Earlier today, the Astros struck the first significant trade of July, landing left-hander Scott Kazmir from the division-rival Athletics in exchange for a pair of prospects — right-hander Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham. The addition of Kazmir gives the Astros a pitcher that could potentially slot into the first or second game of a playoff series — a previously stated goal of GM Jeff Luhnow.
Here are some reactions from around the industry to the first major move of this year’s trade season…
- The addition of Kazmir won’t be the end of the Astros’ attempt to supplement the roster, GM Jeff Luhnow told reporters (via Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle). “We were having multiple conversations and those conversations haven’t necessarily stopped because of this,” said Luhnow. “…This was our top priority, was to get a staring pitcher, and we feel like we got one of the top guys on our list and one of the top guys that’s going to be available and we were able to do it in a timely fashion. We’re going to continue to look at ways to improve the club.”
- Jane Lee of MLB.com tweets that Athletics GM Billy Beane said the Kazmir talks really took off once the Astros became willing to include Nottingham in the deal.
- Astros players are happy to have Kazmir in the fold, writes the Houston Chronicle’s Stephanie Kuzydym. Jason Castro, Jake Marisnick, Preston Tucker and fellow pitcher Collin McHugh weighed in with their thoughts on not only being spared from facing Kazmir but benefiting from adding his talent to the Houston roster. Said Castro: “The mix of his stuff, his quality off-speed and his fastballs, the way he attacks hitters, I think he’s the kind of pitcher who forces guys to go after his stuff. That’s what makes him so good.”
- The Astros “paid dearly” for 10 to 12 starts from Kazmir, opines ESPN’s Keith Law (subscription required), who pegs Nottingham as a potential star if he can remain a catcher. Law notes that Nottingham has 70-grade raw power and could eventually develop into a 20 to 25 homer bat behind the plate, though his receiving is fringy. Law feels that Mengden has a chance to be a fourth or fifth starter but notes that he was expendable for Houston, as the club has a number of harder-throwing arms with more upside in its ranks. As for the Astros, they’ll swap out a replacement-level starter (probably Roberto Hernandez) for Kazmir, which Law feels will add an upgrade of at least one win.
- Fangraphs’ Kiley McDaniel writes that the return will look light to many people due to the low ranking of Mengden and Nottingham on most preseason prospect lists, but Nottingham was a lock to land among Houston’s Top 10 on a re-worked Astros prospect list following a 2015 breakout. McDaniel feels Nottingham has above-average power and could hit .260 or better in the Majors, making him a candidate to be an everyday catcher, albeit an offensive-minded one. He feels that Mengden has three solid-average pitches and could be a fourth/fifth starter capable of soaking up 180 innings with average results, if everything clicks.
- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo weighed in on the trade (video link), noting that Mengden doesn’t “wow” scouts with pure stuff but features a solid four-pitch mix, with his curve and changeup trailing his fastball and slider. Mengden will jump into the Athletics’ Top 20. Nottingham was primed to make a big leap forward from his No. 22 ranking in the Astros’ system, Mayo notes, praising his ability to hit for power and average as well as his improved plate discipline. If Nottingham doesn’t stick behind the plate, Mayo feels he “might have the power profile to fit just fine at first base.”
- Evaluators now believe there’s a better-than-average chance that Nottingham will stick behind the plate, writes Vince Lara-Cinisomo of Baseball America, who notes that Nottingham is moving from an organization that’s big on catch-and-throw receivers to one that hasn’t had a problem employing bat-first options (Stephen Vogt, Derek Norris). Lara-Cinisomo, too, feels that Mengden’s a back-end starter type whose stuff could play up in the bullpen. Kazmir’s ground-ball tendencies make him a fit for Minute Maid Park, he adds, but he short porch in left field won’t do him any favors.
- ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the Blue Jays tried to make a run at Kazmir but found the Athletics’ asking price — said to be one of the team’s top pitching prospects — to be too steep (All Twitter links). Olney also opines that the trade could be worth millions to Kazmir, as if he’d been hit with a qualifying offer, his injury history plus that draft pick compensation may have created a very difficult market for him in free agency.
