SHOW ME CARLOS SHOWREA!!! THANK YOU, JESUS! YOU'RE WELCOME, RAMON!

Wex and AC react to the news of Carlos Correa and other moves around the MLB Trade Deadline as Houston goes on a run back to the postseason! What does Correa bring? Plus MLB.com's Brian McTaggart joins the show to talk about the deadline and more!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Two lifelong Houston sports guys named Adam, raised.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
By Earl.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Nolan, Molted by the magnificent roller coaster ride.

Speaker 3 (00:19):
That is Houston.

Speaker 4 (00:22):
Sports chill age down for the only homegrown afternoon team
is talking Your teams?

Speaker 5 (00:32):
Adam Clinton and Adam Wexler are the A team.

Speaker 6 (00:39):
Four hours left in the show, what should we do?

Speaker 7 (00:43):
Let's talk about the Astros and the Major League Baseball
trade deadline, fast and furious. I don't know about you
guys out there in Listenerville. I don't know about you
guys in here that are part of the show, ac Nicle,
but I don't think too many deadlines have been quite
this active. It's crazy, crazy activity. The Astros got involved

(01:04):
and have already officially announced one deal three hours until
all the deals must be finalized. Not necessarily announced by
five o'clock, but as long as the paperwork makes it
to league office by then and shortly thereafter, we might
see a deal or two drop in. This absolutely does
follow what we've been talking about here on the show

(01:25):
for the last several weeks during this twenty twenty five
Major League Baseball season. If you've been listening, the American
League is absolutely wide open. Everybody except for Oakland, Chicago,
now Minnesota, Baltimore in the eights thinks they have a

(01:45):
chance to not only make the playoffs, but make a
splash in the playoffs. And that's why just about all
of those teams have added personnel in just the last
twenty four hours or twenty hours since we last talked
to you at six o'clock yesterday. That includes the Blue Jays,
who are at the top of the American League. That
includes the Tigers, who are right there with him. That

(02:06):
includes the Astros who are right there with them, and
the Yankees and everybody else on.

Speaker 6 (02:11):
Down the line.

Speaker 7 (02:12):
So the next three hours should be a whole lot
of fun to see exactly which players the Astros are
clearly still in on according to reports, like Dylan Ceese,
like Sandy al Contra, like a left handed bat, and more,
and yes, like Carlos Korea. As unserious as the talks
were described as yesterday by Carlos himself in the Twins clubhouse,

(02:34):
they seem to be equally unserious. With two hours and
fifty seven minutes until the deadline, among other things, will
sprinkle in some deets about everything else going on in
the sports world, obviously yesterday we were with you post
Astros series victory over the Nationals. We were with you
pre Jeremy Panna homering in his last game for the
Sugarland Space Cowboys this season.

Speaker 8 (02:56):
Number where his ball landed with my son six months nice.

Speaker 7 (03:01):
He was wearing number twenty three for his two games there.
For those that remember, I won't say he used to
wear the Space Cowboys number twenty three. He used to
wear the Skeeters number twenty three back when he was
a tripa a ballplayer before splashing into the major leagues.

Speaker 6 (03:16):
And he should be splashing.

Speaker 7 (03:17):
Right into the batter's box first pitch of the game,
hopefully tomorrow night in Boston right here on Sports Talk
seven ninety a little bit earlier start there on the
East Coast, will obviously have that for you then. But man,
like I said, these teams in the hunt to capture
the American League Pennant. Obviously there's a lot of activity
in the National League also, But just in the last

(03:39):
thirty minutes more players have been added to these teams.
The Astros want to once again vanquish. We're excited to
talk about it.

Speaker 8 (03:47):
Well, let's start with the Astros, because I know that
in addition to getting the five foot nine version of
Mauricio Dubond.

Speaker 7 (03:55):
Okay, I gotta stop you right say everywhere last night
right in the first line of multiple articles the Astros
acquire doesn't say third baseman, it doesn't say utility player,
it doesn't say Orioles player.

Speaker 6 (04:09):
It immediately being begins with.

Speaker 7 (04:11):
Five to nine third basement, five to nine Orioles utility man.

Speaker 6 (04:16):
Why people are yist? It's baseball? I know, is it important? Well?
But you know the five.

Speaker 7 (04:22):
I think they'll just throw the pitch over his head.
He won't be able to do anything about it. He's
so short.

Speaker 6 (04:26):
He's not even the shortest guy on the on the roster.

Speaker 8 (04:28):
So no, I just say that because, more so than
anything he's had, he's a different height than the guy
who everybody's comparing him to in every other way, which
is what Mauricio Dubond brings.

Speaker 6 (04:39):
He's capable of doing a lot of things.

Speaker 7 (04:40):
Talking about Maramona rias the player added from the Baltimore Orioles,
Essentially he's a third basement with positional flexibility. The Astros
obviously have a hole at third base. Multiple reports between
yesterday and today suggest an extremely lengthy and unfortunate time
period for estach pereitis to come to full health, which
should wipe out the remainder of his season, but hopefully

(05:02):
not put next season in jeopardies. Obviously under club control
at an undetermined amount of money, same thing for one
more season with their newly acquired third baseman. And yes,
he's played second, he has played first, he has played short.
So when the Astros are in dire straits in the ninth, tenth,
and eleventh inning of games, he might be asked to

(05:23):
do that on occasion, but probably not all that frequently. Otherwise,
pending any other acquisitions, he's likely to be slotted into
play a ton of third base, which would allow Maurici
to do Bond. In the ballparks that allow all two
to play left Mauricy to de Bond to play second. Obviously,
Jeremy Paine's return, you're stabilizing a couple of spots, still

(05:44):
a few more spots to go. But when our first
caught news of that edition seemed like the kind of addition,
it's really not a whole lot different than Willie Castro,
and that's the player I actually thought they might add.
They continue to work with people they know the Astros,
not this current general manager, but the franchise in general,
with a group of people running the Orioles. Orioles clearly

(06:05):
knew this for months that it's not going to be
their year. Not trading a massive part of their future, clearly,
but a team that I think they felt they could
deal with, and a player that certainly fits in quite well.
I think with the Astros an Impact edition, which Dana
Brown discussed yesterday when he was on with the Sean
Salisbury Show Wednesdays at nine thirty, he probably would not

(06:29):
fit into the Impact player category. He upgrades their current situation.
They need a bigger upgrade over the next three hours
most likely.

Speaker 8 (06:37):
Well, let's okay, so let's begin there. Well, continue there,
I guess I should say, since we've already begun, you
know the name that's being attached to the Astros as
much as anyone else.

Speaker 6 (06:48):
You can I read, can I read aloud to text
you sent me last night? I think so, I.

Speaker 2 (06:55):
Know.

Speaker 7 (06:55):
I don't know what it is. I don't want to
give you just total license on this. Well I would,
I wouldn't make you, I wouldn't put you in private
exchange A Korea Jersey Friday if they add Korea. Yeah,
I don't believe that's going to happen, And Chandlerom does either. Yeah,
I just think. And they were just talking about on

(07:17):
one of the uh on MLB network and the phrasing
they used in this piece of their show that was
about Korea, was Minnesota looking to move Korea?

Speaker 6 (07:27):
Well, that's that's what I need to know. That's what
you need to know.

Speaker 7 (07:29):
The Astros aren't as much looking to acquire Korea as
the Twins are looking to move Korea. It's gonna be
on the Astros terms. I don't know what those exactly
would be, but I can assure you it will not
be without Minnesota paying a ton a ton of that contract. Now,
unfortunately that means it would cost you better players. But
they're not in any kind of position to put a
thirty one year old converted third baseman on the field

(07:52):
for them over the next three years.

Speaker 6 (07:54):
At the exorbitant amount of money that he is set
to make.

Speaker 7 (07:56):
You might get lucky, and he's the twenty twenty four
version of him off offensively, but both the twenty twenty
four version and many other versions have been the injured
version of Korea, not the player they should be targeting,
not the player that I think they are intent on acquiring.
But yes, under the right circumstances that I just don't
think are going to fall into place, would be there
should they acquire him. A lot of fans will be
happy the hope that he could give you three really

(08:18):
good years under whatever the financial terms are, it still
can be there. He deserves to be in the lineup
every day. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to
tell you his careers over at age thirty one.

Speaker 6 (08:27):
It isn't.

Speaker 7 (08:28):
He's just not producing this year in a way that's
befitting of a player that makes that kind of money.
And that's all there is to it, if and when
he is moved to whatever team he goes to. But yes,
I do have one that I could sport for Friday's
program if in fact that happens, you know, two hours
and fifty two minutes, I will gladly do so.

