An Inside Look at Astros Offseason Through Luhnow’s Eyes

September 6, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow before the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

At Astros Fan Fest 2015, the local bloggers who cover the Houston Astros were invited to a bloggers round table. We were given 30 minutes each with Astros President Reid Ryan, GM Jeff Luhnow, and new manager A.J. Hinch. During Jeff Luhnow’s interview, he gave a breakdown of the Astros offseason through his eyes.

Some of the Astros fan base have been critical of some of the Astros transactions this season. The biggest criticism has come from trading Dexter Fowler and signing Colby Rasmus to replace him. Hopefully some of this will clarify his thinking behind the moves. If it doesn’t, it’s ok, because he has a “thick skin.”

Jeff Luhnow stated that “it’s been a fairly active offseason so far and definitely my busiest since joining the Astros” Here are the Astros offseason transactions that Luhnow summarized in his offseason State of the Union recap. Luhnow on…

• Hank Conger
• Will Harris
• Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek
• Jed Lowrie
• Evan Gattis and James Hoyt
• Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily
• Colby Rasmus

Next: Luhnow on...Hank Conger

Luhnow on…Hank Conger

Sep 10, 2014; The Panda Crusher will crush some beats and home runs. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The first thing that Luhnow talked about was the Hank Conger trade and how it was probably a “potentially confusing move” for most fans as to why the Astros added the third catcher. “You have to have at least three major league ready catchers in case of injuries.” He stressed that “you can’t judge an offseason or understand an offseason until it is over. This was the first of many moves this offseason.”

“you can’t judge an offseason or understand an offseason until it is over.”-Jeff Luhnow.

He said he had conversations with Angels GM Jerry Dipoto in the past about Conger, even last year around the trade deadline as they tried to acquire Conger. The Angels said he was not available at that moment, but that changed during a game that the Astros played against the Angels.

“What made them change their mind was when they saw Nick (Tropeano) pitch against the Angels in September.”-Jeff Luhnow.

“What made them change their mind was when they saw Nick (Tropeano) pitch against the Angels in September. They felt like this was a type of guy who could fit in the back of their rotation” Luhnow said. “Now suddenly we had something they wanted as bad as we wanted Hank.”

“Now suddenly we had something they wanted as bad as we wanted Hank.”-Jeff Luhnow.

The deal happened pretty quickly after the mutual desires came to light. Jeff said that Astros fans will grow to like Hank, not only as a baseball player, but as a person. “He’s a real character.”

“In the offseason he works as a DJ, he goes by the name Panda Crusher!”

Luhnow also said that he has received 4-5 calls from GM’s asking about Conger. The Astros will have “El Oso Blanco” and “Panda Crusher” on the team.

So Jeff, I think we need to change “the Crawford Boxes” to “the Bear Den”!

Next: Luhnow on...Will Harris

Luhnow on…Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek

uSep 14, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Will Gregerson be saving games for the Astros in 2015?  Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Luhnow did acknowledge that the Astros were after Andrew Miller, Sergio Romo, and David Robertson. “We lost out on Miller heading into the winter meetings, we were glad that was resolved, then we could focus on other avenues,” Luhnow said. “A shortlist of relievers for us to look at…We had to decide what combination we wanted, one or two players that we could acquire.”

“We lost out on Miller heading into the winter meeting, we were glad that was resolved, then we could focus on other avenues”-Jeff Luhnow.

Luhnow said that when the opportunities arose to get both Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek in one swoop, they jumped on it. In fact, Luhnow described the situation where one agent was supposed to come up to the Astros suite at 10:00 pm and the other at 10:45 pm, both agents ended up riding in the elevator at the same time.

Oct 6, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Pat Neshek (37) pitches during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

The agents quickly figured out that the Astros were going to sign both relievers. “It could have been an awkward situation, but it was kind of interesting. The players knew each other as well as the agents knew each other.” They celebrated the double signing with a champagne toast. Don’t worry; they did sign the contracts on opposite sides of the suite.

“It could have been an awkward situation, but it was kind of interesting.”-Jeff Luhnow.

