The Astros sit comfortably atop the American League West standings 91 games into the 2022 season, so with the All-Star break in the rearview mirror and the trade deadline fast approaching I decided to open up the mailbag. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions:
Should the Astros make a run at Juan Soto and if so, what would it take to get him?
The Answer to your first questions is an emphatic yes. He's Juan Soto, a 23-year old superstar who you'd have for the rest of this season, plus the next two, but obviously the catch is that it is going to take a massive, massive haul to get him.
According to Jon Heyman the Nationals are going to be looking for a team's top four prospects along with young Major Leaguers AND a willingness to take the $70 million left on Patrick Corbin's contract, which runs through 2024. Nats GM Mike Rizzo isn't going to get all that, but I imagine he'd take anything that comes close because Soto's value drops if he hasn't been traded by the August 2 deadline. Do the Astros have the pieces to put together a package to entice Rizzo? Maybe.
By all accounts the Astros have one of the worst farm systems in baseball, but on a positive note, almost every one of their top prospects are in the upper levels of the minor leagues or the Major Leagues, so there isn't as much mystery surrounding them as there would be with a 20-year old in A-ball, and they have many players on their Major League roster who haven't hit arbitration that could be of interest to the Nationals without compromising the Astros chance to compete this season, so let's put together a package.
Because their system is so weak, the Astros would likely have to take on all or most of Corbin's contract. I know that's a hard pill to swallow, but do you want Soto or not? With the Nationals up for sale the willingness to eat Corbin's money might matter more than you'd think. As for players, I would offer Luis Garcia, who has four years of club control left after 2022, one more than Cristian Javier, Jake Meyers, who has five years of club control left, Hunter Brown, and either Korey Lee or Yainer Diaz. It's not a strong player package, but the willingness to take back Corbin offsets that a little. The Astros could add a bunch of fringe prospects to the pot, but they just don't have many impact guys.
Is there any downside to the Astros trading for Juan Soto?
Not really. I guess it would weaken the Astros outfield defense for the rest of 2022. You'd be moving Kyle Tucker, a Gold Glove caliber right fielder, to center and replacing him with Soto, who is not very good in the outfield, and there's no way to know how Tucker will handle playing center on an everyday basis, but who cares, it's just for a few months and it's Juan Soto. Michael Brantley seems unlikely to return after the season and his status for the rest of this season seems up in the air, so the Astros could move Tucker back to right in 2023 and have Soto split left field and DH with Yordan Alvarez.
Do you think the Astros will be active in the Trade Market? Who for? And who might be available for trade from the Astros organization?
I do think the Astros will be active in the trade market before the deadline, but I don't know if that will translate into a bunch of moves. James Click pulled off three trades before last year's deadlines, and I'd be surprised if that happens again.
I think the Astros two biggest needs are at first base and a lefty out of the bullpen. I'd be surprised if they make a move at first base because of the respect Yuli Gurriel has inside the clubhouse, but I'd be surprised if they don't go after a lefty for Dusty Baker's bullpen. Andrew Chafin from the Tigers would be at the top of my list to fill that need. Someone like Chafin wouldn't cost you a ton, but there will be plenty of other teams in on him, though I'm not trading someone like Brown or anyone else of real significance for a rental. If the Astros do look to upgrade first base, Josh Bell from the Nationals would be at the top of my list.
One thing to keep in mind about Click: he has shown a proclivity to trade guys off the Major League roster. He traded Abraham Toro and Joe Smith in the Graveman/Montero deal and Myles Straw in the Maton trade. He could look to go that route again.
Korey Lee has barely since he was called up. Do you think he stays on the roster if Jason Castro is out for a while or do the Astros look outside the organization?
I've actually changed my thinking on this. I think the Astros should keep Lee on the Major League roster while Castro is out. Would it benefit him to play everyday in Sugar Land? Probably, but I also think there are positives to having him in a reserve role with the Astros. First of all, he's around Martin Maldonado and the Astros pitching staff everyday which will only help him when it comes to game planning and working with the guys he's going to catch down the road. Maldonado joked that Lee was following him around like his son when he was first called up earlier this month, and even though he's not getting many at bats, he does get to work with Alex Cintron and Troy Snitker every day, which I think helps him as well.
Who is the Astros manager next season?
My money is on Joe Espada. He has certainly earned the opportunity having worked under A.J. Hinch and Dusty Baker for five seasons, and he is well-respected inside the clubhouse. Baker's future really hasn't been talked about this season, but it feels like this will be it, which is why he was only given a one-year extension after the World Series. He won his 2,000th game and he gets one last shot at that elusive World Series title.
What's going on with Kyle Tucker's extension talks?
Doesn't seem like anything is going on with it, and every day that passes makes it less likely he will sign one. Tucker has three seasons left of club control after this one, so he'd hit the market before his 30th birthday. He could opt to just play things out because I would imagine the only way he'd be interested in an extension is if it takes him through his mid 30s, and there's no reason to think the Astros would be willing to do that.
The best time to get an extension done with Tucker would've been after the 2020 season when he was still two years away from arbitration, but now with arbitration right around the corner, Tucker has all the leverage.
