The Astros announced this afternoon they’ve acquired righty Spenser Watkins from the Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land. Baltimore receives cash in return. Houston also selected outfielder Bligh Madris onto the big league roster, as previously reported. In order to create 40-man roster space, they transferred Michael Brantley and José Urquidy to the 60-day injured list.
Watkins has had a tough year in Triple-A. He’s started six of eight games and worked to a 7.27 ERA through 26 innings. The former 30th-round pick has a modest 15.7% strikeout percentage and has walked a lofty 13.4% of opponents. Watkins has kept the ball on the ground at a massive 55.3% clip, but the strikeout and walk numbers and overall ERA pushed him off Baltimore’s 40-man roster on Tuesday.
The Astros will take a change of scenery flier to add some experienced rotation depth to the upper minors. Injuries to Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia and Urquidy have pushed depth arms J.P. France and Ronel Blanco into the rotation. Brandon Bielak and Bryan Garcia are the most experienced Triple-A starters, so Watkins is a sensible acquisition.
Now 30, Watkins has appeared in two big league seasons with the O’s. He’s made 30 starts in 39 outings, posting a 5.85 ERA across 160 frames. Watkins hasn’t missed many bats, but he’d walked just under 7% of opponents at the MLB level. He had a quality 6.1% walk percentage in Triple-A last season.
His control has been erratic this season, but his broader track record is that of a strike-throwing depth arm. This is Watkins’ final minor league option year; the Astros can keep him in Triple-A for the rest of the season but would have to carry him on next year’s Opening Day roster if he holds his 40-man spot until then.
Brantley’s and Urquidy’s IL moves are procedural transactions. Brantley has already been on the IL for well past 60 days as he works back from last summer’s shoulder surgery. Urquidy landed on the shelf on May 1 with discomfort in his throwing shoulder. He’s not expected to return until next month.
Robert Murray of FanSided first reported the Astros’ acquisition of Watkins.
If Tampa Bay got this dude, I’d be worried. Houston? Hand this man a soggy toothpick
It’s a good thing that the guy chomping toothpicks doesn’t actually manage pitching.
I’m sure you’re correct, a manager has no decisions on who pitches.
Just like the manager of Burger King has no decisions on what they serve. C’mon, they all have input
Burger King managers don’t decide what they serve. I’d be surprised if they let them schedule shifts.
Great, another American capitalist with his head up his whopper…
What is that even supposed to mean?
If someone needs to explain this to you, I hope you have someone to hold your hand when you cross the street
I think what Curly means is, in this capitalistic society, you can have it your way even if it means your pin head is up your whopper of a bun.
DC, always good to have you backing me up (don’t read that the wrong way). Overall, I’m just happy Burger king doesn’t have those obnoxious fat headed Burger King d-bag ads anymore. Now we just have to struggle through the Lume ads.
My comment is awaiting moderation, really?
Okay, how does that have anything to do with the discussion at hand?
It’s just more of Curly bloviating his way to the top of the non sequitur leaderboard.
MuleorAstroMule, You do realize using words like “bloviating” and “Mule” can be misconstrued as provocative, n’est pas?
What’s he need a sequitur anyway? He’s not on a jury.
Anyway, Curl’s work is impressionistic with a knack for imagery and cultural referencing.
From soggy toothpicks to cranial enemas, his point his both cogent and poetic.
Aw shucks, DC-I don’t deserve that
Did you appreciate my use of the French language on my previous post? Just like the French, I’m willing to concede, especially at times of war…
Nobody else has the Gaul to sling that French around in here like you, Curlytop!!
Very Nice indeed!
I Resemble That Remark
Gaul/French
It’s an educated poster we’re all after.
If I. am short on my rent, the French owe me (but who is keeping track)?
Not taking any sides, just saying DC missed a prime opportunity to use
*de Gaulle
So telling me my head is up my arse is cogent and poetic?
Forgive me if my standards have progressed since I was in grade four. But you guys do your little tug circle of nonsense.
Vous essayez desesperement de paraitre intelligent. N’est pas?
LOL Stros have best team ERA in baseball. If anyone can fix a pitcher it’s the Stros. Look at the track record of pitcher success – Morton, Cole, Verlander, Pressly etc – all were good before they got there, improved quite a bit and pitched lights out with the Stros, and not as good after leaving with Pressly still around. But in this case unless the guy throws flames or has a unique pitch I’m not sure there is much joy
Verlander was hitting 99 in the 8th inning of a game just before being traded to Houston. Are you seriously going to give them the credit for Verlander’s subsequent greatness?!
Yes.
It is widely reported that just after the trade the Astros pitching organization and Verlander had a meeting
The result was a significant change to his pitch usage.
Reducing some pitches increasing others and changing when he used all of them.
(Same thing with Cole)
That has nothing to do with how fast he was throwing
Go look up Verlander’s record, ERA and 2 Cy Young’s in Houston vs what he did in Detroit. Huge difference
He did well, but not a “huge difference.” And he was not “broken” as you falsely claim.
OK, but the OP is dismissing the years and years of dominance by Verlander. The Astros didn’t “fix” Verlander since he was not broken.
Meh
This guy always felt “fixable”… and it would seem like he fell to an almost ideal team/scenario for his resurrection?
Thought Stros would deal with Os but not for pitching help. First base issues!? O’Hearn to Stros?
Stuck with Abreu and $60M over 3 years. He could still come around given his track record. Right now he is a big guy with a fashionable goatee that swings like a little girl.
Oof!
We have no reason to help the stros out with Ryan Ohearn. He’s going to be helping us win games.
Trade O’Hearn while he’s hot. Urias, Santander and Hicks take turns at first. Also, trade Mountcastle.
Watkins looked okay at times in 2022 but would get into modes where would give up several hits in a row. Sometimes this happened the second time through the order, and other times it was an early game issue. So he just seems like a guy who can be very hittable and susceptible to big innings.
Spenser for hire?
I am just curious how front offices zero in on certain candidates. It seems like there are 40 or 50 different versions of Spencer Watkins floating around out there to be had just for cash considerations. Why this particular Spencer Watkins??? Must be on some whim of some scout who felt a warm twinge watching him pitch one night in Triple-A.
Does anyone know how much cash is usually involved in these minor player for cash deals? $500?
Typically $500k, or less.
Astros are now dumpster-diving
I think every team is going to be dumpster-diving at least once until the seller’s market takes actual shape at the deadline. Everyone is holding their cards real close to their chest this year.
It’s like the market seems to flip to harm Texas. It’s a seller’s market when the Rangers are buyers. On the flip side, they could have gotten more (at the time) in perceived value for Gallo, though that trade already seems great. Imagine a Duran for Johan Duran/Alexis Diaz trade! That would make up for the Gallo deal. Who knows, I guess?
I’m confused, why would the Astros want this guy? He’s terrible and not young.
With the enormous increase in pitching injuries due to max effort throwing all the time, pitching depth is tough to find.
Any Stros fans wishing crane and click clicked ?
No, but I wish Bagwell and Crane hadn’t.
Watkins was a competent depth starter last year. I mean the stros are incredibly thin in upper level depth. It doesn’t hurt to add him for cash. Most likely won’t amount to anything but you never know. He might give them a handful of decent starts like he did for the O’s.
Javier might be hurt. Feels like an emergency move.