve been there — especially when the Astros were at rock-bottom this past decade.

I was right there.

You can usually find me with the other die-hard fans in the standing-room section along the outfield porch down Home Run Alley at Minute Maid Park!