The depth of the Astros’ rotation suffered a blow Friday with the loss of right-hander Corbin Martin, who underwent Tommy John surgery. Not only is the 23-year-old done for 2019, but Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Martin is likely to sit out a “significant portion” of next season (via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). Martin’s absence will cost the Astros a hurler they thought would factor into their rotation in 2020, according to Luhnow.
While Luhnow added that the loss of Martin doesn’t affect the Astros’ plans leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, he admitted that “it could make getting a pitcher with an extra year of control more appealing.”
Owing in part to Martin’s injury, the Astros will head into 2020 with some uncertainty in their rotation. Ace Justin Verlander will stick around, Brad Peacock could either continue to start or return to the Astros’ bullpen, and Lance McCullers Jr. should be back from a Tommy John procedure of his own. On the other hand, though, co-ace Gerrit Cole might depart for a mega-deal in free agency, which would be an enormous shot to Houston’s rotation. Southpaw Wade Miley, who’s been an effective starter for the Astros this year, and righty Collin McHugh are also scheduled to reach the open market.
Even after seeing Martin go down, the Astros still have promising young pitchers who could earn spots on their 2020 staff, with Forrest Whitley, Josh James and J.B. Bukauskas among them. But if the AL West leaders want a more established starter to aid in their World Series push this year and take a spot next season, their solution could come via trade this month.
The Astros had already been connected to the Tigers’ Matthew Boyd in the rumor mill prior to the news on Martin. The 28-year-old Boyd’s a breakout left-hander who’s controllable through 2022, which makes him one of the coveted trade candidates available as the 31st nears. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News added more fuel to the fire Friday, tweeting Houston has “been one of the teams scouting Boyd hard.”
Like Boyd, Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman stands out as an obvious trade chip who’d further a team’s cause past this season. The Astros have reportedly had interest in Stroman, who’s under control through 2020, for multiple seasons. In light of Luhnow’s comments, Stroman may be an even more realistic possibility for the Astros.
Time for a fire sale.
It says Luhnow discusses Astros rotation but he only said two words and half a sentence. what a gyp. I want my money back.
And here’s the angry ranger fan. Still bitter about Cruz not catching that fly ball in game 6 back in 2011. I get more and more enjoyment from our championship in 2017 when I see your comments!
Boyd for Tucker and Nova
Stroman for Bukauskas/Abreu/Beer
If those are the options, its Stroman all the way. Detroit fans/Astros haters are insane with this Boyd demand stuff.
I do not hate the Astros. They are fun to watch.
Why are we Astro Haters? I’ve never gotten that impression.
Not saying Detroit fans are Astro haters. Saying that both Detroit fans AND Astro haters are insane on the boyd trade demand.
I see thanks for the clarification. I thought maybe you were thinking Detroit fans were angry about the trade. Most Detroit fans I talk to (me included) saw the trade as a necessary evil but were thrilled JV went on to get his ring. We were all pulling for the Stros.
Lolz away with you
So if Hou gives up Tucker for Boyd are you guys going to doubt their FO or realize there just might be something to this Boyd breakout?
I predict Philly gives up Bohm in a deal for Boyd so not sure Hou will get a 2nd chance to get Boyd like they were fortunate in JV
Doubt that. Maybe Haseley. Phillies really need a CF and a 3B long term so I’m not sold on that either. They aren’t exactly well stocked with positional player prospect depth. Haseley and Bohm fill their future needs.
They refused to give up Tucker for Verlander, so it’s pretty much common sense that they won’t give him up for Boyd. One’s a future Hall of famer, and one’s an unproven commodity in a quasi breakout season. Sure he has excellent K/BB ratio, but his ERA is rising and he is regressing back to earth and giving up HRs at a high clip.
I can see them getting Boyd w/o moving Tucker and still believing in the Boyd breakout. does that count?
Yes in your hypothetical situation it would count but sorry giving up prospects you do not mind giving up will not get Boyd.
… and Derek Fisher and Kyle Tucker are sure bets? I prefer Myles Straw, Joshua Rojas and Seth Beer to either of them.
I propose Jose Urquidy, Rojas and Beer for Matthew Boyd.
There was a good amount of money owed to Verlander even after they offset the deal with cash that there was always going to be less prospect capital coming back (both in amount and talent) for Verlander. Tigers paid $8M of the $22M that was owed.
Boyd will be far less expensive in arbitration than that, for a very controllable lefty. You might just have to give up your other, other golden child for him.
If that was the true cost differential the Stros and every team except perhaps the Pirates would buy Stroman over Boyd.
