Astros Offseason
Morton loss a sign of Astros' rigid team-building philosophy
Dec 13, 2018, 6:43 am
Astros Offseason
Wednesday afternoon it was reported that pitcher Charlie Morton would not be returning to the Houston Astros next year, opting instead to sign a 2-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays worth roughly $30 million. Morton--most noted for securing the final out of the Astros 2017 World Series Championship--was a pivotal arm in the Astros' most recent 2018 campaign, ringing up over 200 strikeouts en route to a 15-3 record.
Morton's confirmed departure is yet another blow to what was viewed by many as one of the top three rosters in the MLB. Pitcher Dallas Keuchel, utility man Marwin Gonzales, catcher Brian McCann, and designated hitter Evan Gattis--all critical players in securing Houston's first ever World Series championship have all either signed or are expected to sign elsewhere over the winter. And while the Astros' front office has made a handful of shrewd moves to begin the off-season, they have not only let proven commodities walk away but have also seemingly shied away from many of the blockbuster moves most experts had pegged as "must happens."
Houston's two main threats for the past two seasons for American League supremacy, The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have had quite the opposite approach. New York acquired a stud of a pitcher and absolute thorn in Houston's side in James Paxton. Boston remained in-house, resigning 2018 playoff monster Nathan Eovaldi to a 4-year $68 million dollar contract. Two of the league's top three winningest teams from a season ago have all either reloaded, or upgraded. Why then, is the third remaining motionless? Astros fans have become increasingly anxious as a result, but in order to understand what's happening--and in so doing, what's going to happen, it's imperative to understand how the Astros got to where they are today.
The Astros became a powerhouse not by buying up every big name they heard on the free agent market, but by cultivating their talent within. Just about every name you associate with the Astros not named Justin Verlander is a home grown product that has never worn another major league ball cap other than the navy one with the H-star. As a result, the Astros boast one of the most potent offenses in the league with a core that is still primarily clocking into work on rookie contracts. It's that type of financial flexibility that allows acquisitions like a high dollar, season-altering Verlander trade to even be possible in the first place.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this Astros front office is very selective in free agents. They rarely offer deals beyond 3 years and tend to look for value deals like a Charlie Morton or an Evan Gattis. Most people think about the acquisitions of Verlander and pitcher Gerrit Cole as evidence that Houston will be a major player in free agency and that just isn't how they operate. Both of those players were obtained via trade. Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow has always approached free agency tentatively and outside of Carlos Beltran in 2017, he hasn't hit on very many of his signings. Last season the Astros signed relievers Hector Rondon and Joe Smith, and while Rondon had moments of production, neither were game changers by any means.
Simply put, don't expect Houston to throw $300 million at a Bryce Harper or Manny Machado. What you can expect is that the Astros will stick to their script, typically despite the behest of their fanbase. It also means is that if something does happen, it will most likely happen in the form of a trade. And if recent history has taught us anything, it will happen much later--if not almost too late--than everyone expects. Cole wasn't acquired until mid January of last season and Verlander wasn't moved until the last second of the last hour of the 2017 trade window.
The bottom line is, there is a method to the madness. While it tugs at the heartstrings to see local heroes like Morton and Keuchel move on, the organization is correct to avoid overpaying for nostalgia. Rest assured the Astros are aware that this is their window to be a championship caliber team, and while it may not happen on anyone's preferred timeline, expect Houston to be players once again this winter to remain so.
Sunday night matchups don't get much exciting than this, as the Houston Texans host the Detroit Lions in prime-time at NRG.
The Lions come into this game on a six-game winning streak looking every bit of the best team in football. Houston on the other hand has lost two of their last three games with a struggling offense unable to protect their quarterback.
CJ Stroud has only one passing touchdown over this span, and is clearly having trouble adjusting to life without Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins.
If Houston is going to come away with an upset victory, they will need big performances from Tank Dell and Joe Mixon. After catching 4 passes against the Colts two weeks ago, Mixon not only failed to catch a single pass against the Jets, but he wasn't even targeted.
Considering the Texans' offensive line issues, choosing not to use Mixon as a pass catcher is hard to fathom. Especially since he and Dell are the team's top 2 playmakers.
What's working in the Texans' favor?
They play this game at home, where they are undefeated this season. A lot of the team's protection issues have popped up on the road, so communication should be easier for the offense on their home turf.
Bulls on Parade
We have good news and bad news about the defense this week. On the positive side, Azeez Al-Shaair and Jimmy Ward have returned to practice. If they're able to contribute on Sunday night, that would give the defense a lift.
And now for the bad news. Will Anderson has yet to practice this week after rolling his ankle in the Jets game. If he is unable to practice on Friday, it's hard to imagine he'll be active against Detroit.
X-factors
The Texans have to show some improvement on the offensive line this week.
Houston must lean on Joe Mixon again, as Nico Collins isn't expected to play.
Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best receivers in the league, and he does most of his damage from the slot. If the Texans continue to deploy Jalen Pitre against premier receivers in man coverage, St. Brown is going to light up the scoreboard.
What would a win over the Lions mean to Houston?
The Texans are no longer considered a true championship contender because of their losses to the Packers, Vikings, and Jets. In fact, the Bills are the only team with a winning record that the Texans have beaten.
An upset win over the streaking Lions would change that narrative.
What does Vegas think?
The Lions are currently favored by 3.5 and the total is set at 49 points.
Don't miss the full preview of Texans-Lions in the video above!
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