Speaker 8 (08:45):
I have two Korea Astros jerseys, and neither of them
is traditional in any sense. One of them is the
memorial Day for that year or whatever year it was,
where the number it was a great jersey and the
numbers were green with black outline, so it looks like
a gray Astros road jersey, but where there would be
I guess blue and oranges is green like Army green,

(09:08):
and the other is the gold addition that they wore
after winning the World Series.

Speaker 6 (09:12):
At the Series patch on it.

Speaker 8 (09:15):
I believe so nice, So I would probably sport that one.
Seeing as how if they're making a move like this,
presumably it's to try and win another one.

Speaker 7 (09:23):
That is definitely the way the owner would see it,
and certainly the general manager. You're adding, this is still
a plus player, and this is still somebody who could
absolutely give you two three great months that they happen
to be these two to three months ahead of you,
then yeah, things would be pretty promising for a first
place team that extended their lead over one of the
two teams and watched it stay the same over the other.

(09:44):
Of those two teams play each other, there's only three
games of Major League Baseball today. Everybody else's gms got
to focus in on the trade deadline. Astros have been
linked to multiple players a name that was thought to
potentially be so when they could be interested in over
the last couple of weeks, but not knowing for sure
if the Guardians would be interested in moving it on

(10:07):
from I'm not sure how the Emmanuel classe A suspension
waded into their future thinking, but I do think Stephen
Kwan makes a whole lot of sense for the Astros.

Speaker 6 (10:17):
John like it because he kills them.

Speaker 7 (10:19):
He does just in his words, one team to watch
on Stephen Kuan. This isn't one of the things I
usually love to discuss on Twitter from the national voices,
whether it's John h John m or any of them.
I love them for the reasons I hate them. This
is what he writes. The Astros are one team to
watch on Stephen Kuan.

Speaker 6 (10:40):
Pause.

Speaker 7 (10:41):
Okay, this is someone connected. He knows what he's talking about.
He's got sources all over the league he's talking. I
think this has some legs to it. I think he
wouldn't say it unless he felt like I've got the reasons,
the sources, the phone calls that I've made to think, well,
there's a possibility this could happen, and now I've told
everybody about it. I'm doing my job as a reporter.
Unpaul next line, Houston has had three different starting left

(11:03):
fielders in the last three games.

Speaker 6 (11:05):
Okay, come on now.

Speaker 7 (11:07):
The reason they're making a trade for Steven Kuan is
because Joe Spot has put a different person's name in
left field the last three days.

Speaker 6 (11:13):
He's been doing this all year.

Speaker 7 (11:15):
They don't have a regular second baseman, they don't have
a regular left fielder, they don't have a regular third baseman,
they don't have a regular center fielder. This is the
story of the Astros season, with the changes that were
made before the year with Altuve, and obviously the injuries
that have come since, but nonetheless the sense of it,

(11:35):
the control of Kwan financially into the future slightly, all
reasons why a left handed bat definitely combat at the
top of the lineup, brings a big element of speed,
and is a plus defensive player.

Speaker 6 (11:50):
Not having an unbelievable offensive season.

Speaker 7 (11:53):
But would be a nice ad if that were the impact,
if you will, And he's a lower tier impact, but
definitely could impact. This opportunity here for the Astros to
not only maintain first place, but truly give themselves a
chance to say, yep, guess what, the Astros are the
best team in the American League.

Speaker 8 (12:09):
Again, Well, I want to get into the other big
fish that we were talking about.

Speaker 6 (12:15):
They throw pitches, don't they?

Speaker 8 (12:16):
Yeah, well there well, speaking of pictures, there's several names
that have been associated with the Astros in that regard.
But as it pertains to a reunion of sorts, I
don't know why I feel like it's got a better
than average chance of happening. I think it's because of
the one of the owners involved is the biggest reason
you just mentioned kind of his way of thinking, but

(12:38):
what he actually does, and you know, the moves he
actually gives his blessing to have done. I think that's
why this is still in play no matter what anybody
is saying. So obviously, unlike some years, we've got a
little bit more time to monitor things before the deadline
actually arrives. It's not three o'clock Central, it's five o'clock Central,
So a lot of discuss between now and then here

(13:00):
on a deadline deal day edition of the eighteen.

Speaker 3 (13:05):
The eighteen on Sports Talk seven nineteen.

Speaker 8 (13:17):
So as it pertains to Carlos Korea, wex the latest
thing I saw where you want to like say, Okay,
this is.

Speaker 6 (13:27):
Really gonna happen or not.

Speaker 8 (13:29):
Probably leans towards the latter, at least if you believe
what Bob Nightingale said, which was at the Astros trade
talks with Twins for shortstop Carlos Korea are all but dead,
and then he goes on to just conveniently mention why
Astros apparently, and this is according to Bob Nightingale, asked

(13:49):
the Twins to pay about fifty million of the remaining
one hundred and two point five million left on Korea's
contract and to include an outfielder. So you're gonna need
to pay half the deal and go ahead and send
us an outfielder.

Speaker 7 (14:02):
Two described it yesterday as it should be on the
Astros terms, it feels like and now feels even more
so today.

Speaker 6 (14:10):
They're approaching desperation.

Speaker 7 (14:13):
They're moving a lot of other players, and clearly salaries
have a little bit to do with it, and standings
have a lot to do with it. Being the Twins, yeah,
they being the Twins. The Astros might have called them.
The Twins might have called them. I've heard two different
stories on the angle of it, but I do think
it was the Astros who at least put the phone
call in to gauge some interest. But the Astros, despite that,
they're the team that's trying to win so you might

(14:35):
describe them and trying to keep up with everybody else
making moves. Maybe I don't believe they're desperate to add
Carlos Korea. I don't think their owner feels desperate to
add Carlos Korea. Under the right circumstances, sure we will
take you're gonna give us Carlos Korea. Well, if we
can get him along with this, and you're gonna go
ahead and give us that. And it's only gonna take

(14:55):
these players out of the minor leagues for us. Okay,
we'll put Carlos Korea back in a number one uniform.
We'll send him out to shortstop and then shift him
over to third base when Peena gets on the field,
and we'll go play games.

Speaker 8 (15:09):
But then, why would they make the deal for uh,
why would they make the deal for Yeah?

Speaker 7 (15:22):
Ok all it does is put Mauricio Dubon in the
outfield until your outfield is whole.

Speaker 6 (15:26):
So he plays center field because Jose's and left josees
and left Mariso's And Okay, I'm trying.

Speaker 7 (15:34):
You've got Korea playing a new position. Arias doesn't have
a ton of experience at second base, but he's played
it many times at the major league level, just not
as much frequently.

Speaker 6 (15:42):
Absolutely can handle it.

Speaker 7 (15:43):
He's a former Gold Glove winner at third He's the
type of player that I think has shown you might
be best at this position, but you can play all
the infield positions, even first base, at a very high level.

Speaker 6 (15:54):
Dubon is like that.

Speaker 7 (15:55):
I think he'll probably find out Bryce Matthews and his
future will be like that, though, to be more or
less a permanent second basement.

Speaker 6 (16:02):
And I think Riace is like that.

Speaker 7 (16:04):
He's been playing third base for the Orioles because Gunner
Henderson and Jackson Holliday have things handled up the middle,
so they don't have an opening for him there. The
opening was at third base. He's played mostly third base
in his career and that's almost exclusively what he's played
this year. I don't think Correy is going to second base,
so I think it's probably the configuration we discussed.

Speaker 6 (16:24):
And as much as I've been.

Speaker 7 (16:27):
Lukewarm on Correa's season offensively this year, I probably would
think that Dana Brown went asked, and hopefully we'll get
a chance to talk to Dana today on our show
later in the afternoon. He would probably categorize Carlos Correa
as the type of player he discussed yesterday on the
Seawan Salisbury Show. He would call him, I'm pretty sure

(16:48):
an impact player. Despite Carlos's twenty twenty three season where
his ops plus where average is one hundred was ninety four,
and his ops plus this year, where average is one hundred,
he's at ninety two. It was at one fifty one
last year, albeit in just eighty six games.

Speaker 8 (17:07):
At this point in their careers, and again, not just that,
but what the Astros need right now in the last
day of July twenty twenty five, does Qwan not make
more sense than Korea to go after?

Speaker 7 (17:22):
I mean, not knowing what it would cost in prospects
to get him. I'm not even sure that I could
have my mind changed other than answering your question with
a yes. Mask he's going to get on base thirty
five thirty six percent of the time. He's heading into
his fifth year next year, where he'll still be under
your control. He's twenty seven year old outfielder. Expectations for

(17:43):
that player is he's a one to ten, one fifteen
OPS plus guy. This year he's at one oh nine
ops overalls in the seven fifties for his career in
same place.

