Houston Astros don't need the blockbuster deal

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Let’s take a quick trip in the Way Back machine. It is 1998, and the Houston Astros are rolling. The lineup is filled with Killer B’s, and the clubhouse is filled with Jose Lima‘s merengue music. The starting rotation is led by Lima, Shane Reynolds and Mike Hampton. GM Gerry Hunsicker believes his team needs a true ace. And he goes out and gets one.

The trade deadline brought Randy Johnson to Houston for three prospects, and he did not disappoint. He struck out 116 batters in 84.1 innings after coming over from Seattle while posting a 1.28 ERA. He was nearly unhittable. The Astros marched into the playoffs with 102 wins and, promptly got rolled by the San Diego Padres, losing both games Johnson started. And, then, just like that, he was gone, signing with Arizona as a free agent.

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This year, it is the Astros who are the surprise team. They weren’t supposed to be doing this until 2017. Sports Illustrated said so. But someone forgot to tell the players, and they have jumped the gun. Right now, they are being led by

Dallas Keuchel

and the rebuilt bullpen that is learning how to put a foot on the other team just like last year’s Royals. And now there are calls that the team needs something. A dominant ace. A dependable middle of the rotation guy. Maybe two of those guys. Another arm in the bullpen.

Plenty of names are being tossed around. From Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto and Aroldis Chapman. To Oakland’s Scott Kazmir and Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels. Even the Samardzija as mentioned earlier, who is in his first season with the White Sox. All are fine pitchers and can be seen as upgrades to the Astro rotation. But would what they might bring to Houston for two months outweigh the cost to get them into an Astro uniform? After Samardzija was traded to Oakland last year, he started 16 games and went 5-6. Beane could have found that kind of production in his system without making a deal. Yes, one of them could come in and reel off an August and September reminiscent of Johnson but none of these pitchers is in his class, and the odds are against it.

Houston’s fast start this season has given it some breathing room. According to Fangraphs, they have a 61.4% chance of making the postseason. Only the Tigers have a higher chance of making the playoffs in the AL. Heading into this weekend’s series with the White Sox, Houston stands at 30-18. They can go 57-57 the rest of the season and still finish with 87 wins. The Astros have holes and needs. But the question is, do they need to fill those holes through trades? Or can they find what they need to get those 57 or more wins from within the organization?

Next: Use the Farm Instead

Use the Farm Instead.

This is exactly what I am proposing. Find the help they need from Fresno and Corpus Christi. They have already shown that they are willing to make a move like promoting Lance McCullers Jr. There are plenty of other possible call ups in Double and Triple A. No, this isn’t the exciting move. In fact, it could be outright dangerous.

But, deadline deals and those done in the weeks leading up to it, are often completed by GMs that have their backs against the wall and are feeling the pressure to win. Right. This. Minute. Jeff Luhnow is not under that kind of pressure. Most predictions had the team finishing fifth in the AL West again, not to have a solid lead in the division heading into June.

So who is on the farm Luhnow could look at? Dan Straily, acquired with Luis Valbuena in the Dexter Fowler trade, is working on rebuilding his career Fresno. In his last two starts, he is 1-0 with 13 strikeouts and two walks with a 2.08 ERA. Tommy Shirley might not catch your attention but in his last three games for the Grizzlies he’s given up two runs, while striking out 16 and walking four.

In Double A Corpus, Chris Devenski is 5-0 with a 0.66 ERA. In the four games he’s pitched, Vince Velasquez is 2-0 with 28 strikeouts and seven walks and a 1.40 ERA. And then there is Mark Appel. The former number one pick is 3-0, but he has had an up and down season in his eight starts so far.

Not making a trade for a pitcher also involves another thought. The lineup so far is leading the league in home runs but near the bottom in batting average and on base percentage. George Springer has started to come out of his early season slog. Chris Carter and Evan Gattis could be close behind. And don’t forget that all-everything prospect, Carlos Correa could be in Houston in early June. There could be even more runs for the pitching staff to have to work with.

When Jim Crane bought the team and hired Luhnow, the team was adamant about promoting the idea of the process of rebuilding the organization from the ground up, even going as far as selling t-shirts with #Process on them. Now, #Process is showing all of us that it has been and is still working.

Part 1: Let’s Trade with the Oakland Athletics

Part 2: Let’s Trade with the Phillies

Part 3: Let’s Trade with the Reds

Part 4: Let’s Trade with the Reds Part 2

Part 5: Let’s Trade with the Brewers

Part 6: Let’s Trade with the someone with Rasmus

Part 7: Let’s Trade with the White Sox

Part 8: Let’s Make no Trades

Next: Carlos Correa Interview