Astros deadline setting up to be departure of style from previous seasons, GMs
PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT
28 July 2023
The MLB trade deadline is just days away and we're hearing a lot of rumblings about what the Astros might do. Houston GM Dana Brown said he plans to be aggressive, but do we really know what that means?
This is Brown's first deadline as a GM, and with the Astros farm system depleted of top end talent, this appears to be a tough challenge for the rookie GM.
The other thing to keep in mind, is how this deadline will shine some light on what Brown prioritizes. Does he see things the same way as the Astros front office has in the past? Coveting pitchers with high spin rate and leaning on advanced analytics?
Or will he continue what Jeff Bagwell started in the offseason preferring to use the eye test and traditional scouting techniques that have existed in baseball for decades?
The other thing to factor in is the limited number of teams looking to sell at the deadline. Brown may not have the luxury of trading for exactly who he wants, and might have to simply settle on some players that can help this team, regardless of what the advanced analytics say.
It sure seems Bagwell's approach has backfired this year, with the signings of Michael Brantley, Rafael Montero, and Jose Abreu all looking like mistakes at this point in the season.
Be sure to watch the video above as we cover all the angles on the Astros trade deadline, and much more!
If you enjoy the videos, subscribe to SportsMapHouston on YouTube so you don't miss our latest content!
Listen to The Bench with John Granato and Lance Zierlein weekday mornings on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.
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.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
