How latest bombshell report provides important context to Texans trade for Diggs
WHEELING AND DEALING
04 April 2024
WHEELING AND DEALING
When the Texans traded for Stefon Diggs on Wednesday, a lot was made of his unhappiness in Buffalo that helped facilitate his trade to Houston.
Well, things just got more interesting as Adam Schefter is reporting the Texans wiped out the final three years of his deal, which will allow him to be a free agent after the season
More about the Texans wiping out final three seasons on Stefon Diggs’ deal, allowing him to become a free agent next off-season while guaranteeing him more money this season:https://t.co/TfKcHLQ2vo
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2024
The thought being the Texans will get the best version of Diggs who will be playing for a new contract, and the team can receive a compensatory pick should he walk in free agency.
Which means the Texans traded a second-round pick to rent Diggs for the 2024 season. That seems like a high price to pay for a one-year rental, in my opinion.
It's also important to note, while everyone seems to be praising GM Nick Caserio for this move, Albert Breer is reporting that the highest comp pick the Texans could receive for Diggs would be a fifth-round pick.
And we're seeing other reports saying the Texans can't receive any comp pick for Diggs because they altered his deal. Whether it's a fifth or no pick at all, there's not much to be gained here when it comes to draft picks for the Texans.
Also significant: Because this will be Texans WR Stefon Diggs' 10th NFL season, the most Houston can get in a comp pick if he leaves after this year would be a fifth-round pick. So cutting years off the deal is a big concession.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 4, 2024
Breer points out this is a “big concession” by the Texans. And depending on how the Texans renegotiated the deal, there's a chance Diggs' franchise tag number could jump to over $27 million. Which the team would likely not be willing to pay.
As it stands right now, Texans fans shouldn't get too attached to watching Diggs play in Houston. And they may want to hold off on buying a Diggs jersey, since he probably won't be with the team in 2025.
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.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
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.