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Astros’ Jeff Luhnow On Rotation, Bullpen, Catcher

By Connor Byrne | July 22, 2019 at 10:41pm CDT

The Astros trounced the division-rival Athletics on Monday to up their lead in the American League West to 7 1/2 games. With the AL’s second-best record (65-37), Houston doesn’t need much outside help, but general manager Jeff Luhnow is unsurprisingly considering upgrades as the July 31 trade deadline nears. Luhnow on Monday discussed a couple areas the Astros may be able to improve by the deadline. Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle was among those to cover his comments (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3).

As was the case two-plus weeks ago, Luhnow remains open to bolstering his team’s staff with “a playoff rotation starter.”  However, as things stand, Luhnow believes the club “can win a seven-game series against any playoff team right now.” The Astros already have a built-in advantage going into a potential playoff series with superstars Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole atop their rotation. Soft-tossing lefty Wade Miley is a lot less exciting than either Verlander or Cole, but Miley has turned in a quality season in his own right. The rest of the Astros’ rotation is far less certain, though, especially with injured No. 4 starter Brad Peacock likely out until at least mid-August with shoulder problems.

The Astros’ rotation has handed off to a bullpen that’s currently devoid of a left-hander, which is something Luhnow could find in the coming days. But Luhnow isn’t discriminating based on a reliever’s handedness.

“(In the) bullpen, we think about the best relievers — we don’t care if they’re left or right — and being a good reliever in this league means you have to get both sides out,” he said. “We’re not really looking for a lefty specialist or a reliever just cause he’s a lefty.” 

It’s worth noting that several of the Astros’ most notable relievers (Roberto Osuna, Ryan Pressly, Will Harris, Hector Rondon and Collin McHugh) have neutralized lefties this year despite lacking the platoon advantage. In all, the Astros’ bullpen has been a top-notch unit, ranking third in ERA, fourth in K/BB ratio and eighth in FIP.

Houston hasn’t been as fortunate behind the plate, where its catchers have combined for a meager 0.8 fWAR. Offseason pickup Robinson Chirinos started the year at a breakneck pace, but despite a three-hit game Monday, his production has plummeted in recent weeks. Furthermore, he’s not a well-regarded defensive option. As a light-hitting defensive maven, backup Max Stassi represents Chirinos’ polar opposite. Stassi has been borderline unplayable because of his toothless bat this year, though, which may have played a part in the Astros’ recent interest in Martin Maldonado. He’s now unavailable, having gone from the Royals to the Cubs in a trade last week, but the Astros haven’t stopped checking a thin market for catchers.

“We are also looking at the market and seeing if there’s an upgrade available,” Luhnow said of the position. “But it would mean one of the two guys we have now would not be on this team. We have to consider that pretty carefully.”
Neither Chirinos nor Stassi can simply be sent to the minors (not that the former’s even a candidate). Stassi, seemingly the player who will be in greater danger of losing his job in the event the Astros add a catcher, is out of options.
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38 comments
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Comments

  1. slash78

    2 years ago

    They need a catcher? How about Vogt for Kyle Tucker?

    Like
    Reply
    • jbigz12

      2 years ago

      Sure, let’s do Whitley and Bukauskas for Joe Panik while we’re at it.

      Like
      Reply
    • OrangeCrushCity

      2 years ago

      They wouldn’t give up Tucker for Realmuto. No way they’re giving him up for Vogt.

      Like
      Reply
      • 24TheKid

        2 years ago

        Are you sure?

        Like
        Reply
        • rerogers

          2 years ago

          No kidding. Sounds like a great deal.

          Like
          Reply
    • jorge78

      2 years ago

      Sarcasm!

      1 Like
      Reply
  2. warwhatisitgoodfor

    2 years ago

    I smell a Leake and Elias package deal coming

    Like
    Reply
    • jbigz12

      2 years ago

      Neither one of them makes the Astros better. Mike Leake isn’t starting a playoff game. And Roenis elias sucks. MLBTR writes a piece about the guy and M’s fans can’t wait to unload him on every team. The guy has a 4.94 FIP and is giving up 1.7 Hr/9. There’s at least 7 better lefties on the trade market.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • 24TheKid

        2 years ago

        If it weren’t for a Tim Beckham missed pop up that for some reason was ruled a hit, his ERA would be below 4 currently.

        1 Like
        Reply
        • jbigz12

          2 years ago

          He’s still letting 1.7 Hr/9 leave the yard and that has absolutely nothing to do w defense. Neither do the 3.5 Bb/9. Or the .327 xWOBA that actually lags his current .317 Woba.

          Absolutely nothing special there. Other than the fact that he’s one of the best relievers in a terrible bullpen.

          2 Like
          Reply
  3. spencer99

    2 years ago

    Wilson Ramos or James McCann?

    Like
    Reply
    • BartoloHRball

      2 years ago

      Those were the first two realistic names I thought of too. Ramos + $2m could work. I’d love for the Mets to move him because the staff just hasn’t meshed with him.

