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Tucker, Valdez and Bregman among Astro’s top business assets

Theo

The Houston Astros just completed their most impressive series of the 2024 season, beating the Baltimore Orioles 27-13 in three games. This series brings the Astros’ record close to .500, at 38-40, and lifts them to within six games of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West standings. The fact that the Orioles are the second best team in the American League is icing on the cake.

The Astros have had a bit of a run here, winning five in a row, including three against an elite team like the Orioles. Astro fans’ feelings have changed 180 degrees since the Astros were shut out by the White Sox to start last week’s series in Chicago. If you don’t believe me, check out the poll below, taken last Wednesday, in which 68% of you were ready to tear everything down:

Fast forward to Monday morning, and now just over 20% of you still feel the same way:

Hey, I’m not here to judge. That’s the life of a fan, especially a fan of a team as schizophrenic as the 2024 Houston Astros. One week you’re ready to sell out, and the next week you’ve pitched your gangster and you are ready to buy, buy, BUY!

That said, the point of this article is not to dampen the positivity we’re all feeling as the weekend ends. The purpose of this article is to remind you that, with this team, we are five bad days away from returning to SELL mode. So I suggest you not only read this article, but also bookmark it for reference, if indeed the feelings become angry again.

While many Astro fans have their shopping list for pitching help and a first baseman, I will, as a precaution, sort the current Astros players into tiers, based on quality of a return they would command, if the Astros decided to do so. had to go into “sell” mode. Additionally, I’m going to categorize them in very understandable language: menu items at a high-end steakhouse, with the most expensive cuts of meat commanding the highest price (i.e. more hopes of minor league!). Here we go:

THE JIM CRANE STEAKHOUSE MENU

Wagyu Beef – KYLE TUCKER
Wagyu beef is generally the most expensive cut at a good steakhouse, still noticeably more expensive than your more conventional excellent-but-not-wagyu cuts. That’s Tucker, who has one year of team control remaining on his contract after 2024, and was playing at an MVP level before fouling his shin on June 3. If the Astros dare to move Tucker, it’s not the worst. idea since he’s probably gone after 2025, he should bring back at least three, maybe four good prospects in return.

Porterhouse 48 ounces – FRAMBER VALDEZ
Valdez is in the same contract situation as Tucker, with one more year of arbitration remaining after 2024, and as of late, Valdez is looking more like the version of himself who was supposed to start in the All Star Game a year ago. Pitching is still a premium, and Valdez would command close to what the Astros might seek in a Tucker trade.

16 oz New York Strip – ALEX BREGMAN, JUSTIN VERLANDER (if healthy)
Both Bregman and Verlander are excellent players with slight flaws that hurt their trade value. For Bregman, it’s about his contract, which expires after this season. He would be a real rental, even though he has exceptional playoff experience. For Verlander, he’s in his second stint on the IL as we speak, so it’s tough to count out a 41-year-old guy with a spotty injury history. Additionally, Verlander has a “no-trade” clause, so he would have to approve where the Astros send him.

Shrimp cocktail – every pen arm (even you, JOSH HADER)
There should be no bullpen arms out of bounds, if the Astros go into “sell” mode. Again, if they compete, I wouldn’t trade ANY of these guys. However, if the Astros fall out of contention, even Hader, whose value is likely blunted somewhat by his exorbitant contract, should be a talking point.

Fried squid – JAKE MEYERS, CHAS McCORMICK, MAURICIO DUBON
These three are guys who could offer you a mid-level prospect, although Dubon’s positional versatility should probably put him in the “fried calamari with a side of grilled octopus” category (Delicious! You should try it !).

OFF THE MENU – YORDAN ALVAREZ, HUNTER BROWN, JOSE ALTUVE, JEREMY PENA, YAINER DIAZ
These are the five “untouchable” players on the Astros. If you are an opposing GM, you can try ordering “off the menu”, but chances are you will be snubbed and these items are not available for consumption. Alvarez is one of the best hitters in baseball and has a team-friendly contract through 2028. Hunter Brown has been one of the best pitchers in the AL over the last month or so, and with his salary good market, this is the type of player. you are trying to ACQUIRE in one of these offers. Ditto Pena and Diaz, two productive young players, who haven’t even reached arbitration yet. Finally, Altuve is a franchise legend, with a no-trade clause, who wants to finish his career as an Astro. These five are banned.

Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6-10 a.m. weekdays. Also follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergaston Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.

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