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How smoke around latest Astros trade reports could signal something much bigger
Dec 19, 2023, 4:45 pm
How SMOKE around latest Astros trade reports could signal something MUCH bigger
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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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.