Houston Astros: Which AL Contenders Most Improved Team?

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Houston Astros: Which AL Contenders Most Improved Team?

Apr 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller presents left fielder Justin Upton (10) with the Silver Slugger Award prior to a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

While the last day of the trade deadline was disappointing compared to last years moves, some of the major contenders made their moves before the last day. Most of the contenders around baseball kept A.J. Preller on speed dial because of the belief that the Padres would be sellers. The following players were perceived up for grabs including Tyson Ross, James Shields, Andrew Cashner, Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, and many others. The Houston Astros were in on most of the players that the Padres had on the block.

However, after juggling many trade offers and hours of research time were wasted, because Preller did not make any trades. He decided to stand pat, which in turn affected the teams who are in contention for not giving them that extra talent that could have helped them for 2015. Did Preller make the right decision? Most of the players available were multi-year controllable players, so he will look at making some changes in the offseason to build his team to win for next year.

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The former second overall pick for the Seattle Mariners, taken after Stephen Strasburg in the 2009 draft, never really hit like he was supposed to. He was able to hit in the minors, but would not be able to find the same success in the majors. His original position was second base but was moved to the outfield when Robinson Cano was signed.

Ackley is exactly the player the Yankees traded for, someone to come off the bench and not an impact bat. Can the Yankees make it to the World Series with the team it had now? Yes, but Ackley did little to change their odds.

Fangraphs Playoff Projections

July 29th before trade: 94.2% chance of making the playoffs

August 1st after the trade: 91.7% chance of making the playoffs

Next: #6 Minnesota Twins

#6 Minnesota Twins

Aug 2, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Kevin Jepsen (49) pitches to the Seattle Mariners in the eleventh inning at Target Field. The Mariners win 4-1 in 11 innings. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Additions

Kevin Jepsen 2015 Stats 2-6 record/ 3.21 ERA/ 35 SO in 42 innings

The Twins now sit in the second wild card slot in the American League with a 54-50 record. One game ahead of the Blue Jays and Orioles. While they did make a trade during the trade deadline to improve their team, some of their talented young players have made their debut this year including Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano, and Byron Buxton. The have succeeded the way the Astros have this year with young talent mixed in with a good veteran signing of Torii Hunter from the Tigers.

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Who did the get in Parra, they got a hitter who is having a career year in his walk year? Many teams believed that he was hitting above his head this year to earn a bigger contract next year. His stats profile him as an average power with average speed, which could help the Orioles win games. He has missed a game here or there with injuries this year, so hopefully he stays healthy.

Fangraphs Playoff Projections

July 30th before trade: 21.3 % chance of making the playoffs

August 1st after the trade: 28% chance of making the playoffs

Next: #4 Anaheim Angels

#4 Anaheim Angels

Jul 29, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder David Murphy (19) in the dugout before a game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Additions

Conor Gillaspie: .244/ 3 HR/ 19 RBI/ 0 SB.

David DeJesus: .249/ 5 HR/ 26 RBI/ 3 SB.

David Murphy: .290/ 5HR/ 27 RBI/ 0 SB.

Shane Victorino: .238/ 1 HR/ 4 RBI/ 5 SB.

The Angels have had issues this year in the front offices, which has led to some changes in the way they do things. The team signed Josh Hamilton to a long-term contract prior to the 2014 season but essentially gave him back to the Rangers for a bucket of balls. I exaggerate a little, but the Angels did make some interesting moves at the deadline. However, they made the decision not to go after the highly sought after options such as Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes, or Carlos Gomez. Instead, they traded for a bunch of role players to fit a certain role on the teams.

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The Angels did not trade for anybody that makes you get too excited, but they already have a weak farm system to my limited knowledge of their system. They needed to make a big splash in order to keep up with the Astros, but they were content on the small moves. While I’m not too excited about the players they got, they did strengthen some of the holes left my Hamilton’s departure.

Fangraphs Playoff Projections

July 24th before first trade: 84.8% chance of making the playoffs.

August 1st after the trade: 70.4% chance of making the playoffs.

