The Astros are receiving trade interest in outfielder Jose Siri, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who adds that “a number of teams” have explored trading for the 27-year-old. Each of the Phillies, Marlins and Brewers have been seeking center field help, Rosenthal notes, though he doesn’t explicitly indicate that any of the three have had substantive talks with Houston.
Interest in Siri comes from other clubs at a time when the Astros are apparently seeking more proven options in center field, but it’s plenty understandable if other clubs would look at Siri’s strong MLB debut in 2021 and his outstanding Triple-A track record and hope he can emerge as a valuable long-term piece if they can land him in a deal with Houston. While he’s something of a late bloomer, having turned 27 just six days ago, Siri hit .304/.347/.609 with four homers and three steals in a tiny sample of 49 plate appearances during last year’s MLB debut. This season, he struggled to a .178/.238/.304 slash in a larger (but still relatively small) sample of 147 trips to the plate.
Houston has twice optioned Siri to Triple-A Sugar Land this season (most recently one week ago), and in the 13 games he’s played there, he’s ripped eight home runs and batted .293/.354/.828 in 65 plate appearances. That eye-popping production from the right-handed-hitting slugger is further backed up by a huge .318/.369/.553 slash through 394 plate appearances with Houston’s top affiliate last season. Overall, he’s played in 107 games and tallied 462 plate appearances with the Astros’ Triple-A club, crushing 24 homers and swiping 25 bags in that time. Siri also posted through-the-roof defensive numbers in 315 innings of center field work for Houston this season: 8 Defensive Runs Saved, a 6.6 Ultimate Zone Rating and 7 Outs Above Average.
While that combination of minor league production and exceptional defensive grades at the big league level is quite appealing, Siri’s strikeout woes are the proverbial elephant in the room. He’s had issues making contact since reaching the Double-A level with Cincinnati back in 2018. Siri punched out in 32.2% of his plate appearances that season and has continued to whiff in more than 30% of his plate appearances at nearly every stop since. He’s fanned “just” 16 times in Triple-A this year (24.6%), but Siri has fallen victim to a strikeout in one-third of his MLB plate appearances and in 30.9% of his total Triple-A plate appearances.
There’s extra reason for the Astros to consider offers on Siri, given that he’s in his final minor league option season. As a win-now club, Houston understandably seeks an immediate contributor in center, and while it’s tempting to say they should be patient with Siri given the power/speed/defense blend, he’ll have to be carried on the Major League roster next year or else be exposed to waivers. Considering his raw tools and Triple-A production (and the current trade interest), it’s quite likely he’d be claimed by another team if things were to reach that point, so extracting some value for Siri right now makes sense if the Astros can find a deal to their liking.
Siri has not yet accrued even one year of Major League service, though if he spends enough time on a big league roster down the stretch, he could still get there. Even if he does reach that point, he could still be controlled another five years beyond the current campaign (or six more if he spends another 17 days in the minors this year).
Idiot_Wind
Siri + Urquidy for Bryan Reynolds
noquarter89
I wish. Gonna take a bit more than that.
goastros123
Pass.
myaccount2
I think like Pitt would want prospects only for Reynolds. Gonna take Hunter Brown and more.
myaccount2
Ignore the “like” part– changed my wording and forgot to delete that.
jjd002
Sounded like a valley girl comment.
colonel flagg
Similar to taking the time to type, “I mean” before actually typing what you mean.
Highest IQ
Lol
Macbeth
No pirate fan or brass would make that deal.
noquarter89
Siri makes a great bench option for his defense and baserunning and general excitement, and he has tons of power, but his approach at the plate is so bad, it’s hard to see him ever developing into viable every day option.
Samuel
When the Astros give up on a 27 year-old position player and are thinking about trading a proven starter to bring back a veteran to play the same position…..
thunderecho
Spot on assessment noquarter89!
Tacoshells
Let’s all go to sugar land
Holy Cow!
All I know is you can’t be 20 on Sugar Mountain.