Speaker 6 (17:51):
That is this year.

Speaker 7 (17:52):
If you want a team that goes first to third,
like the Astros have done as well as anybody in
the league.

Speaker 6 (17:56):
This year he's going to enhance that.

Speaker 7 (17:58):
All Star each of the last two years a goal
glover three times in three seasons. He's only played three
seasons at the major league level. He's won a goal
glove every time. He can't have a goal glove yet
this year because they haven't handed it out yet. The
things that we didn't mention so much with your eyes.
They want to be a great defensive team. That's clearly
gotten away from them a little bit as they've put
different people in the lineup every day infield and outfield.

(18:22):
A Kwan and Urias addition to this team would put
them near the top of the league defensively. And if
you're watching highlights on a nightly basis or hearing us
play what's up with that?

Speaker 6 (18:32):
Say what?

Speaker 7 (18:32):
Or during Best of X we get to play other
teams announcers saying what was this guy doing? Like last night?
With the total nonsense from Aaron Boone's worst fundamental team
in the history of baseball, when there were only two
outs in the inning, and they runnerround second, who was
the go ahead run, just decided to start trotting back
to the dugout and it turned into the final out
of the inning. Because the other team is as stupid,

(18:53):
the Astros don't give the other teams as many chances
as they take from other teams who make mistakes. And
both Kwan and Eris would be players that make this
team even more solid than they already are defensively. Plus,
he probably, you know, if Paine is happy, healthy and
moving on as your leadoff hitter, I'm not really sure
where you'd put Kwan to enhance him the most. He's

(19:16):
a leadoff hitter. He's the top of the order type
of hitter. If this team's fully healthy, he does lengthen
your lineup. I'm just not sure where the best spot
for him is permanently currently. Probably bat second, have al two,
a third, and you go on with what you have
as you are today. Payin youa leading off also a
little more balanced because he obviously hits from the left side.
I'm a big fan of that acquisition. It's been a

(19:38):
couple of weeks since we brought his name up because
I thought the Guardians were not gonna be in cell mode,
and we'll find out more in the next few hours
how serious they are. They've moved on from some significant contributors.
He'd be at the top of the list if he's moved.

Speaker 8 (19:52):
So just real quickly as it pertains to a name
that was tied to the Astros, Bob Nightingale. Just now,
while everyone is wondering where Padres starter Dylan Ceese is going,
it certainly appears that he's going nowhere and staying in
San Diego, which was kind of the how it felt
things were going last night when I was reading a
little bit about the situation and then the San Di

(20:14):
al Contera rumor whatever you want. I can't connect to
that rumors just tying to.

Speaker 7 (20:20):
The ass the Astros need starting pitching.

Speaker 6 (20:23):
Yeah, that's they have.

Speaker 7 (20:25):
They made a phone call. So if you hear, if
you're reading and they say discussions have been held, well
there you go. That's how you describe it. They have
been discussing this player. Yeah, I Dylan Cees, I can
feel confident saying Padres don't have to move him, and
thus they're not the desperate team and the Astros don't
have to have him. They're not a desperate team, so
the price is probably too high. If that doesn't happen,

(20:45):
they're just asking for stuff that you weren't willing to
give up.

Speaker 6 (20:48):
It's funny, But because.

Speaker 8 (20:51):
I think it was yesterday towards the end of the show,
maybe even after the show, I said, what if that
was the name that wound up uh being the guy
who came back to Houston? Would you end up kind
of low key liking that better than maybe Dylan sees
who would be coming Sandy Alknterra. Oh, he was the
trade acquisition as opposed.

Speaker 7 (21:10):
To that tremendous upside for what their resume at the
back of their baseball card, if you will, both of
their well, it's trade deadline.

Speaker 6 (21:16):
I had to save it up all year just for
this one day. Brutal.

Speaker 7 (21:19):
I mean, this is a former cy Young Award winner.
He's pitched at an exceptionally high level. He's been giving
the ball to start. You know, he's the guy that
they had there not a very good team, and that's
also pretty noteworthy. You were able to do that for
a team that's not particularly good. Paul Skeins will do
that this year in the National League it's not all
tied together, but nonetheless, I think you get my point.
Both will be very the issue that the Astros are

(21:42):
running to. I think on al Contra, even though his
value isn't what it could be because he is not
having a good season, he's coming off of a good start,
he's not having a very good season. He's also not
that far removed from significant injury. So when is he
himself again or is he is a question you have
to ask. But I think there's a bunch of teams
that would be wanting in on this. It's not very

(22:02):
often that a recent Cy Young Award winner is available.
Shane Bieber is one such pitcher, and he was just
traded while not even being able to contribute immediately. Blue
Jays were the team that added him. So I think
maybe if a Contra doesn't happen, it's more about they
were outbid, maybe more willing to part with some talent
assets to get him, but maybe not the team with

(22:24):
the best offer on the table. It's still what we're
lacking for the most part. As we get within two
and a half hours of the deadline, the starting players
are moving left and right, just not a ton of
starters yet biggest deal of the day you could argue
did happen in this division today? The biggest deal that
maybe you could call I don't know what part of
the country you were in, but maybe late last night

(22:46):
with what the Mariners did, and then earlier today with
what the A's did. Two huge deals, one that affects
this year's Mariners and the other that affects the future
of the Athletics, who I do think are finally going
to be in a factor a factor in this division
moving forward.

Speaker 6 (23:03):
But focusing in on.

Speaker 7 (23:04):
The astros, the names, We'll give you the updated information
as you have it. I'll get some insight on the
player they've already added for both Tim Kirkchin, who's been
on the station earlier today, and Brian McTaggart. Their thoughts
and words two forty five and three thirty respectively, on
trade deadline Day here on Sports Talk seven ninety on
the eighteen.

Speaker 3 (23:24):
The Age on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 4 (23:28):
Shoot me how to lie?

Speaker 6 (23:29):
You're kiddy all the time.

Speaker 7 (23:31):
We just roll right on through with the show. So
much going on and a possible guest on the way.
We'll just continue with the conversation here. Normally halfway through
our number one. We hit you with the best of X,
but we go on to X so often and go
on to all your social media platforms. Essentially, the entire
show features bits and pieces of that. I do expect
a lot more activity around baseball. The two trades that
I alluded to last segment. The Seattle Mariners did, in

(23:54):
fact to side a reunion with a Haneo Suarez was
something they were interested in and the US He is
expected to be in their lineup as early as tonight.
Their corners are brand new, both are plus level players,
both having good offensive season. Josh Naylor has been there
about a week over at first and now Sworez will
return to third base. For the Mariners, We've been talking

(24:15):
about their farm system for quite some time, widely regarded
as one of the best, if not the best, in baseball.
Now putting it to some use by using some of
their prospects to get major league talent. The Mariners added
a bullpen arm, a lefty Caleb Ferguson. They added a
first basement third baseman. These are all things that the Astros, Rangers,
and the rest of the American League have been happy

(24:37):
that the exact same GM for years hasn't been doing
This year, they feel differently. They're in a comparable position,
trailing the Astros, with a team capable of playing with
the Astros, potentially beating the Astros, and yet in years
past they really haven't done things like this. So for
the first time in a while, they're actually going for it,
and they could certainly put a lineup on the field that,
on paper is significantly better than anybody else's lineup in

(25:01):
this division and arguably around the American League in general.
A Rose Arena obviously an ad in the past, He's
there every day. Cal Raley could certainly win the MVP
this year.

Speaker 6 (25:12):
With the Aaron.

Speaker 7 (25:13):
Judge injury, Julio Rodriguez and now these two added to
WIT along with JP Crawford and all of the arms
that have been there, albeit not quite at the level
they pitched at last year, they're all back. Brian wu
the guy keep telling you, is their best pitcher. He
pitched last night and lost. George Kirby rounding in the
form Logan Gilbert still pitching a little bit like he's

(25:35):
not quite himself after returning from injury. But this is
the first time, like I said, ever, not in a
while but ever that the Mariners are saying to the
rest of the league and the Astros quite directly, we're
here and we care and we're trying to beat you.

Speaker 8 (25:50):
Yeah, and they're not even the only team in the
division that hasn't done that lately. That seems like they
are doing that when you talk about the Athletics, But
as it pertains, Athletics are doing the opposite.

