Eric Reid a potential target

Did Tashaun Gipson's release open the door to an Eric Reid signing?

Apr 28, 2020, 7:18 am

The Houston Texans are still in the premature stages of revamping their roster ahead of the 2020 season, but Bill O'Brien saw fit to make another significant move. On Monday, the Texans announced the release of veteran safety Tashaun Gipson after one season in Houston.

Highlighted by Justin Reid, the third-year safety out of Stanford University in 2018, the Texans have a solid group at the position with the offseason acquisition of Eric Murray, Michael Thomas and Jaylen Watkins. Unfortunately, neither of the three may be capable to replace what Gipson brought to the field each week last season. Although it is not an essential need, it may be in Houston's best interest to add a new safety prior to the start of training camp, but the market is extremely thin with the draft now an event of the past.

With little options available, the decision to part ways with Gipson will give the Texans an opportunity to sign free agent safety, Eric Reid as a potential replacement.

While his outspoken antics may have played a factor in his surprise lack of interest around the league, that has not stopped O'Brien from expressing some thoughts into signing the one-time Pro-Bowler. Earlier this month, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported that Reid's brother, Justin, vouched for the idea to sign the veteran free agent, and O'Brien has considered the move.

After two solid seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Reid continues to find himself unemployed since his release in March. As one of the most reliable safeties in the league, he posted a career-best 130 tackles (97 solo hits, 33 assists), six pass deflections, five quarterback hits, and 4.0 sacks across 16 games in 2019. His best outing of the season came during a 34-31 loss against the New Orleans Saints — where Reid recorded a team-high 15 tackles on the day.

If Reid had played on a playoff-caliber team last season instead of the 5-11 Panthers, his on-field production would have been valued similarly to his days with the 49ers. Not only would Houston have the opportunity to add a reliable safety, but one who would be the perfect — and even better — addition to replace what Gipson brought to the Texans' gridiron.

In his lone year in Houston, Gipson recorded 51 tackles (37 solo hits, 14 assists) and three interceptions during the 2019 season. Gipson originally signed a three-year deal with the Texans following his departure from the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason.

texans nfl

THE PALLILOG

How events this week have major franchise-defining impacts for Astros

Good news for Jose Altuve. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images.

One never knows how things will play out but of the known General Manager candidates, Jim Crane nailed it in hiring Dana Brown out of the Atlanta Braves' organization where he was Vice President of Scouting. The 55-year-old Brown's scouting and development pedigree is stellar. The Braves have been a talent-producing machine in recent years. Obviously all the credit isn't Brown's but his four years with the Braves preceded by a productive pipeline he was part of in Toronto speak highly of him. Not that it was or should have been the guiding principle to Crane's decision-making, but the Astros now have the only African-American General Manager in Major League Baseball (Ken Williams is Executive Vice President of the Chicago White Sox).

Brad Ausmus is a super-smart guy, but if had he gotten the GM gig it would have been in large part because he was teammate besties with Jeff Bagwell. While “It's not what you know it's who you know” plays a role in many, many hires, it would have been a poor rationale for tabbing Ausmus. Maybe Ausmus would have done a great job. Maybe Brown does a lousy job. Brown was the much more strongly credentialed candidate. While Bagwell has moved way up Crane's confidante list, Brown played college baseball with Craig Biggio at Seton Hall.

Speaking of Halls…

If I could tell you as absolute fact that exactly two members of the 2023 Houston Astros will someday make the Baseball Hall of Fame, who are you picking? Jose Altuve isn’t a lock just yet but he is obvious pick number one. So for the second spot are you going with Alex Bregman or Yordan Alvarez? We’ll get back to this a couple of paragraphs down.

As was basically a given, former Astro (and Phillie, Met, Red Sox, and Brave) Billy Wagner was not elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this week, but as I suggested last week the voting returns were very favorable toward Wagner making the Hall next year, or if not next year in his final year of eligibility on the Baseball Writers Association ballot for the Class of 2025. “Wags” in the Class of ’24 is looking good. Wagner jumped from 51 percent to 68 percent “put him in” votes. The only guy this year to get the necessary 75 percent for election is worthy third baseman Scott Rolen. Two years ago Rolen got 53 percent of the votes needed, last year 63 percent, before getting the call to Cooperstown with 76.5 percent this year. Wagner going from 51 to 68 to 75-plus looks likely. Of course it’s not as if Wagner can pad his case with a good 2023 season, but this is how the process works. The other ballot returnee well positioned to make it next year is former Colorado first baseman Todd Helton. Unlike this year there’s a sure-fire first time ballot guy going in next year. Third baseman Adrian Beltre will undoubtedly wear a Texas Rangers cap on his plaque.

As expected Carlos Beltran didn’t come close to election in his first year of eligibility, but drawing 46 percent of the votes sets him up well to eventually get the Cooperstown call. Beltran was a fabulous player and his Hall credentials are solid. However, no one reasonable would argue that Carlos Beltran was as good or better than Barry Bonds. In his first year of eligibility back in 2013 Bonds garnered 36 percent of the vote. There has been some turnover in the voter pool over the last decade, but it's clear that Beltran’s central role in the Astros’ sign stealing scheme was not held against him to the extent that PED use (actual and/or suspected) was held against Bonds and Roger Clemens. And Alex Rodriguez. And Sammy Sosa. And Manny Ramirez. And others. Foremost right now that’s encouraging for Beltran, but it’s also encouraging down the line for fellow Astros of 2017-18.

What does this mean for Jose Altuve?

If Jose Altuve retired today (perish the thought!) he’d have a good case for the Hall. He had superstar seasons in 2016, 2017, and 2022, and has five other seasons that while not in the realm of his three best certainly rate as excellent. If you judge a player by his five best seasons, there aren’t 10 second basemen in the history of the sport who’d rank ahead of Altuve. Among those who clearly would: Joe Morgan, Rogers Hornsby, Eddie Collins, and Nap Lajoie. Among those four only Morgan played more recently than 1937. Then there’s a group of arguable guys like Jackie Robinson, Ryne Sandberg, Roberto Alomar, and yes Craig Biggio. Altuve has had the prime of a Hall of Famer. What sort of final numbers will he accrue? In late May or early June he should reach the 2000 hit plateau. How many more prime years does Altuve have left before inevitable decline? His career batting average is .307. Four years ago it was .316. Will Altuve retire a .300 hitter?

Bregman or Alvarez? Bregman gets extra points for being an everyday third baseman as opposed to a left fielder-designated hitter, but by age alone Yordan is the better play. Bregman turns 29 on opening day this year. Yordan doesn’t turn 26 until late June. When Bregman was 25 (2019 season) he put up a season more valuable than Alvarez’s tremendous 2022. In the three years since Bregman hasn’t approached that level, though his big second half last season could be a springboard back to that stratosphere. Yordan is in that stratosphere and figures to stay there for a while if his health holds up.

Can't get enough Astros coverage?

Stone Cold ‘Stros is the weekly Astro-centric podcast I am part of alongside Brandon Strange and Josh Jordan. On our regular schedule it airs live at 3PM Monday on the SportsMapHouston YouTube channel, is available there for playback at any point, and also becomes available in podcast form at outlets galore. Such as:

Brad Ausmus Dana Brown Jeff Bagwell astros houston astros mlb