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October 7, 2025 • 11 mins
MLB.com's Brian McTaggart joins Wex and AC to discuss the Astros' deciscion to bring back Joe Espada and Dana Brown for the 2026 season
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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Yeah, we just thought it'd be a good idea to
just call up the source, just go straight to the
horse's mouth.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
So he did.

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Brian McTaggart MLB dot com joining us here on the
program after he just tweeted the following about a half
hour ago. Astro's GM, Dana Brown manager Joe Spotta both
under contract for next year and we'll return in twenty
twenty six, a source tells MLB dot com. Any speculation
about their futures can be put to rest. Brian, thanks

(00:30):
for joining us, especially on short notice. But was this
ever in doubt or did you really think there was
a point where Jim Crane was thinking about making another change.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
No, I don't think it was really in doubt.

Speaker 4 (00:44):
There still seemed to be I guess there seemed to
be some loose ends or some uh, I don't know.
Uncertainly he's coming off that press conference a week ago,
when you know, Dana just said I expect to be
the GM. Joe's under contract. Was never this declaration that, hey,
you know both Rock Rock for sure coming back next year,

(01:05):
and so I think things were twisting in the wind
a little bit, and this just.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Sorts the sort of puts at the bed.

Speaker 4 (01:11):
Both both already have contracts for next year, so they're
they're not going anywhere.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
And deservedly so.

Speaker 4 (01:16):
So it gives them a little stability going into uh,
you know what is a very important offseason here?

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, you say deservedly so.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
And I know that there is a mixed reaction to
to a statement like that. There's just mixed reaction to
this news because I think, you know, while on one hand,
the injuries, which I've never seen anything like that, I
don't think you probably have in all your years covering
the team.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
It's just ridiculous.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
And I think after this the dust settled a bit
on the season. I know I felt like this that
it's insane that they were even in contention. While not
wanting to give them that excuse, I feel like that
maybe not enough was made about that. Is that is
there a way that there wasn't enough made about the
injuries as it pertained making the postseason, even though it's

(02:01):
all we talked about every day. Does that make sense?

Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah? I mean I think it can be both.

Speaker 4 (02:06):
Yeah, they had a devastating amount of injuries, the most
impactful injuries of any team, and yet thinks they didn't
make the playoffs because I think because they came so close.
I mean I think if the injuries would wreck their
season and they would have finished ten games out, I
think maybe people, you know, swallow that pill a little
bit better and say, well, you know, we'll just get
healthy and be back. But no, I mean, you know

(02:26):
they're in this thing. They're in first place, you know,
entering the last ten days of the season, and to
fall short, but you know, you lose Bregman, you lose Tucker,
all the injuries you've had. Alvarez plays forty eight games.
We know all the injuries. I mean, hater missed the
last two months, and you need to one more win.
They came really close, and considering all the injuries they have,

(02:50):
it's pretty remarkable. I think that they were in it
as much as they were to the end. And so
you got to think that a healthy Astros team certainly
makes the playoffs and probably is making a run at
a division title for sure. So but yeah, there's you
You can be disappointed for sure, because around here fans
expect them to win every year and they didn't. And
at the end of the day, that's all. You know,

(03:12):
It's gonna matter to some people.

Speaker 5 (03:13):
Yeah, a lot of talk and there should be about
that one more win. The team that had the same
number of wins that they did is hoping to take
a two games to one lead in their series at
Seattle or against Seattle in those first two games. Now
back home in Detroit and eighty seven and seventy five
baseball team, just what the Astros were. Are we in
a similar situation all throughout the next you know, twelve

(03:34):
months or so basically with the contract situations into and
through twenty twenty six, where there isn't additional financial considerations
to consider if there were to be made a change
at some point during the year as it.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
Ends in a year.

Speaker 3 (03:49):
Oh, what do you mean exactly?

Speaker 5 (03:50):
Are they both under contract for just one year so
we're kind of like watching them try to earn additional years.

Speaker 4 (03:58):
Yeah, I'm not sure. I mean, I know they're both
under contract for next year.

Speaker 3 (04:02):
I know that.