- Chris Perry of SB Nation’s Crawfish Boxes writes that while the price paid to acquire Kazmir was steep, the Astros have better positioned themselves to catch the Angels atop the AL West. Mengden’s loss is more tolerable, and while the loss of Nottingham stings, the Astros’ depth allows them the luxury of moving that type of talent to acquire one of the game’s better lefties. Interestingly, Perry wonders if there are already talks of an extension with Kazmir, a Houston native, which would of course could make the trade more palatable for Astros fans.
willi
Gave up nothing for 10 starts, Good deal for Astros
oaklandfan1
Lol, “nothing”, well we will see if that “nothing” is really nothing in the next coming years.
Matt McCarron 3
A 20 year old catcher OPS’ing .974 at High A ball is “nothing?” Ok.
seamaholic 2
He won’t be a catcher for long. He’s a 20 year old 1B/DH who has had a great half a year in A+. You all are getting confused by the “if Billy Beane traded for him he must be great” school of analysis.
theo2016
Or you go with the scouts mentioned thinking hes more and more likely to stick at catcher but even if he doesnt hes still a legit prospect.
Nate 16
Billy Beane knows a great deal more than you
rob361
Luhnow is pretty smart. I think he knows what hes doing. Lol thats the thing “prospects” can either pan out or be a star.
Mark 21
Some people just dont need to comment when they dont know what they are talking about LOL My guess is William doesn’t fallow baseball very well.
BoldyMinnesota
Id be way more scared of facing the Angels or Astros than the Yankees in the playoffs imo.
thecoffinnail
I have been a Yankees fan all of my life (raised in NYC so I am not just riding the bandwagon) and I would have to agree with you on the Angels.. A couple of weeks ago I looked through the Astros lineup and rotation and I was shocked that they had the record that they did.. I think they had 1 player hitting over .250 on the season.. Plus, besides Kuechel (sp?) their rotation was kind of lacking.. I think I would take the Yankees veterans over the Astros this year.. Although, the Kazmir addition makes it a lot closer.. I hope the Yankees make it and get the Astros in the divisional round.. That would be a fun series to watch.. If they got past the Astros I can’t see them beating the Angels though.. Unless their rotation steps it up a notch and are able to lock down Trout and Pujols.. It doesn’t really matter though because I believe the Royals are the team to beat this year..
BoldyMinnesota
You’re probably right, I just thought if you might have to face Keuchel or Kazmir 3 out of 5 games which would be tough for any team
thecoffinnail
Lol.. and I am a New Yorker
mwk89
Sign of people just looking at the rankings and not the actual prospects
nmandarano
Could be more than 10 starts even if Kazmir decides to resign.
Jorge Soler Powered
Mods: Is there any way on this new commenting system to block people? There are a few commentors on here who ruin the whole experience for me with constantly posting annoying things or just ignorance/borderline trolling.
Justin Case
I’m pretty sure we’re all thinking of one specific individual…
Nate 16
I agree with you
Steve Adams
Yes, and he’s gone. Trying to be more lenient than in the past with comment moderation, but enough trolling is enough.
Colby
I feel like Kazmir is the type of veteran pitcher the Astros need to sign in the offseason.
A'sfaninUK
Well they certainly love to sign/acquire A’s retreads.
thecoffinnail
Didn’t they try to sign him a couple of years ago? I can’t see him turning them down now.. I agree with you Kazmir just fits the Astros perfectly.. I am glad he turned his career around.. It seems like a decade ago when he was beating the Yankees when he was on the Rays and he is only what 31?
Matt McCarron 3
And for the authors: Phillies nation just tweeted the Phillies and Cubs are discussing a Cole Hamels trade.
Matt Galvin
It’s going to happen tonight to counter Pirates moves. Cardinals need to make a move.
