ASTROS ADD MCCANN
Astros receive: Brian McCann and cash considerations
Yankees receive: RHP Albert Abreu & RHP Jorge Guzman
1 – The Yankees are sending $5.5 million of the $17 million due McCann each of the next two seasons to the Astros (that’s $11 million in total to the team in Houston over two years).
2 – McCann seems likely to split time behind the plate with Evan Gattis with early word being that the team is thinking McCann will be behind the dish about 100-110 times. He will obviously serve as designated hitter quite frequently when he’s not catching.
3 – I wrote about McCann and his skills in Free Agency is Coming.
4 – Abreu is a solid 21 year old prospect who was recently ranked as the 7th best prospect in the Houston system.
REDDICK SIGNS WITH ‘STROS
Josh Reddick has agreed to a four-year deal with the Astros at a reported $52 million. A previous Gold Glove winner, Reddick is a 29 year outfielder who hit .281 with 10 homers in 115 injury filled games in ‘16. It seems likely that he will fill the role of the departed Colby Rasmus, that of a lefty hitting outfielder who is a support piece, nothing more. Reddick will likely play right field which means that George Springer will move on to center field (the Astros previously added Nori Aoki to the outfield who I wrote about in Maybin to Angels & Other Contract Musings).
My take – Reddick just isn’t good. He has the talent to go 15/10, but he has just one season of 15 homers in four seasons, and though he hit a career best .281 last season the previous four seasons he failed to hit .265 three times. He also owns a .316 OBP, a league average number, and that .747 career OPS doesn’t do anything for you. Always hurt is he as well having failed to reach 400 at-bats in three of the last four seasons.
STARTING PITCHER ROLES
The Astros starting pitching staff, as it currently sits, would seemingly be the following:
Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Lance McCullers, Mike Fiers and the recently signed Charlie Morton
*For more on McCullers see Around the Horn.
Behind that five-some is Joe Musgrove and Brad Peacock for some depth, but those two may not be next up if something happens to the top-5 as Chris Devenski and Michael Feliz are better arms who might find themselves in the rotation at some point. "That's a debate that we have almost every day," general manager Jeff Luhnow said, "and it's different for the two players," when speaking of Devenski and Feliz.
Devenski was a special performer last season posting a 1.61 ERA in 83.2 innings of relief. Overall, he struck out 104 batters with just 20 walks over 108.1 frames leading to a HOF worthy 5.20 K/BB ratio. He also allowed just four homers despite a 0.82 GB/FB (thank you 3.5 HR/FB ratio). "Devenski was such an important part of our bullpen that it's hard to think about him not in that role," Luhnow said. "But at the same time, starting pitching's hard to find and I think he can do it.”
Feliz is a 23 year old righty who went 8-1 with a 4.43 ERA over 47 outings covering 65 innings. He also punched out 95 batters leading to a superb 13.15 K/9 ratio and 4.32 K/BB ratio. The homer was an issue for him, 10 allowed, but he still posted a WHIP of 1.18 that speaks more to the skills than the ERA.
Would have to think that Devenski is closer to the rotation than Feliz at this point.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).