The Astros are looking at the Nationals' Jesus Flores as a possible replacement for Jason Castro, reports Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com. The two teams face off today, so hopefully the Nationals will get Flores into the game for the Astros scouts on hand. The Astros are concerned about the condition of Flores' shoulder, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
Flores, 26, was signed by the Mets out of Venezuela nine years ago. Coming off a solid age 21 season in Low-A ball, Nationals GM Jim Bowden took Flores in the 2006 Rule 5 draft. Flores served his time in the Majors in '07 as Brian Schneider's backup, and by June of '08 he'd won the team's starting catcher job. In May of '09, a foul tip off the bat of Chris Young set in motion a major shoulder problem. The injury went from being labeled a bruise to a stress fracture to a torn labrum, resulting in September '09 surgery.
During Flores' long recovery, the Nationals signed Ivan Rodriguez, traded for Wilson Ramos, and saw major development from prospect Derek Norris. Now expendable for Washington, Flores is a great fit for an Astros club that can give him consistent at-bats with Castro out for the season with a torn ACL.
How about Taylor Teagarden? He’s not making the Rangers. Not sure about his option situation, but I feel like the Astros would be interested in him.
Texas is not trading Teagarden. He still have options and they still see him as a catcher for the future, otherwise the wouldn’t have extended Trainor and would’ve gone the season with Torrealba and Teagarden together.
And what would the Rangers get in return? It’d have to be Hunter Pence, pretty much.
I think you are overvaluing Teagarden, pretty much.
what is the source of teagarden’s value? he’s a 27 y/o prospect whose only standout performance was about 4 seasons ago. in the minors. at single-A
lol
NOOOOOOO, the nationals need to keep flores, trade pudge!! This just in, flores shoulder is still hurt, he cant play right now so astros, dont try and trade for him.
the nats have no need for him at this point especially if he isn’t healthy. If the astros are willing to take him, they are better off trying to get what they can for him.
I think Flores is close to as healthy as he’s going to be. He survived Winter Ball pretty well. Yes, they’d rather trade Pudge, but Flores probably has more value.
except for he really is healthy, so they should keep him
I like Flores, but they are deep with catching. Flores is the only (young) one with ML experience.
Why not sign Bengie Molina?
Because he is asking for more than he is worth… He wants $10MM a year! He is MAYBE $3MM a year… IF that.
Teagarden has one option remaining, I hope they don’t trade him I wanna watch him at Round Rock.
wandy for norris!!
How about David Ross straight up for Michael Bourn?
Actually, it’s kind of sad that I wouldn’t want the Braves pulling the trigger on that….
McLouth just homered, awesome.
Nationals would be looking for some starting pitching in return, wouldn’t be against dealing Flores at the right price. Bit of a logjam right now at SP with Hernandez, Zimmermann, Marquiz, Lannan, Gorzo, Detwiler, Maya, and Wang(when he’s healthy).
LUWahooNatFan! Why don’t we ever see you on Federal Baseball? Always see you at ESPN, but Federal Baseball is a much better Nats blog! BTW….I fully agree that the Nats would want a SP Prospect in return, and probably a top prospect at that. Who do you guys have, Astro fans, that would excite us over at NatsTown?
Unfortunately, our crop of pitching prospects is barren. Outside of Jordan Lyles, we have little talent that is close to major league ready. I would imagine he is untouchable. Do you need toolsy outfielders?
Let me make a quick call to Jim Bowden and see if he still wants toolsy outfielders.