Houston Astros: Grading the moves of the 2019 trade deadline
Doing more than any other team in all of baseball, the Houston Astros made some last-minute splashes before yesterday’s trade deadline. It’s time to grade.
Houston Astros fans — the end of July always brings about a level of drama in major league baseball that is only matched by a World Series Game 7. And for the Houston Astros, yesterday certainly proved to be a flare for the dramatic during the trade deadline.
Teams across the league had until 3 p.m. CDT to make trades and set their rosters for the postseason. Unlike prior years, there will be no waiver deadline at the end of August. So naturally, this was it. Any player from here on out that moves to another team will not be eligible to play in the postseason, should said team make it.
Honestly, I don’t think I need to tell you fans that the Houston Astros will most certainly make October baseball. However, they did need some help to do it. At the magic hands of GM Jeff Luhnow, they did just that during the trade deadline yesterday afternoon.
Similar to last year, many of the deals weren’t announced until after official time was up. It certainly kept us fans in suspense. When the smoke cleared, there were two clear elements that stood out in all of this trade deadline drama.
1. Dearly Departed
The downside element to the trade deadline is one that all fans usually fear the most. That is the need to give up good talent in the farm system to get what you need now to compete. This was no different for the Houston Astros organization.
So far in July, and up to the trade deadline yesterday, we have seen the following players leave as the result of trades and the new teams they have joined:
- Tyler White (1B/DH – Dodgers)
- Tony Kemp (UTL – Cubs)
- Max Stassi (C – Angels)
- Derek Fisher (OF – Blue Jays)
- Seth Beer (1B/DH), Corbin Martin (RHP), J.B. Bukauskas (RHP) and Joshua Rojas (INF) – All going to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Frankly, it’s hard not for any fan to tear up looking at this list. And yes, White is included in that in spite of his struggles this season. Nevertheless, the old saying goes that to get talent, you must give some talent away. The above list is definitely a talented bunch that will make it far in major league baseball. We here at HOH wish all of them nothing but the best.
2. Come on Down!
The second element of the trade deadline are those players we got. They include the following:
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- From the Blue Jays for Fisher: Aaron Sanchez (RHP), Joe Biagini (RHP), Cal Stevenson (OF).
- From the Angels for Stassi: Two outfielders in Rainier Rivas and Raider Uceta.
- From the Cubs for Kemp: The return of catcher, Martin Maldonado (aka Machete).
- From Arizona for all those prospects listed above: Zack Greinke! WOW!
Obviously, the last one addressed the dire starting rotation need that the Houston Astros were in need of filling going into the trade deadline. It was also a very surprising move when you consider names like Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler, Robbie Ray and Matthew Boyd were the big starters mentioned, and NONE of these fellas were moved.
Next. Astros: A bid of farewell for Tyler White. dark
So the organization did exactly what it needed to do here. Luhnow addressed the current concerns, while also stocking up the farm with enough players to make waves for the future of the Houston Astros. There is a bright horizon for this team and will be for years to come.