“Chad Qualls could not have been better or more cooperative or more helpful. He has played with both those players” Luhnow said. Qualls was very unselfish and jumped in to help recruit Gregerson and Neshek. Instead of caring about losing saves to one or both of them, “Qualls cared about having a winning team.”

“Chad Qualls could not have been better or more cooperative or more helpful. He has played with both those players”-Jeff Luhnow.

“I have heard criticism; you’re not a good team yet, why improve bullpen? You can’t be a good team giving up the lead late in games.” Luhnow believes that the Astros must have a strong bullpen to become a better all-around team in 2015.

Next: Luhnow on...Jed Lowrie

Luhnow on…Jed Lowrie

Jul 23, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop Jed Lowrie (8) is greeted by third base coach

(2) after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Houston Astros at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

The Astros first expressed interest in Jed Lowrie right after the season ended.  Luhnow wanted to add one or more bats to the infield. “Jed’s agent was A.J. Hinch’s best man, and Jed and I are friends…and he lives in Houston.” Luhnow said that Jed was very aware of what his value was, and while the deal took a long time, they worked together to get a mutual deal done. Luhnow was excited because the Luhnow’s and Lowrie’s are close friends, the wives text each other all the time.

“It takes three years to get a player like Jed”-Jeff Luhnow.

Why give Lowrie a three-year deal when you have Carlos Correa knocking on the door? “It takes three years to get a player like Jed who is a free agent for the first time” Luhnow said. “Quite frankly, 3-years from now if Jed is the super utility player on a playoff team, that’s pretty good.”

“Quite frankly, 3-years from now if Jed is the super utility player on a playoff team, that’s pretty good.”-Jeff Luhnow.

Lowrie will be the starter now, but when the super prospects Carlos Correa and Colin Moran arrive, Lowrie will still have a place on a good team similar to a player like Marco Scutaro. When Correa and Moran are ready, they will not be blocked by Lowrie or Valbuena.

Next: Luhnow on...Evan Gattis and James Hoyt

Luhnow on…Evan Gattis and James Hoyt

Sep 25, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis (24) grounds out in the fifth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Turner Field. The Pirates won 10-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

This was my favorite move of the offseason, and by the answers that Jeff Luhnow gave us concerning this trade; it was his favorite as well.

They did indeed have conversations with the Braves earlier in the offseason concerning Evan Gattis, and as I wrote at the time, did involve B.J. Upton. The Astros backed off for a while, but then when the Braves traded away Jayson Heyward and Justin Upton, Luhnow got back into the discussion for Gattis. “We were able to detach Gattis from other things we were able to talk to them about our interest in Gattis,” without having to take on Upton’s contract.

“We were able to detach Gattis from other things we were able to talk to them about our interest in Gattis,”-Jeff Luhnow.

“They ask for the moon right out of the gate, which they should do.” There were two other teams involved in possible trades, “but they liked our guys better.” In baseball, you have to give up talent to get talent. “It came at a cost for sure. We don’t trade these guys because they are not good, we trade them because they are good! They help us get something that we need right now.”

“We don’t trade these guys because they are not good, we trade them because they are good! They help us get something that we need right now.”-Jeff Luhnow.

Luhnow said that “Folty” will be a great starter; he hated to lose Ruiz because he has a personal relationship with his family. “We felt good about losing those players with having Moran, the 2014 draft class, and Matt Dominguez to cover third base. To get the power we did in Gattis in this ballpark is great.”

“To get the power we did in Gattis in this ballpark is great.”-Jeff Luhnow.

“The sleeper in the deal was the pitcher I received in the deal, James Hoyt, who was added at the last-minute” on purpose by Luhnow because he didn’t want to show his hand until the end. He has a plus arm, and demonstrated that in Dominican Winter League. He mentioned that a blogger did a story on Hoyt, he screamed to himself “no don’t talk about him, he is the add-on to the deal, don’t blow my cover!”

“No don’t talk about him, he is the add-on to the deal, don’t blow my cover!”-Jeff Luhnow.

The addition of Gattis brings a premium power bat to the lineup with years under control. “Gattis jerseys in the team store will quickly become a fan favorite in Houston.

The addition of James Hoyt will further add to the Astros bullpen. “He’s (Hoyt) unproven…but he can get outs in the big leagues.”

