Houston Astros: Three reasons to target Francisco Cervelli in a trade
Reason #3: The not-so-high expense for Cervelli
Cervelli is going to command a considerable haul for the Houston Astros to send off but it may not be as much as we think it’s going to be. I think it’d be best for the Houston Astros to strike while the iron his hot with the assumption that Cervelli would be able to produce with little regard to possible injury.
Cervelli is currently on the back end of a three-year, $31 million extension that he signed back in 2016. His 2019 salary is $11.5 million which will fit extremely comfortable in the Astros‘ books.
But what’s it going to cost to land him?
It’s going to take a Top 15 prospect to get the Pirates to talk and I’d put together a package that features either RHP Cristian Javier or C Garrett Stubbs as the centerpoint. I’d include a lower-level prospect to sweeten the pot a bit as well.
The Pirates are going to ask for something to higher to see how desperate the Astros are and Kyle Tucker and Forrest Whitley are definitely off-limits unless they’re sending something of equal value back in addition to Cervelli. I’d only flip Tucker for a guy like Realmuto and that’s final.
Next. Three ways to add an ace starting pitcher for the Astros. dark
But all in all, I think the potential pact that I proposed could get the needle moving and the conundrum of how to fill the void at the catching position will be addressed.
Would Cervelli be the right guy for the Astros? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below.