Lance
I don’t see why the Cards NEED to make a move. If they can make the right deal…fine. But they have far and away the best record in baseball for a reason.
flyerzfan12
Yup, looks like that’s from a CSN Chicago report. I’m ready for some dominoes to fall.
Matt Galvin
thegoodphight.com/2015/7/23/9029889/phillies-rumor… they play each other this Weekend. Schawber.
theo2016
No one off the 25 man other than castro. So gl with that.
dbeattie
If Hamels ends up in Chicago it looks like the Dodgers may find themselves on the outside looking in given the number of teams that are reportedly after cueto
Stonehands
David price says hello
thecoffinnail
The Dodgers want Price.. If they land him that rotation is gonna be nasty the rest of the season.. Hopefully Kershaw doesn’t get a case of the nerves in the post season like last year.. I wonder if instead of prospects they would take Verlander and half of his salary.. I know its not likely but the Dodgers burn money and if the Tigers could shed even half of his contract with Price’s $19.5 million and $14m saved from Verlander they could be players in free agency.. From what I read earlier they have to trade Cespedes if they want to try to sign him next year because of a clause in his contract.. Between those 3 that would give them roughly $44m to play with.. That should be close to enough for Gallardo, Fister and Leake.. Something like that would keep their window open a couple of more years.. I would like to see them resign Cespedes but they need pitching more than anything else..
dbeattie
If the Astros can in fact extend Kazmir to a reasonable deal this could turn out to be a steal for them
tac3
It won’t be reasonable…. the SP FA market is going to be insane this year. Teams will realize how cheap Hamels is at that point. You can trade him for high level prospects,and take on 4 years 96mil(option year included) or you can sign david price, grienke, etc for 7 years and 210 million. Take your pick…, Those contracts will be crippling by the end. Hamels and Grienke are the same age… for some perspective.
Lance
I’m not so sure about that. There will be quite a few #1 ..#2 starters out there to be had in FA so the supply could hurt the demand.
davengmusic
If Luhnow can somehow dump Feldman on someone, they should try to resign Kazmir. Your rotation would be Keuchel, Kazmir, McHugh, McCullers, Velasquez for 2016, and you’ve got Appel and Hader (amongst others, provided they don’t get traded) waiting in the wings in case of injury or underperformance.
mattclementsgoattee
Seems like a pretty sweet deal for both squads. ‘Stros get their game 1/2 starter without mortgaging their next few years. A’s get a potential franchise catcher putting up gaudy numbers already, albeit in single A.
Trading for raw-power, offensive-oriented catchers is a luxury that leans more toward the American League, and Beane did a solid job snagging a mid-rotation prospect as well.
Keep the moves comin’!
thecoffinnail
Very well put.. Explains both sides better than anyone else that I have seen so far..
Matt Galvin
Chris Singelton just said that somebody Tweeted at 2am that Trades were going to start today.
Phil’s don’t want Casto or Baez.
Vandals Took The Handles
Nobody is writing that Billy Beane saved a nice chunk of money.
thecoffinnail
That is a given with any Billy Beane trade.. I was pretty shocked to see that Beane actually sent $1.5 million to the Rays with the Zobrist/Escobar trade to pay part of Jaso’s contract.. Beane was actually taking on $14.5m with Zobrist and Escobar and Clippard is making $1.3 million more than Escobar this year and Beane took on the entire contract..
thecoffinnail
Don’t get me wrong Nottingham is a legit prospect but I don’t understand why several of these excerpts say that the price was steep.. He could be a great prospect but he is still only in A ball.. It is going to be 2-3 years before he sniffs the majors and a lot can happen in those 2-3 years.. But I will admit that one thing Beane’s scouting department excels in is catchers.. I don’t see this as being a steep cost.. Imho I think this trade works well for both teams.. Although, I think Houston should have included another solid pitching prospect and gotten Clippard from the A’s as well..
Lance
but had Beane waited for more, the Astros might have gone elsewhere and Nottingham wouldn’t have been available.
rob361
Luhnow is smart. He knows what hes giving up. I think he knows how to counter beane and give players that catches gms attention