Every team has regrets about giving up on a player who breaks out elsewhere, though in the Astros’ case, it’s a bit tougher to watch since Ramon Laureano is blossoming for a division rival, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle writes. Laureano (a 16th-round pick for the Astros in 2014) showed some flashes of potential over his first four pro seasons, though it wasn’t enough to make him part of Houston’s long-term plans, especially considering the organization’s outfield depth. “We loved him, it wasn’t a lack of affection for him, it was just that we ran out of a lot of opportunity for him,” manager A.J. Hinch said. Rather than protect Laureano in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft, the Astros instead dealt the outfielder to the Athletics in November 2017 for minor league righty Brandon Bailey.
After hitting well for Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate, Laureano got the call to the big leagues last August and hasn’t looked back. He has become the Athletics’ everyday center fielder thanks to both a potent bat (.284/.344/.469 over 215 career PA) and some excellent defense, including earning the nickname of “Laser Ramon” thanks to his powerful throwing arm. “I don’t think we quite had the defense rated as well as its played in the big leagues,” Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said. “That was an underassessment on our part….We had a feeling (Laureano) was going to be a pretty good big league player, but he’s gotten off to a faster start in his career than we thought. So, yeah, he’s one that I’d love to have back.”
Here’s more from the AL West…
- Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman left today’s game due to hamstring tightness, and MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan tweets that Guzman will receive an MRI to determine the severity of the problem. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News looks at the ripple effect that a potential Guzman IL stint would have on the Texas roster, including whether or not it would lead to top prospect Willie Calhoun receiving a promotion. Calling up Calhoun, however, would require Joey Gallo to be moved to first base, a move that Rangers manager Chris Woodward said he was hesitant to make, back in Spring Training. If not Calhoun, the Rangers could promote Patrick Wisdom or Matt Davidson, though Texas would have to clear a 40-man roster spot for Davidson.
- Elbow problems have delayed Andrew Heaney’s start to the season, and the Angels southpaw was open with his frustration about his continued injury woes in a conversation with Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register and other reporters. “I would love to be standing here telling you guys about my first start of the season and not (expletive) talking about injuries. Trust me. I don’t want to talk to you guys about this (expletive),” Heaney said. “But I’m trying to be honest, as honest as I can be with what I’m willing to put forth….I would love to scream from the mountaintops everything that’s going on, but it’s not going to help anybody.” Tommy John surgery kept Heaney out of action for much of the 2016-17 seasons, and he also experienced elbow soreness last spring before receiving a cortisone shot that seemed to solve the problem. Heaney went on to post a 4.15 ERA over 180 innings for the Angels, apparently putting his injury issues behind him before more soreness resurfaced during this year’s Spring Training. Once Heaney begins to feel better, it will still be some time before he is able to ramp up in order to rejoin the Halos’ rotation.
Best wishes for Heaney!
Let’s go Angel’s!!
Odd comments from Heandog though, at least the way I’m reading them. He’s obviously restricted in some way which makes me wonder exactly what hes unwilling to put forth and what it is he’d love to scream from the mountaintops…
Is it the Angels staff that is restricting him from throwing? Is there some insurance angle that’s preventing him from saying/doing more? Is he simply frustrated with his inability to contribute? I’m a big fan of the guy so I hope he can get right
Between their current crop of outfielders and players such as Laureano and much longer ago J.D. Martinez, they sure have drafted and/or developed several very good OF’ers over the last 6-8 years.
Don’t forget DeShields on the Rangers. I’d take anyone of those over Reddick
You are really undervaluing Reddick if you would take DeShields over him.
Laureano and Martinez, sure. But not DeShields. Reddick is much more valuable. I won’t be heartbroken if the Astros move Reddick this season in favor of Tucker, Alvarez, or a trade acquisition, but he’s good enough in this offense to stay IMO.
You guys are right. I’m just frustrated that he wasn’t playing at his 2017 form.
It’s weird how Oakland can do this with Laureano, but then after they do this they let their consensus best defensive prospect many years running, a 1st round draft pick, go to the Orioles in the Rule V over a 4th rd OF prospect that has not shown anything at all so far.
Infuriating I should say, infuriating not weird. Skye Bolt sucks, Richie Martin is going to have a long career. Beane had a terrible offseason, for real. You trade the guy you picked before Walker Buehler, not give him away for free.
Richie Martin is all glove no bat. I doubt Martin will be anything more than a couple years as a utility player. He has never played above AA. If the O’s were not such a bad team they would never have picked him in the rule 5 draft. He should be just starting AAA this year and hoping to learn to hit. I doubt martin will have a long career there are so many players like him with great glove but can’t hit.
Richie Martin is going to have a long career….as a defensive replacement, because that’s all he’s good for…that’s if his knees hold up, so far they haven’t.
Get a room you two, so you can discuss all the ways in that you are wrong.
It’s time for the Rangers to bring up Calhoun and see what he’s got. Deshields should be a 4th outfielder. He’s just not going to hit (grand slam not withstanding). He can’t steal first base…..
Calhoun is getting to the age where he needs MLB experience or to go over seas. He’s about 24 if I’m thinking of the right guy. I’ve proposed this before but what about allowing players to go over seas, earning themselves and their teams extra money, while the team retains rights but players earn MLB time for every game played. Depending on the age and league they could earn different amounts of service time. This solves alot of problems with players not getting to free agency until 30+ and getting little love at those ages. Players in the minors are only guaranteed $75,000 a year (great really) but below what many are worth, Korea, Japan, Tawain, and even China, Italy and others. Obviously it would have to have rules to keep teams from just stashing players they’d otherwise lose over seas. Alot of players would benefit from this. I’d like to hear feedback on this.
Most of those Asian leagues are only allowed to carry a couple foreigners on their roster
Every player gets better when they leave the Astros organization.
Probably because they’re great at drafting. Lots of players get better when they join the Astros too
That’s a scary thought then considering the talent they’ve got on the team
Joey Gallo is just seeing benefits from his batting approach. He is playing a good Left Field with a strong arm. He is not a 1st baseman. That move would disrupt his efforts at the plate choosing good pitches to swing at throwing his concentration to 1st base. Seen Calhoun several times, he is not big league ready. Since 1st base will be temporary till Guzman is ready, bring a veteran back up to play the position.
i understand Heany’s frustration. but i too as a fan an frustrated. it’s time the Angels’ seriously evaluate how much longer they plan to let guys who can’t hang continue to hang onto the roster.