Speaker 4 (04:03):
You know, Crane has had a few gms here in
the last few years. The spot is only in his
second year. They would like a little bit of stability
here going forward. This is still very good core players
when they're healthy, if they make the right changes in
the offseason. This is a team that should make the
playoffs next year, no reason to upset the apple cart
at this point. Yeah, they're going to have a long

(04:24):
offseason to review things, I think top to bottom where
they can get better, as any team would, but I
think having the same GM in place will be helpful.
And obviously I think Joe the spot if the Aswers
make the playoffs, Joe a spot, I probably has a
great manager of the your case and the fell just short.
So it just seems a society that, especially in sports.

Speaker 3 (04:46):
Don't make the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (04:47):
Fire everybody, Let's start over not always the best idea,
and so I think that's very much the.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
Case here with the Astros is.

Speaker 4 (04:56):
You know, let's let's just keep some stability going forward,
try to find out why we have so many injuries,
just try to fix it. At some guys improve this
team and they can make another run at.

Speaker 1 (05:06):
This I'll refer to the elephant in the room as
it pertains to what you just said. Do you think
the stability includes the medical staff. I know that's not
you know, the norm question that we ask guys like
you this time of year, But like there had to
be some point where Jim Crane's like, hey man, what's
going on in there.

Speaker 4 (05:24):
I'll just say this. I mean, I'm sure they're going
to review it. I mean, I don't know what makes
a good medical staff, what doesn't. Yeah, Astros suffer tons
of injuries. You know, there's been a rash of injuries
in the league, especially with pitchers. But yeah, the Astros
had more impactful injuries than anybody.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
I'm not in the trainer's room.

Speaker 4 (05:40):
I don't know, you know, what they're telling these guys
and what the messages are. I don't know anything about
that stuff, so it's hard for me to say. But
I think if you're there's no doubt. I think they'll
take a long look at what's going on with the
injuries and try to figure out where maybe there's some
shortcomings and areas that can get better.

Speaker 3 (05:55):
Uh, where it changes, you know, I'm not sure. You know,
leave that to other people.

Speaker 4 (05:59):
But uh, as most teams do, especially when they fall short,
they take a complete look top to bottom of everything
and see where they can improve.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
And I'm pretty sure they're going to do that.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
Obviously.

Speaker 5 (06:09):
The two gentlemen we're talking about, Dana Brown and Joe
spot I met with the media just a couple of
days after the season last week, I was curious if
among some of the things that were at least discussed
and they should be, do you think there's a real
opportunity for the Astros to use some of their current
major league assets in trade to just kind of go
after a different type of player, whether it's a starting pitcher,

(06:29):
some other way to clear up the infield gluts, or
maybe do something at the catching position. Do you think
there's a real opportunity for them to trade something they
have for something of value.

Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, I do.

Speaker 4 (06:42):
And even Dana Brown said at that conference a week
ago that they would like to trade for some starting pitching,
so it's something obviously this on his mind.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
But yeah, like you said, there's.

Speaker 4 (06:51):
A surplus of position players, especially on the infield, where
maybe you could trade somebody and get something. Do you
entertain a trade for jan or Diaz, Maybe you bring
in another catcher resigned Caratini, maybe improve a little bit
defensively in that position, acquire a pitcher, obviously, I mean
I think they're gonna have to add I would say
two starting pitchers, who can you know, just go out

(07:13):
there and take the ball every five days, and you know,
Hopefully they don't get hurt just because they're they're gonna
be really thin depth wise right now with the injuries
that they have, and now you have arra Getty coming
off an injury. You know who knows you know how
serious that is. It doesn't look like he's gonna need surgery,
but they need reinforcements, and they do have, as you said, uh,
surplus position players where I think they could probably make

(07:35):
some deals and get some arms in here to help
them while having some money for you to go out
in free agency and get some guys as well.

Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah, at jose A Bray you Rafael Montero money, Money's
gonna hit differently now that it's available.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
This awesome.

Speaker 5 (07:49):
I mean Detroit Tigers postseason reliever Rafael Montero gave up
a run.

Speaker 2 (07:54):
That's what he does.