Edp007
You’re leavin’ there too soon!
JockStrap
Nathan Eovaldi & Christian Vazquez for Siri & a few pitching prospects?
We Stay Hungry We Devour
Nope
JockStrap
Yup
myaccount2
I’m going to go no also. Don’t think it makes sense for Boston.
greatdaysports
Nope. Trade him to Home Depot for more trash cans and lids.
omar salazar
ok. that was a funny one.
Rsox
Jarren Duran and Rob Refsnyder are fine for the Sox in CF. Siri seens better suited as a 4th OF/defensive replacement and as such probably doesn’t bring back much of a return
SteveC
The Sox might think Duran is ‘fine’ in CF, but he is very much not. Then again, most of the guys they field are butchers defensively
VonPurpleHayes
Hey Siri.
Goose
Damn you!!!! Beat me to the obvious stupid joke first. That’s my role!!!! 🙂
hiflew
How about Siri + Urquidy for Yonathan Daza and Alex Colome? Daza is still young and has control, but is proven in MLB and Colome is a late inning option.
myaccount2
It’s interesting but something tells me Daza isn’t cemented enough to move Urquidy unless Colorado sent more back.
Nhworley
Maybe CJ Cron instead of Daza? We need a 1b
Astrosfn1979
Cron has almost the same stats away from Coors as Yuli Gurriel does.
Cron road: .219avg, .293/.391/.683
Yuli: .237avg, .388/.391/.679
Why would any team trade for him as an upgrade?
hiflew
Because those teams realize how useless the home/road stat is for judging Colorado players. Just a thought
Armaments216
Siri could net a bullpen rental from Washington. In the off chance they might have an outfield vacancy to fill for the next few seasons.
onenatsfan
I had the same thought.
Astros2017&22Champs
Siri is a tantalizing mix of power and speed with off the charts makeup. He’s terrific defensively and creates on the basepaths. His achilles heel is contact ability. It’s probably unfixable.
bass86
He also is big mistake waiting to happen. Dude has “oops I molested 24 masseuse’s” written on his forehead
Henry Silvestre
Siri is good for questions? Siri where is Soto going? Siri give me directions to the Golden Duck Steak House? Siri is very useful
DCartrow
Can you try to be Sirious for once!!
Ted
Here’s something I found on the web.
ARC 2
So Astros are selling him before his value is at nothing. If the Astros can’t make a player better hitting around talented hitters than you must wonder what is wrong with him? none of their other CFs are doing well enough to say they are solid there.
noquarter89
I can see a team who has the time to be patient with him being interested in his potential. But for a win-now team that needs to upgrade its offense, his poor contact skills are too much to wait on, And the Astros have a number of guys with similar tools but at least marginally better discipline.
Cody1981
Barlow and Michael a Taylor for him and a starter..could be interesting
Rsox
Seems like Siri doesn’t offer much of an upgrade over the Outfielders the Royals already have. Plus i doubt the Royals would trade Barlow and Taylor as part of the same deal when they can get better returns for both separately
ARC 2
Barlow is having a great year so why would KC trade him unless they get a very good starter back that could slip into their starting rotation now.
noquarter89
The Astros have plenty of back end relivers, I don’t see them trading a starter for one unless they can match up on Odorizzi for a lefty setup man, Maybe Taylor for Siri plus a marginal prospect or two?
Rsox
Astros aren’t trading Odorizzi because even as a salary dump they would have to pick up a sizeable chunk. That is why they are looking at dealing a “controllable starter” most likely being Urquidy or Christian Javier for whatever upgrades they may be seeking
Astrosfn1979
I would love to see Siri on the Astros bench in the playoffs but if he can help bring an improvement to the lineup or rotation that would be better.
UWPSUPERFAN77
trade him, wasting his talent for too many years! Not fair to player!
OrangeCrushCity
“would love to see Siri on the Astros bench….”
