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So You Want Singleton and Correa with the Astros?

By Eric Huysman |
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Mar 24, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Chris Carter (23) prior to the game against the New York Mets at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

We hear you Astros fans. We hear you every time Chris Carter swings and misses on strike three. We hear you every time Jonathan Villar makes an error? Everyone in baseball knows how much Astros fans want Carlos Correa and Jon Singleton on the Astros 25-man roster. The problem is that Jeff Luhnow did an excellent job by filling in the holes for the 2015 season because we don’t have any roster flexibility to call up one of the studs. Therefore, the Fresno Grizzly fans will continue to watch the two future pieces of the Astros a little longer.

Jeff Luhnow Visits Fresno

This past weekend Jeff Luhnow visited the Astros Triple-A club to watch them play, but I feel like there was probably a little more purpose. The following quote is from Brian McTaggart’s article Luhnow checks in with top prospects at Triple-A.

“We’ve got plenty of players there that could play a role up here this summer and it was good to connect with them,” Luhnow said. “They’ve got a good thing going. They’ve got a really fun team and a lot of guys with Major League experience and a lot of guys that wish they were here in Houston with us and some guys that could be here this summer.”

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I think Luhnow’s purpose of visiting was to watch Fresno play, but also talk to several players about what their roles are at the moment. In past seasons, the Astros would be calling several of these players up because of struggles with the major league team. That’s not the case this year, even though

Lance McCullers

Jr and

Preston Tucker

have joined the team over the past two weeks.

I’m not going to go conspiracy theory and say that Luhnow was there to work on long-term contract with Carlos Correa, but he probably was there to let him know that his time is coming. He probably had a discussion with Jon Singleton while informing him of the roster situation and the Chris Carter Conundrum. Yes, Singleton was hot at Triple-A when he made his debut last year, but there is something different about him this year. Could he outhit Carter on the Astros right now, maybe?

His name was not mentioned, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Luhnow talked to Dan Straily, as he is working hard to get back to the majors. Straily has found something in his delivery, and that has led to better results recently. However, he watched McCullers leapfrog him to the majors.

Next: Jon Singleton

Jon Singleton

Mar 6, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Jon Singleton (21) at bat against the St. Louis Cardinals during a spring training baseball game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

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This move is one that most Astros fans feels needs to be addressed the soonest. Chris Carter is batting .172 while hitting seven homers and 22 RBI’s, and most of the comments on Twitter are that the Astros need to dump Carter. Here is why they can’t do that because Carter was hitting this way prior to June last year, and then boom went the dynamite. If the Astros drop Carter, they would have to put him on waivers. He will be claimed by another team because teams are desperate for the power the Carter can offer. Can they trade Carter, yes, but don’t expect a significant return unless he starts hitting.

Can Singleton be added to the major league roster right now, with Carter still on the roster? Yes, but the Astros are not going to send down the budding star Preston Tucker, and Marwin Gonzalez is too valuable as a utility player for the Astros. In case you have lived under a rock the past week, Villar has improved his play recently and is hitting .250 at the moment.

The only way to get Singelton up is to go away from the Astros carrying 13 pitchers, but which reliever will get the ax? Your bullpen is the strength of the team, why take away from what’s helping you win? The only way the Astros can do it is to send Jake Buchanan to Triple-A, and use that roster spot until Brett Oberholtzer is ready to rejoin the team.

Next: Carlos Correa

Carlos Correa

Mar 8, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (76) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at a spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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Same situation as Singleton, there is not a position open right now. However, Correa is a much better player than Villar and would instantly become the starter at shortstop. Losing Villar to bring up Correa will be a great move because we can still keep our super-utility guy Marwin Gonzalez to cover all the infield positions. Maybe the Astros can get something in a trade for Villar if he continues his hot hitting. If not, Villar could have options, and they could demote back to Fresno. Plus Carlos Correa’s super-two status would be up June 12, or somewhere around then.

Once Correa is up, he is the shortstop for the foreseeable future.

While the biggest need is at first base, the easiest to address would be at shortstop. The Astros are not a complete team at the moment, with a struggling slugger and two backups covering shortstop. Despite these deficiencies, the Astros have a 29-17 record and in first place in the AL West. They can continue rolling out Carter and Gonzalez/Villar, but if they start losing, this will change. Jeff Luhnow will have some popular moves and unpopular moves over the next two months. As long as the Astros continue to win after the potential moves, the fans will learn to live with them.

The answer to the initial question is not easy. Villar goes down when Correa is ready, but the Astros would have to shorten their bullpen with Carter on the roster to bring up Singleton.

Any trade that is made, Astros fans do not want to trade Preston Tucker, who is becoming a fan favorite in Houston.

Next: AJ Reed Interview with CTH

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