Speaker 7 (26:00):
Athletics did not get better today. But the deal they
made is actually it's amazing what I tweeted out or
posted on x about this earlier because I thought it
was for one player. They traded for a shortstop who's eighteen,
has played, he's in a ball high a ball for them,
and he's the third overall prospect in baseball according to

(26:21):
a lot of prognosticators. But still giving up Mason Miller
as four years of club control and obviously makes no
money and sears to do so. I didn't know that
I was really in favor of that when I found
out they got all these other prospects. Also, Yes, this
was an amazing deal I think for Miller and Sears
for the A's, but it doesn't make them any better
this year. It makes them worse this year, they finally

(26:43):
look at their roster and think they can win. Maybe
they put it off a year or two with this deal,
but they locked up Butler and Rooker in the offseason.
They're going to do the same, I think with some
of their other young players, and West Sacramento is going
to have a legitimate baseball team soon as twenty twenty six.

Speaker 8 (26:57):
I'm just glad he's in the National League now be
throwing one hundred and four miles per hour at any
of the Astros hitters.

Speaker 6 (27:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (27:03):
I know he's been a closer. It's not a given
that he will remain a closer, even though he's elite.
But they need starting pitching, and I think that's what
the most of their focus will be on from here
on out. Their offensive, youthful lineup is probably gonna be
scary very soon.

Speaker 8 (27:19):
Yeah, that's and that's why I think. That's when I
say they care, but Seattle actually is. They seem to care,
and it's I think it makes this weekends series that
they're going to begin with the Rangers all the more
interesting because those are the two teams fighting tooth and neck,
tooth and nail. I should say to get up to

(27:40):
where the Astros are, while the Astros are just if
nothing else, I mean, they made a minor deal, if
you will, trying to get healthy and hoping that that's enough.

Speaker 2 (27:50):
I just.

Speaker 8 (27:53):
The thing that makes him so good. Won't that be
negated by a ballpark he's going to play in for
the Mariners, Like, don't you think that?

Speaker 6 (28:04):
Suarez? Yeah, no, I mean it. I guess, I guess
the ultimate what I'm doing this year is a little
bit better than other years.

Speaker 7 (28:14):
But this is a guy who hit thirty homers last
year in Arizona, he hit thirty one homers with Seattle,
he hit thirty one homers and forty nine homers with
the Reds.

Speaker 8 (28:22):
He's I guess, I guess I'm forgetting that he hit
that many when he was with Seattle the first time.
And the the other thing is obviously, and that hasn't
stopped cal Rawley this year. So did the other thing
that's so obviously hilarious about this is just like if
the Astros went and got Korea, you had the guy,
you actually traded him. You didn't let him walk in
free agency, you traded into the Diamondbacks and then traded

(28:42):
back for him.

Speaker 6 (28:43):
That's weird. That's the way they decided to play it.

Speaker 8 (28:46):
Yeah, I just for all to talk about how they
never do anything, and now we're going to criticize him
because they do well.

Speaker 6 (28:52):
Yeah, because I'm not going to criticize him for this deal.

Speaker 7 (28:54):
That this is what you should be doing when you're
in the hunt, especially when you're loaded with prospects, because
they're not even necessarily gonna cost you the best ones,
but it means your fourteenth prospect in your eighteenth prospect
in other team systems would be considered even better. They're
major league talent far down your list, because your top
end prospect talent is major league star talent and they're

(29:15):
loaded with it. The Astros just kind of got lucky.
This team doesn't care for years and years and years
on end. We're just gonna put a team out there
and see if they can win eighty eight games. That's
our goal. That's what their GM even said. Two years
or almost two full years in Arizona, they want him back.
Every single season that Suarez has had a Mariner's jersey on,
he has led the league in strikeouts. He probably won't

(29:38):
accomplish that this year, but that's pretty much the knock
on him. He just strikes out too much, drives in runs,
hits the ball over the fence, certainly more than capable
enough defender, not plus, not negative, just over there at
third base, much like Peretis.

Speaker 6 (29:51):
He's leading the league in RBIs this year.

Speaker 7 (29:52):
He's gonna have one hundred and twenty some odd RBIs
in twenty twenty five and the last thirty year. So
are gonna come in the Mariners uniform.

Speaker 8 (30:00):
The sudden fire sale mini fire sale that the Orioles
are now underway with has just had the next chapter
written that they are sending Cedric Mullins to.

Speaker 6 (30:09):
The Mets as of like two seconds ago.

Speaker 7 (30:11):
Yeah, they're trading all their either older veteran players like Mullins,
or players that weren't part of their future, whether they're
young or old, moving on from a couple of guys,
obviously one of whom is now an Astro.

Speaker 6 (30:23):
Mullins.

Speaker 7 (30:24):
There was interest, I think severe or significant interest from
the Astros, but now moving in.

Speaker 6 (30:29):
A deal to the Mets.

Speaker 7 (30:30):
Mets have been probably as active as any team in
the National League active in terms of all the moves
they've made. It'd be hard grading which team did the
most to help themselves since the Phillies were the team
that added the Twins closer yesterday. But the Phillies have
done a very good job. And you know, Mullins had
a down year on throughout the first four months of
the season. Offensively, maybe a declining player, not like he's

(30:51):
too old, but age, maybe a little bit of that.
Still plays great center field turned in one of the
catches of the year yesterday. Would have made a lot
of sense for Houston. Other player whose future is uncertain,
But the Orioles are facing reality. They're not competitive this year,
competitive enough, so get what you can get.

Speaker 8 (31:11):
There's another Bird on the way to the Yankees, which
is a good news for the Astros because the last
time they had a guy named Bird on their roster,
the Astros won the World Series.

Speaker 6 (31:21):
Oki Doki, It's it's Jake. Though he's a reliever, he's
a porch, very considerator. All right, Well, take a quick
time out. We will come right back.

Speaker 8 (31:28):
We will likely be joined by that guest the Wexler
was talking about when we return here on a Thursday
edition of the eighteen.

Speaker 1 (31:37):
The A Team on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 9 (31:43):
Yeah, you feel a baby.

Speaker 7 (31:52):
Back at it here on the A Team, and as promised,
very special guests back here on the A Team, Adam
Wexler and Adam Clinton here with you. We get set
for a host of different things over the course of
the afternoon, but special to be joined as always by
a good friend, Rockets and NBA legend Vernon Maxwell here
with us on the A team. Vernon's got a lot
of things going on, always a lot of irons in

(32:13):
the fire, and always appreciate you spend a little time
with us. And even though there's so much else going on,
I mean, are you like everybody else? And I know
the answer? Vernon fired up about Kevin Durant. He's a
Houston Rocket.

Speaker 9 (32:25):
Absolutely absolutely, That's what I was saying last year. You know,
we just needed a guy after all they was missing
was the pet a guy you can roll the ball
out to him and get your twenty five, six, twenty
seven a night. And we got him now. So don't
be I like our Tamted. I really think it's gonna
be a special season.

Speaker 6 (32:44):
Vernon, What are you up to? It's ac How are you?

Speaker 9 (32:47):
Hey? What's up, Bud? How you doing?

Speaker 6 (32:48):
I'm good?

Speaker 1 (32:49):
Hey?

Speaker 8 (32:50):
You know you've talked a lot like on podcasts and
everywhere else about matching up against MJ. And there's there's
times where having that kind of guy across the floor
from you on the floor, that that is a victory
in and of itself, even before the ball is tossed up.
Do you feel like that is part of what the
Rockets are getting here and something that will actually lead

(33:12):
to success now the Cadi's on the roster.

Speaker 9 (33:15):
Yeah, like you know, and that's that's that's a big
part of what you just said out there, you know,
just knowing that you know, you got guy every night
gonna get you twenty five, twenty six points a night.
I mean, that's big in the NBA. I mean, I mean,
just think about all the double team. He's gonna open
up so much things for so many other guys out
there on the floor. So it's gonna be I can't

(33:38):
wait to see it. And then we got you know,
a great coach, you know, and then you know, we
got the big guy in the middle. I mean, so
then they had some good pieces too, you know. So
I just like God chances this year. I think we're
gonna have a special season this year.

Speaker 7 (33:52):
What would you think about Vernon Maxwell being playing on
a team coach by email Udokah Man.

Speaker 9 (33:59):
Let's see it. He unleash the doll. You'll let the
dog go eat. You'll let me go and eat like
he you know, I mean, I mean, like I say
Dylan Brooks. I mean just the same thing. I mean,
I love Dylan, you know. So I mean I'm thinking
he'll probably let me go just like he let Dylan go.
So I'll be you know, I let me be who

(34:19):
I am and let me be the dog I am.
And so I mean and understanding the way that I
play and the way that and what motivates me to
play that way, So he'll understand that part of me.
I think.

