THE PALLILOG
Here's what the trade market could look like for the Texans
Oct 23, 2020, 9:38 am
Trading J.J. Watt has to be on the table. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Why this key to the Texans' success deserves more attention
If the Texans upset the Packers Sunday (hey, they're only three and a half point underdogs) it's not utterly ludicrous for their football people to cling to a sliver of hope about climbing into the AFC playoff race. Ludicrous maybe, but not utterly ludicrous. A loss that drops them to 1-6…
The NFL trade deadline is a week from Tuesday. The Texans' brain trust (stifle the laughter) has to be exploring trade possibilities for the few players they have with meaningful trade value. Wide receiver Will Fuller is an unrestricted free agent after the season. There is zero chance they use the franchise tag on him. If there is a third round pick to be had for Fuller, you make the deal. They'd also add more than five million dollars in salary cap space. If more than anything else in the world Will Fuller wants to be a Texan going forward (yeah right) they could resign him as a free agent having gotten a third round pick for a loaner. Losing Fuller in free agency would mean at the most the Texans would get a third round compensatory pick, in 2022. If they can move wideout Kenny Stills for anything at all, it's about four million dollars off the books that can be used in the offseason.
The big food for thought Texans' trade piece is J.J. Watt. He's still good though obviously not the guy he was when winning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. If the Texans' organization is absolutely unwilling to trade Watt because of fear of any fan relations hit, the Texans' organization gives another example as to why it has never come remotely close to playing in a Super Bowl. Watt's contract next season calls for 17 and a half million dollars when he'll be 32 years old. If any team offers a first round pick for Watt the Texans basically would be stupid to pass. A second rounder? Probably should take that if the best offer.
The Texans' thus far sub-pathetic run defense does not fall in Watt's lap, but he is not the routine game wrecker he once was when it seemed at least two or three times per game he'd be tackling a ballcarrier about when he took the handoff. Through six games the Texans are yielding a preposterously awful five-point-four yards per carry. Super Bowl LV will be played in February. For now at least. In the 54 prior seasons of the Super Bowl era exactly ZERO defenses have finished a season giving up five-point-four yards per carry or more.
Former Astros GM speaks out
From his sit down with KPRC sports reporter Vanessa Richardson that aired earlier this week, we learned how former Astros' General Manager Jeff Luhnow has been spending at least part of his time since Major League Baseball suspended him and then Jim Crane fired him. Taking spin classes. If Luhnow truly never knew anything about the Astros' cheating scheme (seems doubtful), then he was negligently and shockingly oblivious. It happened on his watch and accountability of course should have included him. He failed to acknowledge that. Whether Crane scapegoated him is another topic, but it's pretty clear Luhnow won't be sending a holiday gift Crane's way.
Rumor has it there's a World Series going on. Relatively few in Houston are watching after they couldn't quite cap their comeback against the Rays to reach a third Fall Classic in four years. The Dodgers are in their third in four years so if they win it they go past the Astros as the top franchise over that span. Five days after the World Series ends George Springer, Michael Brantley, and all other free agents can sign with the team of their choosing.
If the Astros are unwilling to go beyond four years in the 25 million dollars per season range, Springer is probably a goner. He might be anyway. Though Springer is 31 years old his market will be robust. The Connecticut native could draw interest from the Red Sox, Mets, and yes the Yankees. The Nationals, Cardinals, and Giants would all make sensible suitors. The White Sox could be interested and interesting, perhaps more so if A.J. Hinch gets their managerial gig. The Texas Rangers' offense is a joke that could use a big addition for their first season with fans in their new ballpark (with the bonus for them of weakening the Astros), I just doubt Springer would go to a bad team.
Buzzer Beaters:
1. Take your pick: re-sign Springer if you know that means Carlos Correa is gone after next season, or let George go if know it means Correa re-ups.
2. Not one "Oooh!" college football matchup on the schedule this week.
3. Greatest sports Georges: Bronze- Best Silver-Mikan Gold-Brett
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How Houston Rockets hold the cards for a franchise-changing summer
May 8, 2025, 5:45 pm
In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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