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A Conspiracy Theorist Guide to Johnny Cueto and the Astros

By Eric Huysman |
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Jun 7, 2014; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Actor and director Mel Gibson attends UFC Fight Night 42 at Tingley Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

First of all, I am not Mel Gibson in the Movie Conspiracy Theory, but some comments made by Astros social media have made me a little suspicious. I am not sure of the context that certain Tweets were written or if it was designed to mess with fans heads a little. With the Astros back in contention, there are expectations that the Astros should trade some of their prospects for a starting pitcher to go for the playoffs in 2015. There are other people, such as CTH’s Issa Cook and Larry Manch, who believe that the Astros need to stay the course and keep the prospects. Issa wrote about this very idea yesterday with Astros Rotation Will Survive Without Trade.

There are many rumored pitchers that are available at the trade deadline, including Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels, Scott Kazmir, Kyle Lohse, Mike Leake, and several other names. While we are not sure if Hamels will accept a trade to the Astros, we do know that he will cost more to acquire because he is under team control until the 2018 season. Most of the Astros social media have zeroed in on one pitcher in particular, and that pitcher was not selected to the All-Star team last night in the Final Vote.

That pitcher is Johnny Cueto, who is a free agent after the 2015 season. With the Cincinnati Reds not in the playoff hunt this season, they are looking to trade some talent in return for players they probably won’t be able to retain. The Houston Astros have the goods to trade for almost any pitcher that will be available with the deepest farm system in baseball. Yes, they have lost some prospects to the big leagues in Carlos Correa, Preston Tucker, Lance McCullers Jr, and Vincent Velasquez, but they still have some talent with a great draft in 2015.

Here is an idea that some fans and radio broadcasters are talking about a potential Cueto trade idea.

Any trade the Astros make, they will have to give up some prospects. Jeff Luhnow has to decide how much they could stand to lose or do they already have a trade in the works?

Next: Part one of the Conspiracy

Part one of the Conspiracy

Jul 10, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher

Aroldis Chapman

(54) throws the ball in the ninth inning of a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Reds won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Now to the conspiracy theory ideas that were generated by some of the Astros writers/reporters in the past few days with Tweets. Let’s start with one from MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart from Wednesday.

I think that McTaggart was just offering a more realistic trade proposal. Most fans don’t want to give their best prospects to another team; however, another team is not going to give them their best players for your garbage. In fantasy baseball, you see that a lot with five for one trade offers. This post is not to criticize the original Tweet. I want to focus on the fact McTaggart did not use the word ‘could’ or ‘would’ want, he just said the Reds want Phillips, Hader, Feliz, and Kemp.

Yes, I know I’m stretching a little there. When he was Tweeting this, he probably didn’t think about the word choice. Some people probably just assumed it was what I suggested, just a counter proposal to the original trade idea. However, Mel Gibson would think that Mr. McTaggart has some insight on the trade, but the Reds have stated that they will wait till after the All-Star game to make any trades. So have they already agreed to the parameters of a potential trade? Then again, I don’t believe in conspiracies.

Next: Part two of the Conspiracy

Part two of the Conspiracy

Jul 7, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) reacts after pitching a complete game shut out against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Cincinnati Reds defeat Washington Nationals 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Then a harmless Tweet from Jose de Jesus Ortiz came out on Friday before the deadline for the Final Vote.

“I’m surprised Astros fans have not rallied to get a future Astros player into the All-Star game, – Jose de Jesus Ortiz. While this was probably a tongue-in-cheek statement, Mel Gibson would say that Mr. Ortiz knows something. Does McTaggart, Ortiz, and Luhnow already know that a trade is going to go down, they just have to wait until the All-Star festivities are over? He could also just be really confident that the Astros can pull it off.

I am done with the conspiracy theory part of the post; it was all in good fun. The Astros might have an idea on what they would give up to get Johnny Cueto and Aroldis Chapman, but is McTaggart right on with the overall concept of the trade? Would the Astros trade Brett Phillips, Josh Hader, Michael Feliz, and Tony Kemp for two rental players in Cueto and Chapman?

If you want my opinion? I don’t think that Phillips will be traded for anyone other than Cole Hamels because he is far too valuable to the Astros organization. Nothing against the other guys, but that’s the hard part of trades; you have to give up something to get something. As Astros fans, we have been force-fed the ‘process’ so long that we have gotten to know our prospects more than in the past. Any trade where significant prospects are traded, there will be some outspoken upset people out there.

Why would other teams want these four prospects?

Brett Phillips: Rare combination of defense, speed, and power.

Tony Kemp: Hit for average, speed, and knows how to score runs.

Josh Hader: Left-handed flame thrower who has been compared to Chris Sale.

Michael Feliz: Could be a closer in waiting for the Astros or another team.

This seems like a lot of talent to trade away, but you have to give something to get something. Like I said at the beginning of the month, July will be really crazy. After the All-Star break is when the pieces might start to fall. Keep checking back with CTH for the latest trade rumors or suggestions.

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