Houston Astros: If Cespedes Signs, Which Outfielder Leaves?

Yoenis Cespedes would be a Major Addition for the Houston Astros, but the Move could Bring Much Change to the Current Outfield. 

No matter how much Evan Drellich says it’s not going to happen, I’m going to write about Yoenis Cespedes signing with the Houston Astros. I’ll admit, it’s definitely a close race for the power-hitting outfielder. There’s definitely a market for his services, and he will receive a lot of money. But, if the Astros truly are in on Cespedes, I can’t see how they at least would not have a decent shot at landing him.

In his article, Evan Drellich claimed to believe that the Astros are not willing to spend the money that Cespedes would demand right now, as the organization is not quite in that position yet. Drellich definitely has a point here, as Astros GM Jeff Luhnow was quoted as saying, “We’re still in the spot we’ve been in.” This “spot” that Luhnow refers to is probably one that does not include signing big-name free agents, since this Astros ownership group has not done that yet.

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But in my optimistic approach, I want to point out some key differences that separate Cespedes from some of the other big-name free agents. First, Cespedes does not have a qualifying offer linked to him, which means that the Astros would not be giving up their first round pick if they acquired him through free agency. The Astros front office values their draft picks, so acquiring a major talent while not giving up the future might be an attractive option.

A second reason for optimism is that Peter Gammons said watch out for the Astros on Cespedes, and he was one of the first reporters on the Astros’ interest in Scott Kazmir. That trade ended up happening, so I think Astros fans should have some confidence in Gammons’ reporting. (Note: This doesn’t mean that Astros fans should have diminishing confidence in Evan Drellich, he’s a great Astros writer)

So, for this article, we are going to look at what would happen if Cespedes actually joins the Houston Astros for 2016. There would definitely have to be some more moving and shaking involved to clear up what would be a very crowded outfield. There are a lot of fan favorites in the outfield, so whoever is moved would be a hard pill to swallow, but improvement in Major League Baseball rarely comes without sacrifice.

Next: Shaking Up the Astros Outfield: Jake Marisnick

If Yoenis Cespedes is Houston Bound, Jake Marisnick would become a Moveable Astros Outfielder

There have been rumors surfacing around Jake Marisnick since last July’s trade deadline, and I believe that a Cespedes signing would only accelerate trade talks between the Astros and other clubs for the young outfielder. It’s definitely unfortunate, as Marisnick plays very hard and seems to give it all he has when he takes the field. But, this is a business, and the fact that he had a solid 2015 season makes him a valuable trade chip.

After making a trade, Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow always says the same thing about how trade talks between clubs are always ongoing conversations that develop over a significant period of time. People seem to believe that the Astros have been shopping Marisnick for a little while now, so maybe if Cespedes signs, they’ll finally pull the trigger on an offer.

Marisnick definitely deserves the interest that he is supposedly receiving. The 24 year-old outfielder was a great defender and baserunner for the Astros in 2015, stealing 24 bases and compiling 8 outfield assists as a center fielder. He also hit 9 home runs, 15 doubles, and finished with a 2.2 WAR, the best of his career.

I think the Astros could definitely use a package with Marisnick and a mid-level prospect to acquire a bullpen pitcher. I would not expect the Astros to acquire any big-name talent with a Marisnick trade, but maybe a rebuilding team will be interested and willing to give the Astros some bullpen help.

While scrolling through Twitter and searching around the Internet, the team I found to be most closely associated with Marisnick is the Atlanta Braves, so that’s the team I’ll center a Mock Trade around.

Briefly, I like this trade for both teams because the Braves get Marisnick as an everyday center fielder and Nolan Fontana as a middle infielder that is soon to be MLB ready. For the Astros, Arodys Vizcaino is another flamethrower who can provide quality innings in the bullpen. The Braves have a ton of candidates to replace Vizcaino at closer, so I don’t believe they will be asking much higher than what is offered here.

Next: Shaking Up the Astros Outfield: Evan Gattis

Evan Gattis is a Versatile Player and Power Hitter, Which is why he will be a Valuable Trade Chip for the Astros

From perhaps a future Brave, to a former Brave, I believe Evan Gattis could be on the move if the Astros sign Cespedes to a long-term deal. After he reaches an agreement with the Astros on his salary, the 29 year-old slugger will be available to be dealt and I believe that the Astros will indeed shop him around to teams looking for a power bat.

Gattis hit .246 last season with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs, 2o doubles, and yes, 11 triples (3rd in AL, I’m not joking) last season. He posted a 0.5 WAR and also had the most walks he’s ever had in a single season (30). While his defense is usually shaky, Gattis can play a variety of different positions, including left field, designated hitter, catcher (sparingly), and right field.

If the Astros land Cespedes, Gattis will not have much use for the club anymore. Colby Rasmus would take his spot in the corner outfield, and Cespedes would probably have the DH spot occupied for a few years. Gattis could prove to be reliable for the Astros as a backup catcher after the Astros traded Hank Conger to Tampa Bay, but I’m not sure how Gattis would react to that position change.

When drawing up potential trades for Evan Gattis, I looked at the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and New York Mets. Then, Justin Upton signed with the Tigers and the search was down to two teams. I eventually decided on the Mets, as Gattis would either start in left field or be a quality fourth outfielder. He also would be a quality DH in interleague games, now that the MLB has added many more to the 162-game schedule.

Hansel Robles would be a great bullpen pickup for the Astros. Not only is he a hard throwing right-hander out of the bullpen, he also won’t be a free agent until 2021. Robles and Ken Giles at the back of the bullpen would be a fearsome combination in the AL West.

Robles appeared in 57 games in 2015, striking out 61 hitters and finishing with a 1.09 WHIP. It’s also worth noting that he pitched in 3.0 innings in the postseason and didn’t allow a single baserunner.

Next: Shaking Up the Astros Outfield: Carlos Gomez