Astros acquire Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers

[Dick B Back]

I am good with the Da Jesus et al platoon.

[DMVol]

It seems like the Mets backed out of their trade for Gomez because his hips were bad.

The backed out because Wilpon's checks were bad....

[Stradling]

Like I said, I would rather make an impact trade even if it costs us Newcombe, because if we are willing to give him up, then the player coming back would be pretty damn good.

[Jason]

Stupid to make decisions based on what other teams do. That's how we ended up doing braindead things like trading for Vernon Wells.

Except Wells wasn't an "impact" bat

[SoWhat]

I want to see old school under the radar big acquisition, someone where we don't mind giving up Newcombe.

Im guessing Cespedes would probably cost the Angels a B level prospect like Tropeano or Ellis.

[Homebrewer]

It wouldn't be such a big deal if Houston hadn't handed us our ass for the past two nights...

[bloodbrother]

Wait am I missing something here? I didn't realize how mediocre Gomez has been this season. Seems more like he's just a "name" right now without the production to match it. Dude's production is nowhere near what he's done in the past. Batting .260 with 8 HR, not even stealing bases

 

Guess what? His OPS+ is 105 this year. David Murphy's is 116

 

He WILL improve their OF defense, however. Astros now have a very good OF defensively

[Oz27]

If we want to improve our lineup, catcher and second base are the obvious positions to look to upgrade. But improved bullpen depth is my number one priority and I hate the thought of us looking for a big bat just because other teams have made deals.

[Stradling]

It wouldn't be such a big deal if Houston hadn't handed us our ass for the past two nights...

Yea, I get that. If we win tonight then we are tied and have a 60 game push to the end. You just have to ask yourself if them getting Gomez makes them better than us over the last 60 games. Sure we have lost five of six, but keep in mind we are in first place because the Astros lost like six in a row heading into the All Star break. We have been the much better team over the last month, they have gotten the better or us in the last two.

[bloodbrother]

If we want to improve our lineup, catcher and second base are the obvious positions to look to upgrade. But improved bullpen depth is my number one priority and I hate the thought of us looking for a big bat just because other teams have made deals.

 

That's the kind of stuff that sets a team back.

[Oz27]

Wait am I missing something here? I didn't realize how mediocre Gomez has been this season. Seems more like he's just a "name" right now without the production to match it. Dude's production is nowhere near what he's done in the past. Batting .260 with 8 HR, not even stealing bases

Guess what? His OPS+ is 105 this year. David Murphy's is 116

He WILL improve their OF defense, however. Astros now have a very good OF defensively

Exactly. Gomez is good but not great. Reading some reactions you'd think they just traded for Babe Ruth.

[beatlesrule]

Gonna be a tough next 2 months with all these AL teams making big moves.

[SoWhat]

Stupid to make decisions based on what other teams do. That's how we ended up doing braindead things like trading for Vernon Wells.

Wells was an impact bat? You do know that there's much smarter people in the FO now than there was when the Wells trade went down, right?

If you can get a guy like Cespedes for a package headlined by a B level prospect like Ellis or Tropeano, you should do it, if not then pass.

[Stradling]

If we want to improve our lineup, catcher and second base are the obvious positions to look to upgrade. But improved bullpen depth is my number one priority and I hate the thought of us looking for a big bat just because other teams have made deals.

I have no idea what kind of 2nd baseman or catcher might be available in a trade right now. I would have no issue upgrading there or at 3rd base. I can absolutely see us upgrading in the pen, and if I had to guess I would guess we will get Benoit.

[Inside Pitch]

@BNightengale: The #Brewers will receive Brett Phillips, Domingo Santana, Josh Hader and Adrian Houser from #Astros, per @Ken_Rosenthal

That's a really nice package for Milwaukee.

 

Hell yeah it is -- Milwaukee made out really really well in this one.

[Stradling]

I wonder what it would take to get Braun.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

Well, Bob Nightengale would know if a dude had bad hips!

[SoWhat]

If we want to improve our lineup, catcher and second base are the obvious positions to look to upgrade. But improved bullpen depth is my number one priority and I hate the thought of us looking for a big bat just because other teams have made deals.

And you won't find any 2B or C available to upgrade those positions. This isn't even about what the Astros are doing, the offense needs to be upgraded period

[Inside Pitch]

I wonder what it would take to get Braun.

A labotomy.

[Homebrewer]

Gotta love that the Stros are going for it, and it could be that they still pick up some more pitching from the Pads (Kimbrel, Ross, Cashner) before it's all over.

They reportedly were in serious talks with SD, before the Mets decided to pass on Gomez, who they were ready to trade for before the Mets took him, then didn't take him.

 

My guess is the Stros aren't done.

[Oz27]

I have no idea what kind of 2nd baseman or catcher might be available in a trade right now. I would have no issue upgrading there or at 3rd base. I can absolutely see us upgrading in the pen, and if I had to guess I would guess we will get Benoit.

2B market isn't weak. I think the Dodgers would listen to offers on Kendrick if we gave them a pitcher (would probably need to give them Giavotella too). But yeah, there's not much around.

[Chuck]

Chuck gets pissed and bitches about CJ all night the other night, yet we are the ones that crack him up.

Because I hate him.

[bloodbrother]

Don't think Springer will be returning any time soon from his injury this season for Houston.

Edited July 31, 2015 by bloodbrother

[Inside Pitch]

And you won't find any 2B or C available to upgrade those positions. This isn't even about what the Astros are doing, the offense needs to be upgraded period

 

Iannetta has a .797 OPS since May 1st.   That's three months of pretty well above average offense from our primary catcher.

[Stradling]

Because I hate him.

As much as we hate being in 2nd place?