Speaker 1 (07:55):
Hey, Brian, looking into your crystal ball, because you did
mention the you know, starting pitching needs, and you know
everybody's trying to retool.

Speaker 2 (08:03):
Not this time of year, but it's you know, winter
meetings will be here before you know it.

Speaker 1 (08:07):
I don't think any of the three of us in
this conversation right now expect fromber Valdez to be in
an Astros uniform next year, where do you think he lands?
And you can give me a handful of teams, But
also do you think that teams out there are like
me in that he's been so durable that it's almost
the law of averages says, if you commit big money

(08:30):
to this guy, he's going to be the next Astros
pitcher former Astros pitcher to go under the knife.

Speaker 4 (08:37):
I don't know if they're going to look at it
like that. I may they're going to take it as
an individual case. I mean, this is a guy who's
been a workhorse starter. I mean he approached two hundred
innings this year, led the Astros in the innings, I believe,
and uh is a guy you can count on to
stay healthy. And you know, maybe it's the opposite. Maybe
maybe this is a guy that with a lot of

(08:58):
arms going down in an organization, this is the one
guy who has remained relatively healthy.

Speaker 3 (09:04):
Where he's gonna end up. I'm not sure.

Speaker 4 (09:06):
I haven't even begun to look at you know, what
teams might be after him, or who's gonna really be
in the market for starting pitching. Probably most teams you're
in the market for starting pitching, but I know Fromber's
probably wants, you know, the one time here is a
free agent, he's probably gonna want to cash in as
big as he can, and he should, so his market
will be interesting just because you know, he is a

(09:27):
little older now, he does have a lot of innings,
but he's also been really good for a long time.
And then you have some of the stuff that goes
on in games where he loses focus, the cross up
things a couple of months ago with Salazar, all that
factored in as well. But talking to some of his teammates,
you know they like him. They like him on the team,
and not just because he's a good pitcher. He's universally
regarded as a really hard worker, probably one of the

(09:49):
hardest workers in that clubhouse.

Speaker 3 (09:51):
And yeah, there are sometimes he loses.

Speaker 4 (09:53):
His way, but you know, you rain him back in
and you have him out on the mound. They feel
pretty good about having him on the mat. So it's
gonna be a very very free agent case. And yeah,
I certainly don't expect him to be in an Astros
uniform next year.

Speaker 5 (10:08):
All right, no analysis necessary, just a team name. Who's
going to win the World Series.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
I don't think y'all are gonna like this.

Speaker 5 (10:18):
Listeners, we can hang up before you answer.

Speaker 3 (10:21):
I think Seattle's gonna win.

Speaker 4 (10:22):
I think I told you a few weeks ago I
was bullish on Seattle and.

Speaker 1 (10:26):
Shut your dirty mouth, Brian, Tiger, shut your mouth, push click.

Speaker 4 (10:30):
The more I Dodgers, I'm the more I think that
looks like a scary team is gonna be really hard
to beat. So uh, a Dodgers Mariners World series would
be a lot of fun, which I'm sure Astros fans
would find.

Speaker 3 (10:41):
Not a lot of fun that.

Speaker 2 (10:43):
Makes me want to vomit in my mouth.

Speaker 5 (10:45):
Thanks for joining us, my friend.

Speaker 1 (10:47):
Hey, with short notice, what do you expect, Brian, you
are a gym, You're a butte. We love having you
on all the time. A great job as usual this year.
We just expect it. We take you for granted.

Speaker 3 (10:57):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (10:58):
But we'll catch up with you throughout the offseason, I'm
sure at some point, and before we know it'll be
spring training yet again.

Speaker 4 (11:05):
Well, I was driving in my car today and listening,
so I'm a fan of you guys as well.

Speaker 3 (11:08):
Thanks for having me on.

Speaker 2 (11:09):
I love it, love it. The feeling is mutual.

Speaker 1 (11:11):
Brian McTaggart here of MLB dot Com after breaking the
news essentially that Dana Brown Joe Spata back for twenty six.
We'll discuss that and more as we continue here on
a Tuesday edition of the show

Speaker 2 (11:26):
The Ad on Sports Talk seven ninety
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