I feel like Madison Bumgarner is the option for the stros he’s a one year guy and after they make a run they can figure out what they got during free agency and they still have tucker Whitley and Alvarez plus have money to resign Cole and springer without worrying about arbitration from Boyd or Marcus stroman
I wouldn’t be opposed for the right price. Unfortunately he’s a significant risk at this juncture and Stroman or Boyd is a much safer bet for solid performance. A good trade hurts both teams, but he could be the biggest overpay in trade this season.
I don’t understand this Boyd hype. I don’t see Lunhow moving Tucker for him, and if the Jays want multiple prospects for Strohman, they can keep him IMO. Bukauskus for either one + a secondy piece should be enough to land either.
BB has some potential but has been real bad as a pro so far and is nowhere near a centerpiece in any trade for Boyd imo.
For once, I agree with you. Detroit laughs at Bukauskas as a center piece.
They should make a strong offer for deGrom.
I prefer Thor, and he’d cost less, but either works for me.
is BVW dumb enough to trade Degrom? is it possible we could get him w/o giving up Tucker, Whitley, Alvarez, or Beer?
Can you get a star SP without giving up any of your best prospects?
If you propose a trade for someone real good and it does not hurt you the pieces you give up it is very likely your proposed trade is not close to fair and has no chance of happening imo.
I like your premise. So do you believe any of the trades made by the Tigers were close to fair. Did the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Angels, and Astro’s feel the pain with who they traded to the Tigers over last couple of years?
I think the Cubs and Astros were pained to lose who they lost at the time of the trade yes.
Angels were just pained with taking on Uptons potential 100M if he did not opt out.
Arizona was not pained but that was for a rental corner OF in JD.
Luhnow thought the prospects would step into the rotation. Luhnow thought McHugh would be a good SP. Luhnow thought Morton wasn’t worth a QO.
Luhnow knew that the AL West is weak and even if he was wrong about everything above, his team would still run away with the division.
He’ll get a decent #4. Price to be determined later.
Luhnow also thought JV and Cole could be aces again. The critique is a bit harsh even if he botched the Morton decision. you’re going to have a hard time getting sympathy from anyone with the quality of management the Astros have.
Luhnow passed on trading for JV actually. Luhnow did not put a claim on JV that August as well. It took a hot August by JV added to the backlash he got from fans and the team itself for not doing more to help the team on 7-31 for him to give up prospects for JV.
I expect no sympathy from other teams. It’s just interesting that Luhnow has been so disinterested in adding outside arms this year.
He also hasn’t given up a major prospect since Hader, at least none that the Astros miss. It’s interesting, to me at least.
Hader wasn’t a major prospect at that time either.
Hader was #8 in 2014 in the Houston farm system, and rising up until the 2015 trade. I believe he got as high as 6th at one point. That’s major enough.
Brett Phillips was the major prospect Lunhow dealt in that deal, Harder was the 2nd piece.
As a Cardinals fan , our
Lunhow for Mo, straight up any day
And I’d even be willing to say Santana was the second piece. Either way it was a great haul for Milwaukee.
Not sure he botched the Morton decision. We all love Charlie Morton but he’s prone to injury and is clearly on the backside of a resurgence in his career. Shoulder issues can be persnickety and there was legitimate concern that he would pitch well during most of the season but possibly not be available for a post season contribution as happened last year. That being said, most Astros fans wish him all the best. We’d have never won a WS without him.
I think both Morton and McCann wanted to go play closer to home, which is why both are gone.
I heard that Morton was surprised he never even got a call from the Astros before he signed with Tampa
He got an offer Tampa’s was better.
If the Astros are interested in a player…it’s probably good reason. The single best development staff in all levels of baseball sees things others don’t.
Hard to argue that. I’m surprised they haven’t been connected to Wheeler yet. A rental would be cheaper and quite frankly I think Boyd and Wheeler is a toss up for ROS performance. Boyd has stronger K numbers but Wheeler’s are solid as well—He has the velocity.K numbers and solid walk total that you’d look for. It all depends on what Detroit’s ultimate ask is and if you believe Boyd’s Hr issues aren’t fixable. If the cost is prohibitively high I’m certainly going to pivot to Wheeler.
they are valuing pitchers with more control than just ROS.. did you even read the article?
Sorry buddy. Didn’t realize they had to acquire a long term option. If the cost of a controllable starter is too high take a guess where they might pivot?
Unless Tucker is included in a Boyd deal, The Tigers will look elsewhere!! Astros need a cost controlled pitcher since Cole will be getting a ton via Free agency!!