      Like
      Reply
  4. gavilan

    2 years ago

    san diego has 3 catchers.

    Like
    Reply
    • boo rad

      2 years ago

      Debatable…

      Like
      Reply
  5. GoRav114

    2 years ago

    Pedro Severino probably could be had cheap. He’s cost efficient and has remaining control. Been average to above on both sides of the ball. Previously highly rated. Orioles can bring up Wynns to replace him. Maybe even a package of Givens and Severino. Elias knows Houston’s system well enough to not require top guys.

    Like
    Reply
  6. rerogers

    2 years ago

    What happened to Evan Gattis? sub par catcher but league average hitter with pop

    Like
    Reply
    • Stanley

      2 years ago

      Gattis is a pure DH and has not play since last year

      Like
      Reply
  7. jb19

    2 years ago

    I think the Astros have their eyes on a SP that no one has considered yet. I don’t think their top prospects are on the table… adding Correa later this month will be a major addition. The catcher can bat .200 and this lineup can still produce many, many runs… Tyler White was a regular on this team the past month for goodness sake!

    Like
    Reply
    • jimmyz

      2 years ago

      Unless they can get a SP that they like with years of control to help mitigate Cole and Verlander’s near term departure I think they should go after Felipe Vazquez.

      Like
      Reply
      • Astromariner

        2 years ago

        Cole is a free agent after this season, yes, but Verlander is locked up through 2021.

        Like
        Reply
  8. TrimReaper

    2 years ago

    When Houston asks for Stroman, and they should, Jays can throw in Maile. Can’t hit a lick, can defend. Won’t be an added cost in a potential deal.

    Like
    Reply
    • astrosfan4life

      2 years ago

      The Astros already have a catcher who can’t hit but has great defense in Stassi.

      Like
      Reply
  9. jorge78

    2 years ago

    Jeff is starting to look more and more like old papa Joe Kennedy…..

    Like
    Reply
  10. GarryHarris

    2 years ago

    The Astros have 30 year old Lorenzo Quintana from Cuba in their MiLB. He’s an extreme free swinger but with good power; not good at throwing out runners.

    Like
    Reply
  11. stroh

    2 years ago

    I think they will add a starter – if they do it will be someone controllable given Cole will be a free agent next year. A lefty reliever is probably the next biggest priority. I think catcher is less so, but if there is a veteran upgrade to Stassi who can be had for a reasonable price they’ll go for it.

    Like
    Reply
    • OrangeCrushCity

      2 years ago

      I don’t think they care much about handedness. “Lefty reliever” has supposedly been on the shopping list for years but they never seem to bother getting one. They just keep adding guys that can get batters out on both sides of the plate.

      Like
      Reply
  12. Freddie Morales

    2 years ago

    Astros should just ante up and go get Syndergaard from the Mets. They will make him back into the unstoppable force he was. Verlander, Cole, Thor starting a series is just unfair.

    Like
    Reply
    • BartoloHRball

      2 years ago

      Syndergaard with an organization with quality pitching coaches AND a solid foundation of scouting, development, and leadership…must be nice because the Mets are a dumpster fire on a runaway train, with no awareness that they are the one (ownership) that ultimately are causing their biggest problems. As a diedhard Mets fan I’d hate to see Syn leave, but the Astros have the kind of prospects that would make the trade palatable.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • anguyener32

        2 years ago

        Also the mets scouts were at our triple A game yesterday where framber valdez started so maybe there’s something between us and the mets.

        1 Like
        Reply
      • stroh

        2 years ago

        I would love for the Stros to get Syndergaard. He’s the only one on the market that’s worth Tucker.

        Like
        Reply
    • Astromariner

      2 years ago

      As an Astros fan, I’d be completely fine giving up Tucker, Valdez and a few others for Syndergaard.

      Like
      Reply
      • astrosfan4life

        2 years ago

        I don’t like it, but I’d do it too.

        Like
        Reply
  13. thomasg2018

    2 years ago

    He is in a dream world if he thinks he has the pitching to win the WS.

    Like
    Reply
    • victorg

      2 years ago

      I mean the 17 team won the WS without a closer and WO cole so I would not say he is in a dream world this team is arguably better then the 17 team.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Miamisunset80

        2 years ago

        Yes, I agree, but I’d love another starter.

        Like
        Reply
    • Strosfn79

      2 years ago

      Clearly they would be more comfortable with another high quality starter.

      But this team has better pitching than many recent World series teams

      Like
      Reply
      • Strosfn79

        2 years ago

        Being very conservative:
        Verlander games 1 and 5
        Cole games 2 and 6 ( on extra rest)
        Miley games 3 and 7

        Astros win 4 of those 6 games 90% of the time vs almost all the teams.

        Like
        Reply
    • a-a-a-astros

      2 years ago

      This staff has the 3rd lowest ERA and lowest WHIP. Yes they can win.

      Like
      Reply

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