Speaker 8 (34:31):
Yeah, we're talking to Vernon Maxwell here on Sports Talk
seven ninety. So the Big Three is in town this weekend,
and then you've got a golf tournament coming up.

Speaker 6 (34:40):
Let's start with the Big Three.

Speaker 8 (34:42):
How much of this event and the success that it
has already enjoyed and will continue to enjoy, how much
of it is about the nostalgia aspect, which is what
I like to say when I think about guys like you,
Guys that I grew up watching play and I'm still
in touch with to this day and just guys that
contributed to such big moment and made so many of
us NBA fans.

Speaker 6 (35:02):
Isn't that what half the battle is with this Big three?

Speaker 9 (35:07):
Yeah, it's like it's for guys you know that when
you retire, you have another platform you can go and
make money. And you know, I mean and and and
still compete. And uh, I scu to do a good
job with the advertisement and everything that goes along with
the Big Three. I mean, so, I mean, he got
legendary coaches all up and down the sideline. So I
mean unfortunately, I mean, I'm it's a blessing for me

(35:30):
because you know, Steven Jackson, my brother, he the one
brought me. I mean, unfortunately they did with me. So
it was a blessing for me just to be able
to build the sideline. And unfortunately, my man, he had
his back thirdery so and then now I'm the head
coach now, but we're not doing a real good job

(35:50):
right now. But like I think, here we at the
bottom of the barrow. I think like one in five
or something like that. So I'm just looking forward to
trying to get a big win this weekend. It's gonna
be tough because we got to White Howard and these
other guys, those so the LA Riots. So it's gonna
be a tough game for us.

Speaker 8 (36:06):
Well, why don't you suit up because you look like
you could put in thirty still to this day.

Speaker 9 (36:11):
Uh yeah, I probably need to go and I give
me all right knee brace. I probably will go out
there and give them by twenty fifteen something like that.
But nah, man, I couldn't do it. These guys, these guys,
they they they real basketball players. They could be hard
and they play hard. So but now I couldn't do it.
Right now, I'm sixty years old and about a month
and a half.

Speaker 6 (36:29):
You don't look at day over forty.

Speaker 9 (36:33):
Always been you, always been my guys.

Speaker 5 (36:35):
Man.

Speaker 9 (36:35):
I appreciate it.

Speaker 6 (36:36):
Man, I am your hype man.

Speaker 8 (36:38):
Hey, tell us about the golf tournament because I know
you love I see you on Instagram all the time.
You love golf. I didn't know how much you loved
it until I started seeing you on social.

Speaker 9 (36:48):
Yeah that's my but my second love.

Speaker 10 (36:51):
Man.

Speaker 9 (36:51):
It keeps me out of trouble. I mean, you know,
after you play golf, you're so tired. You didn't have
to drink or something out there on the golf course
and then after I get done, just be ready to
go home and take a shout and lay down and
just watch them good TV. I'm tired, I'm beat up,
So that's what it does to me. And then I mean,
I just love it. I've been playing for over thirty years.

(37:12):
If a tournament starts at August the twenty third at
Herman Park, I mean it's just for this calls them
my Foundation, the Mental Health Foundation, the Burnon Maxwell Foundation.
So but it's for a good cause and I'm looking
forward to that because you know, I'm in a place
now where I can like talk about something that I

(37:35):
need to be talked about and need it back in
the day when I when I was playing ball, you know.
So now I got a platform I can talk about
the mental health space and I'm just glad I'm able
to do that.

Speaker 6 (37:46):
Well, it's what are the dates again? One more time
for the listeners.

Speaker 9 (37:50):
It's August to twenty third at Herman Park. And is
that going to start at nine thirty? You can come
out and hit balls and get loose at eight o'clock
and you can sign.

Speaker 6 (38:00):
Up and is there a is there a website to
go to what's the best way to.

Speaker 9 (38:06):
Go ahead all my socials, you know, and it's in
my bio too, so link in my bio.

Speaker 8 (38:15):
So all right, so we'll find find Vernon Maxwell on
social on Instagram and Twitter and and uh, everybody already
knows about Twitter because of you and the Utah Jazz
by the way. Uh, going into this year, I know
we talked about we have high hopes for for the Rockets,
and I think they're right there with the the thunder
who are the defending champs all of a sudden, which

(38:36):
still sounds weird to say, what did you like most
about this last NBA playoff? Because I know it didn't
It's not that it felt like it was wide open,
because I think that Okac was always the favorite once
of course some of the injuries happened to Boston and
then of course in the finals when Tyrese Haliburton went down.
But you know what, do you feel like they're the
team to beat or do you think the Rockets are

(38:58):
already that close with what they've done this offseason because
it wasn't just Kevin Durant.

Speaker 9 (39:03):
No, I think they're close. I mean, because I mean,
I'm just just the other guys that they added to.
I think they're real close. I mean it's it'll be
a hell of a series. Man. I'm looking forward to
the season. I mean, I mean, I just liked all
the moves they made and the guys that they brought in.
They brought in a lot of better some veteran guys
as winners and not older guys. Younger guys you know

(39:24):
that knows how to play and that they don't play
on winning like teams. So yeah, so I'm just I'm
just happy. I'm looking forward to seeing this season.

Speaker 11 (39:32):
Man.

Speaker 9 (39:33):
I mean, no got dogs, it's got deepen. All the
guys on defense their dolls. So looking forward to this.

Speaker 8 (39:40):
Man, I would love to see you and a men
Thompson go up in your prime against each other. That
would be that would be something to see.

Speaker 9 (39:45):
That felling to see that would be something to see. Yes,
I like his game, man, he plays hard, man, he
plays really he's looking for I think he's going to
have a good year this year because you know, I
think they when they got rid of Green, I think
it opens opening it up for him to handle the
ball more and do more now offensively. So I'm thinking

(40:09):
he's gonna have a real good year.

Speaker 6 (40:11):
This year.

Speaker 9 (40:12):
I'm looking forward to see him and playing this year.

Speaker 8 (40:14):
Well, Vernon, we appreciate the time. We're looking forward to
Big Three this weekend. We're looking forward to the golf
tournament later on this month. Check out all the details
on the socials for Vernon Maxwell, and don't be a stranger.

Speaker 6 (40:25):
We'll see us soon this season around Toyota Center.

Speaker 9 (40:28):
All right, Budd, that's see. Thank you man for having me.

Speaker 8 (40:31):
On absolutely Vernon Maxwell here on your home for Rockets basketball,
Sports Talk seven niney ross, your home for Astros baseball.

Speaker 7 (40:36):
We are another reminder though, later on today five o'clock,
our final segment of the five o'clock Hour, we will
have tickets to give away to the Big Three. It
is this Saturday over at Toyota Center. He mentioned La Riot.
That's Game three taking on DMV trilogy. Good luck to them,
it sounds like they need it. Houston Righans obviously are
playing Calvin Murphy coaching there. That set for game two,

(40:58):
four full games of action, all the entertainment goes along
with its musical acts, et cetera. Should be a good
afternoon over at Toya Center this Saturday, and as mentioned,
we'll have tickets to give away to that coming up
in the five o'clock hour, back into the baseball side
of the fast and furious trade deadline, how it impacts
the Astros right at this very moment, and what we

(41:18):
think might happen in the two hours to come.

Speaker 6 (41:20):
Coming up here on the eighteen.

Speaker 3 (41:23):
The A Team on Sports Talk seven.

Speaker 1 (41:25):
Ninety two lifelong Houston sports guys named Adam Talking Your Team,
Adam Clinton and Adam Wexler are the eighteen.

Speaker 8 (41:49):
Hour number two underway, but the first televised hour of
a Thursday edition Trade Deadline Day edition of the A
Team Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Home Network. That's
wex I may see. Cole Thompson is our producer the
entire first hour, say for the last segment in which
Vernon Maxwell stopped by to talk about the Big Three

(42:11):
coming up this weekend here in town and his golf
tournament later this month, this month being August because that's
practically August. But here on the last day of July.
Trade Deadline is the conversation. We do it every year.
This year it is a five o'clock central deadline, so
a couple more hours to squeeze some things in. It's
weird even reading the Bob Nightingale tweet which said, you know,

(42:37):
the deal for Korea, any sort of deal, is all
but dead. The talks are dead between the Astros and
the Twins. And yet I still think, somehow, some way,
over the next two hours, it wouldn't shock me at
all if Jim Crane stepped in, because that's who I
think would make this happen and got the job done.

Speaker 7 (42:53):
But color me shocked. If the Astros acquire college career.
I would be shocked.