Next: Luhnow on...Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily

Luhnow on…Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily

April 5, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena (24) fields a ground ball in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Luhnow said that “we had discussions with several teams about moving Fowler, we had no interest in moving Fowler, but as conversation continued and teams got more interested…it all started to crystallize that we could trade Fowler and improve a couple other positions.”

“we had no interested in moving Fowler, but as conversation continued and teams got more interested…it all started to crystallize that we could trade Fowler and improve ourselves in a couple other areas.”-Jeff Luhnow.

Luhnow said that he had already had conversations with Rasmus, but did not have a place on the team. When the interest in Fowler picked up when teams realized that their outfield was still not to their liking.

Because Luhnow knew that the Astros could get Colby Rasmus to sign by trading Fowler to free up the money, Luhnow felt like the two deals happened simultaneously. “We were able to turn Fowler plus some cash for into Colby Rasmus, Luis Valbuena, and Dan Straily.”

“We were able to turn Fowler plus some cash for into Colby Rasmus, Luis Valbuena, and Dan Straily.”-Jeff Luhnow.

Aug 16, 2014. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Luhnow thinks that Astros fans should not sleep on Straily, “we asked for Dan Straily in the Jed Lowrie deal two years ago, and he was untouchable. We got Brad Peacock instead.” Straily ended up having a good season in 2013, but struggled in 2014 between Cubs and Athletics. “You don’t get guys (Straily) like that if they had another good year… looking at his stuff….he could win 10 games for us.”

“You don’t get guys (Straily) like that if they had another good year…, looking at his stuff….he could win 10 games for us.”-Jeff Luhnow.

Luhnow was able to get someone to compete with Matt Dominguez at third base. Luhnow was discussing how everyone is getting excited predicting all the home runs each player would hit, and he made an interesting comment. “Valbuena would hit 15 home runs and Dominguez would hit 15 home runs if they share that role.”

He was also able to get a candidate for the rotation with serious rebound potential with the instruction that the Astros coaches offer in Dan Straily.

By the way Jeff, I’m not sure if you are really reading this. But at Climbing Tal’s Hill we had a Let’s Trade Fowler to day, where the writers wrote about potential  trade offers. I actually though of Straily and Valbuena, just thought you would be prospect fishing.

Next: Luhnow on...Colby Rasmus

Luhnow on…Colby Rasmus

Jeff Luhnow drafted Colby Rasmus when he was with the Cardinals. He had been in contact with Rasmus throughout the offseason, but explained that he didn’t have the money or a position open in order to sign him. “Yeah I would love to have Colby and for him to have a big year for us.” By trading Dexter Fowler, he was able to sign Colby Rasmus. Luhnow, while he was playing the prediction game said “I can get 25 maybe 30 home runs from Colby” in 2015.

“Yeah I would love to have Colby and for him to have a big year for us.”-Jeff Luhnow.

Luhnow understands that Rasmus might just be here for 2015, “hopefully Rasmus will have a great season for the Astros to reestablish himself for his next contract.” Rasmus hit 18 home runs while batting 0.240 last year for the Blue Jays, so Luhnow does feel like he will not just, “add home runs, but will also increase run production.”

“hopefully Rasmus will have a great season for the Astros to reestablish himself for his next contract.”-Jeff Luhnow.

So while Rasmus may join the Astros Generation K lineup, he should be an upgrade in the power and speed categories. Luhnow acknowledged that the Astros have good outfield prospects in Domingo Santana, Preston Tucker, and Teoscar Hernandez, as well as members of the 2014 draft class. “Teoscar has slid under the radar…Domingo is a very good hitter.”

If you still don’t understand the moves, Luhnow still welcomes the criticism. “Jim knows what I am doing, so does A.J….I have thick skin.” The Astros feel like they will have a winning team in 2015, and will be a playoff team in two years. 2015 should be an exciting season!

This is a test to see if Jeff Luhnow REALLY reads blogger’s posts! If you read this post Jeff, follow me on Twitter @huysman_eric.

Tell us what you feel about these moves.

Next: Is Luis Valbuena the Man at Third Base?