How smoke around latest Astros trade reports could signal something much bigger
PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT
19 December 2023
It's been a quiet offseason on the free agent front for the Astros, and it appears there are legit reasons for that. Because the Astros had to create a new television network, their local TV revenue reportedly isn't what it used to be.
Even a team making crazy money like the Astros is going to feel the loss of $70 million.
And other teams across MLB are taking notice, by making calls to Astros GM Dana Brown about the availability of players like Alex Bregman and now Framber Valdez.
The team is currently slightly over the competitive balance tax according to several reports, so don't be surprised if the team sheds some salary before the end of the season to avoid being penalized.
To be fair, the Astros have only gone over the competitive balance tax once, so the TV money isn't the only reason for the lackluster offseason.
But trading Valdez would come as a bit of a shock. It's not what the Astros do. Just look at their history with George Springer, Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Correa. The club let them walk in free agency and collected a compensatory pick.
However, trading a player with club control like Valdez would certainly bring in a massive haul of prospects that could greatly restock the team's thin farm system.
On the horizon
When looking at the big picture, teams with large TV deals like the Dodgers and Yankees are going to have an even greater advantage over smaller market teams with collapsing local TV networks. Carriers like Direct TV have no problem ignoring stations like AT&TSportsSW, or the new Space City Home Network, but they're going to continue to pay for the Yankees Yes Network for example.
Meaning smaller market teams are going to be less likely to spend big money on free agents.
On the bright side, small market teams have done reasonably well in baseball. Just look at the Royals in 2015, the Rays contend practically every year, and recently the Diamondbacks went to the World Series. The Astros aren't a small market team per se, but look how they've dominated the AL over the Yankees in recent years.
So what's the solution and what does it mean for the 2024 Astros and beyond?
Don't miss the video above as we break it all down!
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Presented by Coors Light.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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