Please no. Dusty would be tempted to play him. Siri can be great on the base paths, or as a late inning defensive replacement, but he’s just as likely to make a mental mistake that costs his club. He has no business with a bat in his hands in the playoffs. If someone wants to give up something the Astros can use for him, they should jump on it. Maybe somebody else can fix him.
bass86
On the bench? In the playoffs? In lieu of who? You know we can’t take all 40 guys with us in the playoffs right?
UWPSUPERFAN77
Kind of old to be a prospect. if I were him. I would want to be traded. Kind of Like HOF Thome blocking Ryan Franklin of Phillies at end of his career.
User 3663041837
He blocked Nick Franklin not Ryan Franklin.
jbeerj
Siri, why would the Brewers want Siri? They already have a defense-only CF with Jonathan Davis.
OrangeCrushCity
“Why would the Brewers want Siri?” The Brewers had a version of Siri a few years back. If you liked Carlos Gomes, you’ll like Siri.
MannyPineappleExpress9
I think we liked the haul we got when we traded him most.
DarkSide830
Carlos Gomez was vastly better than Siri. Could Siri do what Gomez did in 2013?
OrangeCrushCity
Not yet, but Siri is a rookie. He may never reach all star level, but he looks a lot like Gomez did in 2015 or so. Same million dollar talent and 10 cent head.
bass86
Good comp, has the same punk attitude
kripes-brewers
Yeah, just what the Brewers need. Another guy with power who strikes out waaaaay too much. Nope. Benintendi would’ve been a better fit. We need guys who can actually get on base so when they do get lucky and hit a homer it’s not a solo!
jbeerj
Benintendi can’t play CF though.
justme
Seems like maybe siri might be a good match in a trade with the cubs..controlable but near full time major league ready.And cubs have a couple tradeable pieces that could help the astros now..not going say it would be a straight up one for one deal but good starting point depending on what the astros would want
UWPSUPERFAN77
I want a player better then Taylor of the Brewers in CF. Not certain Siri is Beter than him. He is better than Mr.180, but not saying much about Davis. BTW, as critical as I have been of Davis, he has exceeded my expectations in CF .He has made some great defensive plays!
mostlytoasty
I want to know what the Astros plan to do with McCormick. He’s been hitting pretty dang good over the last month. Kind of guy I think benefits from more regular playing time. Metrics are decent on him out in the field as well. Teams looking for some cheaper OF help could look to him as well.
noquarter89
I see McCormick as a less extreme version of Siri. Awesome physical tools, plenty of value defensively and on the basepaths, good power too but strikes out too much and doesn’t walk enough, below average contact skills. At best I see McCormick as a very good 4th outfielder and occasional platoon option like Jake Marisnick. But I don’t see him ever being more than a replacement level hitter.
mostlytoasty
@noquarter89 yep, feel the same way pretty much. on a worse team he’d probably be a near everyday guy. On the Astros, he’s good depth to have, especially since their OF can never stay healthy.
OrangeCrushCity
Unless the Astros are getting a good outfielder back I hope they hold on to McCormick. He’s a solid bench guy / 4th outfielder. You need guys like that. Siri has more potential upside, so I could see a team seeing value in him, but if it’s a choice between McCormick and Siri as that guy for the Astros, I’ll take McCormick.
machurucuto
Siri, Gurriel, Altuve, Bergman and Velander for Gallo
Allen Adams
Only if Odor is thrown in the deal too.
bobby clementhay
Forget that Houston and Jim Crane don’t do ten year contracts for a moment: Siri, Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, Colin Barber, Pedro Leon and Jeremy Pena for Josh Bell, Soto and Patrick Corbin.
Allen Adams
I would love to see Siri homer and bat flip on Mad Bum…
jim stem
Phillies would be wise to grab him.
Goose
You would think this is a perfect fit for Bloom and how the Red Sox are rebuilding.
MarlinsFanBase
Siri batting .178. Fits perfect for the Marlins.
And he’ll certainly help our bullpen too!
MyCommentIsBetter
Defines AAAA player up to this point in his relatively short career.