Speaker 8 (42:58):
What if what if the Twins did decide to pay
half of that one hundred and two point five million,
they just didn't include the outfield, or would the Astros say, yes.

Speaker 7 (43:08):
Man, that still means you're paying seventeen million a season,
roughly a little bit less than that, because some of
it is this year for three more year. You want
to play Carlos carea seventeen million to be a seven
to thirty five over the season.

Speaker 6 (43:16):
So a clubhouse leader, wex, it's not just on the.

Speaker 7 (43:19):
Frontalth yesterday, and we never really expanded on that. What
did they lose with Carlos Krea beyond the baseball a lot?
What do they lose with Alex Bregman beyond the baseball
at least as much about.

Speaker 6 (43:31):
Find out this weekend.

Speaker 7 (43:32):
Well, you're not going to find out anything about it
this weekend because we're not talking about the baseball. We're
all talking about all the things that we were all
and I'm included. The value in those two players goes way, way,
way beyond the numbers, and I'm even going to include
myself in the conversation.

Speaker 6 (43:45):
Even without numbers.

Speaker 7 (43:46):
Rare as it might be, they do have tremendous value
to their baseball teams. There is zero doubt, zero doubt
the Minnesota Twins were a better baseball team because Carlos
Corea was a leader in their clubhouse. When a postseason
series for the first time in four and have been
competitive pretty much ever since the last two years a
little bit disappointing, and that's why they're doing what they're doing.
And Alex Bregman, he's not only having a great offensive season,

(44:09):
but that's not the point of this convo. He's gonna
have an impact. With so many young, star talented players
all getting their call ups this year, he's playing with
all of them at different times. Campbell at the beginning
of the year, Anthony and Meyer as the year has
continued in many others, not to mention the rest of
the group that's already there, Duran. If he's still there
and others, it matters. It makes the guys around him better.

(44:30):
If he makes the guys around him better, then the
team is better. He made guys that are here better,
that are still here better. And I don't mean it
in the teammate on a basketball team sense, because he
throws the pass right where he likes it.

Speaker 6 (44:42):
So he can shoot it.

Speaker 7 (44:43):
And I don't mean in the football sense, because he's
great communicator on the offensive line and always does his job.
I mean he sits down and goes through reports on
pitchers with hitters. He sits down with pitchers, goes through
reports on hitters, and you, dude, do you realize how
good this pitch is. You should use it more. It's
as good as anybody has in the league. Do this.

Speaker 6 (45:01):
Do that.

Speaker 7 (45:02):
He's practically a coach inside your clubhouse, and that's hard
to do.

Speaker 6 (45:06):
As a coach.

Speaker 7 (45:07):
Coaches to players is different than communication between players and players.
All that being said, and I do put immense amount
of value on what I believe is real value in
that clubhouse. That those guys brought and without him, the
Astros are sixty two and forty seven with a terrible
roster of players. For the last five weeks, they've got

(45:28):
a five game lead in the division. We're under fifty
games to go, right at fifty three games to go
in the season.

Speaker 6 (45:35):
Like it is valuable. I'm not trying to diminish it.

Speaker 7 (45:39):
But what they have here somehow is you're able to
move on and continue it, and now you have different
guys doing those things to a certain degree moving forward.
I don't think Altuve does a tremendous amount of that out.
Jerem Penne is doing much of that here at this
point in his career, still trying to figure things out
for himself as a first year All Star this year.

(45:59):
But they keep winning. So as much as we think
they all miss it. And who is he most impactful
with on the on the mound from.

Speaker 6 (46:08):
The guy who would be gone after this show?

Speaker 7 (46:09):
Can't pitch without him except he's been the best pitcher
in the American League for about three months.

Speaker 6 (46:14):
Well, he could be better. He could be better.

Speaker 9 (46:16):
You know.

Speaker 8 (46:16):
Part of the reason I bring this up is that
just before in the middle last segment, basically.

Speaker 6 (46:21):
John Hayman tweeted the following.

Speaker 7 (46:23):
Sweet love, Johnny h shout out.

Speaker 8 (46:25):
A Lutros aren't completely off of Carlo's Korea still talking
to Twins. A lot of finances to work out, however,
Yeah take that, Bob Nightingale.

Speaker 7 (46:36):
Is that for more news or was that breaking news?
For what he just said?

Speaker 6 (46:40):
That's breaking news.

Speaker 7 (46:41):
Uh.

Speaker 10 (46:42):
To ESPN's Jeff Passon, oh Twins are trading shortstop Carlo's
career to the sash.

Speaker 6 (46:50):
Let's go he's back.

Speaker 7 (46:52):
I just said I would be surprised, and I am.
You are wearing a career jersey tomorrow. Brian McTaggart tweeting
that about thirty one seconds before Jeff passing the Astros
have agreed to a deal to acquire reacquire Carlos Korea
and a trade with the Twins.

Speaker 6 (47:10):
It's likely he heard me just now.

Speaker 7 (47:11):
Yesterday we gave you a little teaser video and I
suggested Friday night in Boston, Correa, Bregman, Paynia all on
the field together, provided the Red Sox are in the
field and both Korea and pay you're on the bases
or vice versa.

Speaker 6 (47:28):
But they're all going to be there. Apparently, tomorrow night.

Speaker 7 (47:30):
According to the report, the Astros have in fact done
what Dana Brown said they were going to do, and
I'm no doubt, as I said earlier this hour, he
would consider this an impact addition to the team. It's
going to be costly in both forms. It's going to
be costly in terms of the assets they have to
give up to get him. I'm not really sure who
the Twins like in the Astros organization, whether it's major

(47:51):
league talent or minor league talent, but I'm sure they'll
tell the Astros and have and then obviously they're going
to be some financial considerations regarding this deal. Carlos Kore
yesterday after their game, which he did not play in,
said I didn't think these discussions were serious or certainly
not far enough. Along said again as he said, for
his entire time in Minnesota, I planned to be here.

(48:13):
I plan to win here, and I've had great communication
with the front office and the manager here about doing
just that. And yesterday I said, I wonder if what
is obviously a fire sale will change his mind. When
they traded their closer away, that was as big a
sign as there could be. You're not in it to
win it, because when you are, you need somebody to

(48:33):
slam the door, and for the foreseeable future, they don't
have that. That says to the guys in the clubhouse,
including the leader in their clubhouse, and he was it
that even though you want to be here, and even
though we have you on the books for another three
years plus the remainder of this year on your six
year deal, it's probably not going to happen, especially in
a division where I think it's fair to call them
what their record says. They are the fourth best team.

(48:55):
You can make the playoffs as the fourth best team
in the division, but you're the last team in the
playoffs if that happens. So the Astros and the guy
who currently owns his number, Brendan Rodgers, will see if
there's a trade, a second trade that needs to happen
that's getting for a jersey. Otherwise we'll see him in uniform.
I would guess even with this five o'clock or excuse me,

(49:17):
three o'clock deal, I'm sure Carlos Correa has word.

Speaker 6 (49:20):
On it now. He can make it from Minnesota to Boston.
It's a shorter from there from here to Boston.

Speaker 8 (49:29):
I just I can't. I'm like you, I can't believe it.
I can't believe he did that. He did it again.
He did the Verlander deal again.

Speaker 7 (49:37):
It would have been sweeter if they made the deal yesterday.
Let's go get George Spring because he could have just
hopped on the Red Sox charter and flown to Boston
with Bregman for the Astros series which starts on Friday,
and they could have had a little, uh chit chat
about the good old days. I don't know if they
would have let him on, but it might have been
nice of them. Scratch ours you deal come back? Like

(50:00):
I could just hear him trying to convince it on
to come back. If you were not aware of this,
even though it's a twenty four hour day thing here
on Sports Talk seven ninety phone lines are open seven
one three two one two five seven ninety. I think
I know the answer because when the rumors and the
idea that this was being discussed or was a possibility
that Carlos Correa would be the target for the Astros

(50:21):
and Dana Brown and Jim Crane, and now that it
has come to fruition, I think I already know what
you guys think about this. Uh, we'll do some analytical
discussion on what he's been this year, what his health's
been this year and in the years that's been out
of an Astros uniform. But Carlos Carrea, Jose Altuve, Jordan Alvarez,
Josh Hater, they're all Astros as of a few minutes ago.

(50:43):
I don't know how that can't sound pretty good. It's
not our money, by the way, it's not a collective
bargaining tax limit that you're going over which you are
with this deal.

Speaker 8 (50:53):
Look, I can't I it does from a Do I
think it makes sense from a baseball sense?

Speaker 1 (50:59):
No?

Speaker 6 (51:00):
Do I think it makes sense from a financial sense?

Speaker 7 (51:02):
No?

