EVERY-THING SPORTS
For the Houston Astros, almost everyone's got a price
Jul 21, 2023, 3:45 pm
Would the Astros trade Kyle Tucker for the right price? Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.
How Astros next foe reinforces Houston's big picture formula
“Everybody's gotta price for the Million Dollar Man! HAHAHAHAHA!” This was Ted DiBiase Sr's catchphrase as the Million Dollar Man in the 80s and 90s WWE. His character was an evil rich guy who used his money, power, and influence to get his way. The premise was simple: anybody can be bought. The other day, I gave you three Astros I would not trade at the deadline under any circumstances. Today, I'm giving you three guys I'd consider trading, under the right circumstances. Let's take a look:
Kyle Tucker: Outside of Yordan Alvarez, Tucker is the best hitter on this team. The smooth swinging lefty once earned the nickname “Ted” for his swing resembling that of Ted Williams. He's also greatly improved as an outfielder. Just when you think he's going to let a ball drop, he catches up to it and ends up on SportsCenter. He's 26, getting paid $5 million this season, and has two more years of arbitration left after this year. A young, top talent under team control and on a cheap salary should attract some interest.
Hunter Brown: It's better to give than to receive. Some team out there is looking for a salary exchange. They'd love to trade that high dollar starting pitcher or bullpen stud for a 24-year-old starter with electric stuff and under team control for several more years. Brown is the type of guy a team looking to save money would LOVE to have! I know this team could use another arm to go with Brown and the others. Would you rather have Brown with a lower chance of another ring, or whatever player in return and a higher shot a another championship? Give me the better odds at winning another ring. Those memories are stronger and longer lasting than fond memories of a random player.
Jeremy Peña: Who doesn't want a former World Series and ALCS MVP?!? At 25 and under team control for a few more years, Peña is in rarefied air. Not many in the game's history can claim to have his accolades after their rookie season. His future is brighter than the sun when traveling north on 59 near the Chimney Rock exit around 2pm. He's a jack of all trades in that he does everything pretty good. Can he improve? Sure. But this kid is special and wants to continue to get better.
“We need another arm!” “This lineup needs another bat!”
I've seen and heard the different arguments. I've also seen and heard the most preposterous trade proposals. You can't trade for a guy like Shohei Otani and give them your plumber, a Chinese food wing dinner, and four used pairs of lawn work shoes. You also can't trade a guy you can't stand and/or has little to no value for an All Star. It's better to give than to receive. When you give up more, you get more in return. How bad do you want to see another parade downtown? Personally, I don't like the crowds, but I love the joy on others' faces. I particularly enjoy the looks on faces when I'm out of town or post a pic wearing Astros gear. Since we all agree that moves have to be made, can we all agree that we need to swing for the fences?
I get it. These guys are young, very talented, and still cheap. When they're eligible, they're going to want to get paid. Will their demands match their production? Will keeping them lead to another ring? Is it the sentimental value that's forcing you to hold onto them? Trading them doesn't guarantee another ring, but I think it'll give you a better shot if the right guys are traded for. And now, we wait…
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
The Texans make just their third ever visit to Lambeau Field Sunday. It’s a dandy matchup as the Texans try to run their record to 6-1 at the expense of the 4-2 Green Bay Packers. The Texans have one win and one loss in Wisconsin. In 2008 the gameday high temperature was 13 degrees. Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 24-21 win over a Packers team that struggled to a 6-10 record under first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Texans posted their second consecutive 8-8 finish that year. In 2016 the mercury reached a balmy high of 34 degrees as the Texans fell 21-13 at Lambeau. Inexplicably, Rodgers somehow managed to win the quarterback matchup with Brock Osweiler. The Texans and Packers each won their division that year. Both Texans’ trips to “America’s Dairyland” occurred in December. No risk of frozen tundra this time around. The forecast for Green Bay Sunday calls for a high of 75 degrees! That’s almost 20 degrees warmer than normal there for October 20.
It’s a dynamic QB matchup with C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love sharing the field. Love broke out in a huge way in 2023 after serving a two-year apprenticeship under Rodgers. After a stumbling 3-6 start to their season the Packers went 6-2 the rest of the way to snag a playoff spot. They obliterated the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in Arlington (before everyone obliterated the Cowboys in Arlington...) then led at the 49ers with under 90 seconds to go before San Francisco scored to win 24-21. The Packers made crystal clear their belief in Love by signing him to a four-year 220 million dollar contract extension in July. That’s 55 mil per season. Stroud becomes extension-eligible after next season. Anyone think he won’t be in position to command at least 65 mil per season?
Stroud sure looks to be the guy to finally give the Texans the long-term stability and excellence they have never had at the most important position in the sport. The Pack is all in on Love continuing its unreal long-term QB stability and excellence. Love took the reins after Rodgers helmed the offense for 15 seasons. Rodgers took the reins after Brett Favre’s 16-year tenure. So if Love makes it for nine years as the starter, that’s three primary QBs in 40 years. Absolutely amazing.
After missing two games because of a sprained knee ligament suffered in the final seconds of the Packers’ season opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil, Love has thrown 10 touchdown passes in three games. But he has only completed 59 percent of his passes, and has thrown at least one interception per game.
The Texans’ first trip to the NFC North this season went brutally badly, the 34-7 beatdown from Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers 31-29 in week four of the season. That was Love’s first game back, he threw four touchdown passes and three picks. One defensive weapon the Texans will have against the Pack they did not have against the Vikes is Denico Autry. The 34-year-old Autry returns from his six-game banned substance suspension. That happens as one of the fill-ins for him, Mario Edwards, starts his own four-game substance abuse suspension. That should be a net improvement for the Texans.
X-factors
The single biggest variable in swinging the outcome of football games is turnovers. So far this season the Packers have been a takeaway machine. Last season the Packers generated just 18 turnovers over their 17 regular season games, only six teams took the ball away less often. Through just six games this season the Packers already have 17 takeaways. No other NFL team has more than 13, the Texans have just seven. The Packers have produced exactly three turnovers in five of their six games, and got two in the other. Every defense preaches turnovers, so it’s not as if first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has introduced radical concepts that are yielding magical results. But the results are what they are.
If the Texans take care of the ball, they have a terrific chance to win. Having Joe Mixon back aids the cause on two fronts. One, Mixon is obviously the Texans’ best running back. Two, Mixon last fumbled in 2021. The Texans probably best plan to score 25 or more points to win this one because the Packers figure to score a bit. In Love’s four starts the Pack has lit the scoreboard for 29, 29, 24, and 34 points. On the other hand, the Texans’ D has been pretty stout, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (Green Bay rates 18th). It’s a strength vs. strength battle. The Texans have allowed no opponent more than 313 yards in total offense. The Packers have amassed at least 378 yards in five of their six games, and managed 328 in their worst performance.
For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube
The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!