I saw a suggestion on MLBTradeRumors that the Astros should try to flip Walker for Brandon Nimmo. Makes sense for both teams, gives the Astros a Lefty bat that can hit anywhere in the lineup. Alonso is likely leaving the Mets so they need a 1B. The salaries are only $500K apart, through Nimmo has 5 more years, whereas Walker has 2 more years. The only thing I would worry about is Nimmo saw his BB rate drop from 11% BB to 8%, but his career average is well over 10% and he still plays good defense especially in LF. This would balance our lineup and another OB guy.
Pena
Alvarez
Paredes
Correa
Nimmo
Altuve
Diaz
Cole
Smith
As long as you get 140 games out of both Alvarez and Paredes, that lineup fucks.
Because no one wants him. Guys, Dubon sucks and no one was willing to give anything of real value for him. We got an elite defensive no hit SS for him, that was his rate. Bascially, a lighter hitting Tim Bogar. Allen is a the 13th guy on a MLB roster because he can give you elite defense at SS/2B. Those guys also don't get 400 PAs like Dubon has been getting the last few seasons. A guy with a dWAR of 2.0 is easily worth $1.5M if you manage him correctly.
I don't think the next 9 months define anything about Dana Brown. He is in a difficult position of having to lie to the media all the time, because that is what his boss wants while having to deal with the boss's constant meddling in personnel decisions with his cabal of HOF players that know shit about fuck about putting a winning team on the field.
I have been advocating trading Pena and Alvarez because there is no money to make a real addition to the roster because Crane has pissed that away to shitty players time and time again. This team is about 2 years away from being a complete dumpster fire like when Crane bought the team. You can course correct and try to avoid that fire, or you can steer straight into it, too many fans appear to want to go back to the 2008-2010 version of the Astros, except MLB has changed the rules to try to negate multiple seasons of tanking.
People keep saying Alvarez is a MVP level bat, but he's never put it together and is now 29 years old. He's never hit 40 HRs, and he has driven in 100 once in his career. I'd sell high on Pena especially in this shitty offseason for SSs.
I'd trade Pena and Alvarez. It's foolish to think they you are winning anything with this roster as currently constructed. Altuve needs to be the full time DH, and that only happens if Alvarez is gone.
Everything hinges on health for an organization that has a shitty track record with health.
Altuve, Alvarez, Paredes, Correa, Pena that's 5 of your top hitters right there that all have or had health concerns. Asking for all those guys to stay completely healthy for the same season seems to be a fool's errand.
We need to get a true PG in the portal, but the best thing about this class is it is bring tall wing shooters into the program. Our shooting so far this season has been average.
I think we should consider the idea of trading Pena, and move Correa back to SS for the next 3 years. Pena would likely get a haul in return, and it would clear up the logjam we have in the infield. I would also consider trading Alvarez, because he would also return a lot and he can't stay healthy. I would also tried to trade Walker and move Smith back to his natural position of 3B. Paredes was decent there, but his athletic profile is more of a 1B.
Sarkisian needs to make hard and difficult decisions this offseason.
1. Fire his remaining original offensive assistants Flood, Banks, and Milwee provide little to support a championship level of play.
2. Find out if his current defensive staff is able to build 3 levels that can be play consistently on the same page.
3. Throw his gold digging wife out the house and concentrate on Texas football
Failure to do all 3 and his going to get fired unless he finds a soft landing somewhere else.