Speaker 6 (51:03):
Do I love it?

Speaker 2 (51:04):
Yes?

Speaker 8 (51:05):
I love Carlos Korea. I've loved the kids since he
got here. I love what he brings. I love the swagger.
I love the fact that he's stuck on one of
my good Morning t shirts after a playoff win over
the White Sox.

Speaker 6 (51:17):
I love this.

Speaker 8 (51:18):
Deal because of what it means to that clubhouse and
the message it sends. Honestly, not just to the clubhouse
but to the fan base. We were sitting here thinking, Okay,
is the Golden Era over Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman
just walked out the door of this offseason. What are
we even gonna make of this? And here they are
sitting in first place and they went and got Carlos Korea.

(51:41):
I don't even know what to do anymore, man, I
don't know to do it with my hands right now.

Speaker 7 (51:44):
A two sixty seven hitter this year seven oh four
OPS ninety two OPS plus has seven homers, just seven
homers in three hundred and thirty seven at bats so
far this season. Played in the majority of their games.
He's not been out there for all of them, but
the majority of them. Joins the Astros while riding a
six game hitting streak, and that means the average is

(52:04):
up to sixty seven. It's a pretty important acquisition, not
having his finest offensive season, has had injury issues in
the past. There's no question about the simplest part of
this deal. Who have the Astros been using in their
lineup regularly on an every day Cowboys. They have added

(52:24):
two players that have played the majority of their team's
games at the major league level this season. That means
they're replacing two players who have played the majority of
their games for the minor League team for the Astros
in and of itself, you have strengthened this team almost
regardless of what they produce, and much like Arias, this
edition makes them a better defensive team around the infield.

Speaker 8 (52:48):
And tomorrow night in Boston with Alex Bregman on the
field with them for the first time ever, Carlos Correa
and Jeremy Pania will take the field as teammates.

Speaker 6 (53:00):
Weird world we live in.

Speaker 7 (53:01):
It's unbelievable. Can't wait to see what Joe cooks up
for the lineup. I do hope Carrey is not only
there but in uniform. Your time to tell us what
you think. Carlos Correa, right here on your home for
Houston Astros Baseball is again a Houston Astros baseball player.

Speaker 6 (53:17):
We discussed more.

Speaker 1 (53:18):
Next the age on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 8 (53:29):
So guess who's in Boston, not just Carlos Correa and
the rest of the Astros.

Speaker 6 (53:36):
Chris Gordy's there.

Speaker 8 (53:37):
He just randomly got tickets to a Rock Area Astros
Red Sox series way back in the day for his birthday.

Speaker 6 (53:45):
Week, which was on Tuesday. I believe, Happy birthday, Gordy.

Speaker 8 (53:48):
And now he's going to see Carlos Correa's first game
as an Astro for the second time.

Speaker 7 (53:55):
He was there in twenty fifteen for the first one.

Speaker 6 (53:57):
Well, I don't know if he was there for the
first one. He's a semstic being myself here.

Speaker 7 (54:01):
Played for the Astros from twenty fifteen to twenty twenty one,
then signed a one year deal essentially a deal with
two option years to play for the Minnesota Twins. Played
out that season at a very high level, and then
got a six year deal from the Minnesota Twins. He
played almost three years of that contract, more than half
of the six year deal he signed with the Minnesota

(54:22):
Twins prior to the twenty twenty three season. Presumably will
now be played as a Houston Astro. Don't know the
particulars on everything that's involved financially or asset wise going
back to Minnesota, but the soon to be thirty one
year old infielder, which is what I have to call
him now, my best guess, probably a good one at
the Astros infield regularly the rest of this year will

(54:45):
line up with Christian Walker at first, Mauricio Dubon at second,
Jeremy Payna at shortstop. Take that back Christian Walker at first,
Ramona Rias at second base, Jeremy Payne at shortstop at
Carlos kore base, with Mauricio Dubon playing at center field
for as long as Jake Myers remains out.

Speaker 6 (55:06):
Permission to be the wet blanket for this segment.

Speaker 7 (55:08):
By the way, if you missed it last segment, Carlos
Correa is being traded to the Astros. Astros and Twins
per Brian McTaggart have agreed on a deal to send
Carlos Correa back to the Astros.

Speaker 6 (55:19):
Take all the baseball semantics, the financial semantics, all that aside.
It hits us in the fields the right way. This
is Euphork. We love this here in Houston because we
were there for all the good times, like when he
hit walk off home runs against the Yankees and played
basketball with his batting.

Speaker 8 (55:33):
Helmet and we remember it all. What the bleep are
they doing at third base in twenty twenty six? Have
you thought about that?

Speaker 12 (55:41):
Well?

Speaker 7 (55:42):
Their situation with Esach Perettis, and this is definitely front
burner stuff as the Astros try to win the twenty
twenty five World Series title. Perettis is under club controls.
The wet blanket park arbitration in his future, or some
sort of contract agreement. We brought it up yesterday. As
odd as it sounds, it has now had happened. Alex
Bregman was your starting third baseman for almost a decade,

(56:05):
and in a span of eight months you have seen
him leave the team and go to Boston and replaced
him with third baseman Cam Smith, third baseman Essoc Perettis,
and shortstop Carlos Korea. Correa is going to play third
base for the Astros for the remainder of this year.
I would believe Esoch Perettis played third base for the
Astros for the entire year up until his injury, and

(56:28):
Camp Smith may never play third base again. And I
thought this before the Karrea deal and become their permanent
right fielder even though never played that position before. Dana
Brown is looking at his team, looking at the athletic
abilities of his players and prospective players, and putting together
what looks like an awfully good baseball team, even though

(56:48):
these aren't positions these guys have played for any kind
of significant period of time. Perettis, could he be moved?

Speaker 6 (56:56):
Is you know?

Speaker 7 (56:56):
Is Korea locked in at third base? Is Korea capable
bull of playing somewhere else, can't. I mean, you're starting
to ask these questions about everybody. You've already moved Altuve
from second base to the outfield, and clearly this franchise
has already done that before, with Hall of Famer Craig
Bigio playing three different positions.

Speaker 8 (57:16):
Will insist on being moved back to the infield permanently
so he could hang out with his buddies Jeremy and Carlos.

Speaker 7 (57:22):
I mean, maybe he'll just play super super shallow and likes.
It's so like the nostalgia, well blanket the nostalgia. But
it's great. He's he's beloved. He was loved every time
he came back here, other than in the playoffs when
he was crushing.

Speaker 6 (57:39):
What you're trying to win? Did they do it again?
Is this okay?

Speaker 10 (57:45):
According to Ken Rose, the Astros have just acquired Hayesu
Sanchez from the Miami Marlins.

Speaker 7 (57:50):
He was the other player that Ken Rosenthal and Chandler
Rome brought up the other day. We brought him up
really really early in the season, not really up against
the trade deadline until earlier than this week. They're trying
to balance their lineup, and the first two acquisitions they've
made don't do that more right handed hitters. This is
another player from a fire sale team. Figured he would

(58:12):
be on the move. Bats left, bats left, one more time,
bats left, throws right. Also having what is a typical
season for himself ten homers, thirty six rbi, seven to
forty ops this year. He's a career seven thirty six. Guy,
I told you what ops plus is one hundred. His
career ops plus is exactly one hundred the last three years.

(58:36):
One o four, one hundred, one oh four. Not a
meter changer, not a push you over the top player.
But they've already spent the last five six weeks playing
with an incapable lineup. They're going to put a major
League Baseball caliber lineup on the field, barring more injuries,
for the rest.

Speaker 6 (58:56):
Of the season.

Speaker 8 (58:57):
Hammon's still tweeting, oh good ah. They are negotiating on
several pitching fronts. But the Astros, which he went arson
judge on us it spelled a d t Ros. The
ad Detros still have a real shot to acquire Dylan Cees.
They are trying hard for Kelly al contera cease, and

(59:20):
they're also in the quan talks. So Dana Brown's just
basically like, let's go free reign.

Speaker 7 (59:27):
It points out I think something that seemed clear for
the entire run of Jim Crane. He knows what, he
has a belief in, what prospects are.

Speaker 6 (59:35):
He has a type.

Speaker 7 (59:36):
His type is, oh, you're a great major league player,
or you're at least a major league player. And we
have players that haven't played any games for us at all,
and I'm paying them to play minor league baseball.

Speaker 6 (59:46):
You can have them. That's fine, you can have them, Dana.