Next: #3 Kansas City Royals

#3 Kansas City Royals

Jul 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; (Editors note: Caption correction) Kansas City Royals pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) throws a pitch during the first inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Additions

Johnny Cueto: 7-6/ 2.70 ERA/ 127 SO in 136 2/3 innings

Ben Zobrist: .272/ 9 HR/ 39 RBI

The Royals strength of the team is its bullpen, not it’s starting rotation. The ace of the staff was supposed to be Yordano Ventura, but his season has gone so back that he was demoted and then recalled when Jason Vargas was set to have Tommy John. They basically traded Joe Blanton away for nothing. They did not have an ace on the team, no matter how good they were. They also could use some more help at second base, with the almost All-Star Omar Infante struggling for the season.

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Trading the haul they did for Cueto was necessary to make it back to the World Series again in 2015. That was all the team was lacking was a true ace, which Cueto matches the criteria for an ace. Could they have won without him? Imagine what Madison Bumgarner did in the playoff last year for the Giants, that is the type of impact that Cueto could have. Zobrist is the type of guy you like on your team because he can fill in at any position.

Fangraphs Playoff Projections

July 28th before the first trade: 99.1% chance of making the playoffs.

August 1st after the trade: 98.8% chance of making the playoffs.

Next: #2 Houston Astros

#2 Houston Astros

Aug 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez (30) gets a two RBI hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Additions

Scott Kazmir: 6-5/ 2.10 ERA/109 SO in 124 1/3 innings.

Mike Fiers: 5-9/ 3.89 ERA/ 121 SO in 118 innings.

Carlos Gomez: .263/ 8 HR/ 45 RBI/ 8 SB.

The Astros are the surprise team in baseball this year, as they have the third-best record in the American League next to the Yankees and Royals. The Astros could have gone the way of the Twins, and not really trade any of their top prospects for 2015. However, Jeff Luhnow and Jim Crane made a commitment to play for the playoffs in 2015 instead of continuing the Process.

The Astros have the best team with the most holes on the roster, their needs included flame-throwing reliever, first baseman, an outfielder in case Springer takes longer to heal, and maybe a starting pitcher or two.

The Astros added two arms to an already good rotation in Kazmir and Fiers. When looking at Fiers’ stats, keep in mind that he has played for a losing team this year, so he has lost because the other teams held their hitters. What Fiers does offer is strikeouts, averaging a little more than a strikeout per innings pitched. Kazmir may not be as exciting as Randy Johnson was, but he has shown dominance in his two starts with the Astros. Gomez offers his skills of a five-tool player, who is struggling a little in 2015.

Fangraphs Playoff Projections

July 23th before the first trade: 81.9% chance of making the playoffs.

August 1st after the trade: 93.2% chance of making the playoffs.

Next: #1 Toronto Blue Jays

#1 Toronto Blue Jays

Jul 29, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) hits a run-scoring double against Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Additions

Latroy Hawkins: 2-1/ 3.33 ERA/ 22 SO in 24 1/3 innings.

Mark Lowe: 0-2/ 1.70 ERA/ 47 SO in 37 innings.

David Price: 9-4/ 2.53 ERA/ 138 SO in 146 innings.

Ben Revere: .292/ 1 HR/ 27 RBI/ 24 SB.

Troy Tulowitzki: .303/ 13 HR/ 57 RBI/ 1 SB.

I apologize if you are reading this on an Astros fan blog, and the Astros aren’t the most improved team. I think the Blue Jays had the most holes on their roster, which is why they were hovering around .500 despite being near the top in most hitting categories as a team. They had a real young rotation, which lacked a true ace especially following injuries to key starters at the beginning of the year. They also had some leaks in the bullpen, so in order to catch the wild card teams or even the Yankees, the Blue Jays needed to make some big additions.

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The two pieces the Blue Jays acquired that meant the most was David Price and Troy Tulowitzki. What Price represents is a true ace for the young kids in the rotation, but to also give them the one game pitcher they might need if they are in the AL wild-card playoff game and need the win to get in. While Tulowitzki has a similar injury history as Jose Reyes, Tulowitzki is far superior offensively, except for stolen bases. They add some more speed with Revere and sure up some spots in the bullpen. These trades could hurt if they fall short of the playoffs or don’t resign Price.

Fangraphs Playoff Projections

July 26th before the first trade: 34.8% chance of making the playoffs.

August 1st after the trade: 50% chance of making the playoffs.

Next: Houston Astros: Will Carlos Gomez be the Impact Player Carlos Beltran was?

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Houston Astros: Which AL Contenders Most Improved Team?

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