Should the Astros Trade For Yoenis Cespedes?

According to multiple sources, the Boston Red Sox are more than willing to trade Yoenis Cespedes this winter; could the Astros possibly make a move for him before the start of next season? A career .263/.316/.414 hitter over his three years in the league, Cespedes is far and away a more established option to roam left of Minute Maid Park next year over any in-house option currently on the roster. A right handed hitter with a beautiful power stroke that could make short work of Landry’s Crawford Boxes, evident by his 22 home runs in an even 600 at bats this past season.

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Robbie Grossman, L.J. Hoes, and Jake Marisnick spent the majority of the time in left field for the Astros this past season. While both Grossman and Marisnick showed flashes of their potential neither did enough to lock up the position going forward. Hoes has been nothing short of a disappointment since coming over from Baltimore in the Bud Norris trade, never living up to his potential in Houston.

While the Red Sox have been open to the idea of trading Cespedes, it will take a rather large package to bring that kind of talent into Houston. But I imagine a deal centered around Jon Singleton would be more than enough to get Cespedes in our beloved blue and orange.

To most fans it would leave a nasty taste in their mouth to see the Astros trade away Singleton with all the hype around his superstar potential, however he still only slashed .168/.285/.335 in 310 at bats this past season. While he did show flashes of his power potential with 13 home runs, he never improved as the season went on. While the sample size is still relatively small, the lack of adjustment to major league pitching is a little concerning, still the Red Sox should be salivating at the idea of bringing in Singleton, with David Ortiz on the final stretch of his career Singleton would be a more than solid replacement.

Word is spreading that the Red Sox could make Cespedes available. He will earn $10.2 million in the final year of his deal.

I realize the Astros have already committed long term into Singleton, but I for one would be willing to see the Astros part ways to bring in Cespedes. And I also realize that Cespedes turned 29 last month while Singleton is still just the ripe age of 23, but still Cespedes is a borderline once in a generation talent that just cannot be passed up. And with newly drafted, Golden Spikes winner A.J. Reed working his way quickly up the minor league ladder, it seems like Reed is on the way to becoming the first baseman of the future.

Of course it will take a lot more than just a straight trade, of Singleton and with a plethora of high end pitching talent throughout the farm, the Astros are fortunate enough to be able to part ways with a prospect such as Vincent Velasquez and not miss a beat. Currently the Astros 8^th best prospect, Velasquez finished the year with a 3.52 ERA over 64.0 innings across two levels. With a solid number 2 or 3 starter on a contender it would be tough to see him go, but that is the price to pay.

And while it would still probably take another fringe top 20 prospect along with a player to be named later would round off the trade, which all considered is quite a steep load, but for a team looking to contend in the near future a bona fide stud would help push them into contention with the other top AL West teams. With a new TV deal on the horizon what a big splash it would be for fans to see Cespedes in a Houston jersey come opening day, Jeff Lunhow… if you’re out there, make this happen.