Speaker 7 (59:49):
Just tell me if there's anybody you won't want to
give up, and we'll talk about it. But I'd like
to go see these guys play that have been an
other major league ballparks. This I point this out only
to point it out again. Tell me the Astros have
a terrible farm system, and then try to pretend that
they won't be able to make trades because you can't
have it. It doesn't work that way. This is now

(01:00:11):
the they've traded for Korea, they've traded for Sanchez, and
they've traded for Orris and are believed to be still
in trade talks at a starting pitcher or a or
a relief pitcher or both. There are players in your
system that other gms like enough to pull deals off.
They've now found three different gms to say, yeah, we'll

(01:00:33):
take those players for our players.

Speaker 8 (01:00:35):
Bob Nightingale tweeted something about nine minutes. I don't think
we've said this. It's all a blur and I've been
checking my phone. Admittedly, while hosting the Minnesota Twins didn't
eat fifty million of Korea's contract as the Astros desired,
but still a significant amount. With other major league players
involved in the mega deal.

Speaker 6 (01:00:56):
Figure that would be the case.

Speaker 7 (01:00:58):
I'm still sure, not sure what kind of talent the
Astros have on the major league level that the Twins
would want Chazz that wouldn't hurt the Astros. Chatz Chazz
doesn't hurt the Astros. I'm not sure why they would
want him, but I know what you're saying. He's got
a nice major league resume. His last two seasons are
utterly forgettable and unfortunate, and maybe a change of scenery
and new eyes on his swing can try to get

(01:01:19):
him back to what he once was. He tinkered with
his swing a great deal prior to twenty twenty four
and has never been able to recover from that, and
it's it's kind of.

Speaker 6 (01:01:28):
A mindless search.

Speaker 7 (01:01:29):
And so hopefully if that, in fact is someone that
might be involved in that, I hope they didn't give
up anything that helps them win. And I don't know
why the Twins would want it. I mean, I don't
know why they'd want any major leaguers off the Astros
roster unless they were very young, very promising, and had
brighter futures. And there's rosters not made up of a
lot of those guys.

Speaker 8 (01:01:47):
A couple other notes at the top of the list
and with priority at sports MT tweeting the following this
happened during the A team I'm disappointed and not surprised,
he quote tweets Fox Sports breaking tweet of the Korea trade.
Do you know who the Astros gave up for? Jzeus Sanchez?
I do, what do you think of that?

Speaker 2 (01:02:08):
Well?

Speaker 6 (01:02:08):
Tell the people Ryan Gusto is now a Marlin. Yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:02:13):
I am very surprised. This is now twice. I was
not surprised by the Rise deal and the return for him.
They traded a single a pitcher for Ramona Riz, trading
yesterday's starting pitcher.

Speaker 6 (01:02:25):
Really good outing his best oubting. I would say.

Speaker 7 (01:02:28):
Again, as it relates to all these ridiculous prospect lists,
I don't really need to tell you or look at
or wonder where was Ryan Gusto and all this. I've
seen him pitch. He can pitch at the major league level.
He can be a full time starting pitcher at the
major league level. What he did yesterday is what I
think happens in the future, and I certainly wish it

(01:02:49):
would have happened for the Astros here. It does take
something to get something. He's a starting pitcher who probably
doesn't make many, if any starts for Houston if not
for the injuries. So they probably believe they have surprisingly
believe they still have the starting pitching to get them
where they want to go.

Speaker 6 (01:03:08):
But that's the type I said.

Speaker 7 (01:03:09):
I don't think the Astros have very many of those
players after him, because I could have included him.

Speaker 6 (01:03:15):
He's one such player. His future is very bright.

Speaker 7 (01:03:18):
He's not all that different than Spencer Arraghetty was a
year ago, especially through the early portion of their respective starts,
where there were concerns what will when will Ragetty kind
of turn the corner and start pitching the way that
we believe he can, and he ultimately he did over
the second part of the season to a very high level.

Speaker 8 (01:03:36):
Can I just read a random fan tweet that's hilarious
to me right about now?

Speaker 7 (01:03:40):
Yeah, one last thing quickly on Sanchez. He is under
club control for multiple more good season.

Speaker 8 (01:03:47):
Yeah, this is from Garrett. Dana Brown got bleeping sick
of y'all crying and said, we're planning a parade on
Louisiana Street bees.

Speaker 6 (01:03:56):
He added the I get.

Speaker 8 (01:03:58):
It, I Dan is you can't say anything about Dana
this trade deadline. We will have plenty to say about
the portray deadline, which isn't done, by the way, and
I don't think the Astros necessarily are either.

Speaker 6 (01:04:09):
When we come back.

Speaker 1 (01:04:12):
The A on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 8 (01:04:22):
On a day where the Astros trade for Carlos Korea,
among others. There are other deals, but this is the
biggest one. A. I d a text from a buddy,
Dear God, not sure how I'm feeling, and I said,
you're reading my mind.

Speaker 6 (01:04:40):
I said, the nostalgic side of me has a very
very warm and fuzzy feeling. I didn't phrase it that way,
and this person wrote back nostalgia better learn to be
good again.

Speaker 8 (01:04:53):
And that's the thing for all to talk about. The
all the stuff we were talking about right before we
learned he was coming back to Houston. He's gonna have
to perform at the plate. He's gonna I don't worry
about the defense. I really don't because provided he's healthy,
but he's he's just and maybe he'll you know, recapture
magic because he'll be in familiar surroundings again. Nobody loved

(01:05:14):
playing at Minute Made Park now dyk In Park more
than Carlos Carea.

Speaker 6 (01:05:18):
So I don't know, I really do have.

Speaker 8 (01:05:22):
I thought about this, you know, last night, because it's like,
as a total outside chance it happens, but Jim Crane
was the wild card. As long as he's in charge,
there's always a chance of this kind of stuff being
able to happen. And so I'm like, all right, well,
what if this does happen, how would you actually feel
about it from a baseball side, Because at the end
of the day, that's all that matters. If you're trying
to win a World Series, then all of the nostalogia

(01:05:43):
and the field good stuff. It'd be like trading for
justin Verlander right now, but he still wears thirty five.
He's Justin Verlander, and he's got the name on the
back of his jersey, but he's not twenty seventeen Justin Verlander.
I'm not saying Carlos Correa has declined that much, but
at the end of the day, he's he's gonna have
to form in order for this to be worth whatever you.

Speaker 6 (01:06:03):
Ended up giving up. Hey, sir Sanchez.

Speaker 7 (01:06:06):
Left handed hitting outfielder Ramona Rise told you at the
beginning of the show he plays third base.

Speaker 6 (01:06:12):
Well, he has played third base.

Speaker 7 (01:06:13):
He's now going to play likely second base for the
Astros with this acquisition of Carlos Carrera.

Speaker 6 (01:06:18):
Those are the.

Speaker 7 (01:06:19):
Three players reportedly the Astros have acquired. It's an official
in the case of you, Rise. The Astros announced that
earlier today after it was reported late yesterday and still working.
They still have eighty five minutes until the Major League
Baseball's trade deadline.

Speaker 4 (01:06:33):
You want to do?

Speaker 7 (01:06:35):
Yeah, you asked a question. Well, let's hear what people
want to give as their answer for it. Seven one
three two one two five seven ninety seven one three
two one two five seven ninety Carlos, you get first
crack at this.

Speaker 6 (01:06:46):
Welcome into the show, Carlos. You're on the A team.

Speaker 7 (01:06:48):
WEX and ac let us know what's on your mind.
I don't know if you're on the air or not. Hello,
guess not. Let's try somebody else. Let's try Soups. What's
going on?

Speaker 6 (01:07:00):
Soups?

Speaker 13 (01:07:01):
You know it was meant to be me being first
call on this. And I'll tell you why. I won
you a game Astro's game. I saw seventy one to
three on a Saturday game they won.

Speaker 2 (01:07:11):
On the two games streak. I'm like, Okay, something else
big is gonna happen.

Speaker 13 (01:07:14):
I started to wear my Iron Group career jersey to
game yesterday and I'm like, no, that would just be
too good. Like if I wore this and he comes back,
I'm like, there's no way. And so you know, I
prayed on that to put it down. Man, This season
has felt like the last ten years between the or
the fifty whatever, between the down and then almost there.
And this gives me verlin and nostalgia in terms of like,

(01:07:37):
holy bleep, did really did Dana just say let me cook?
Did Gym say go ahead?

Speaker 2 (01:07:43):
Put some stink on it?

Speaker 7 (01:07:45):
Man?

Speaker 13 (01:07:45):
Houston isn't about to get wild in my in my
Sparky phrase. I mean, man, I can't tell you how
much I use Sparky's emoji today. Y'all know what I'm
talking about. When he's in the locker room. I'll tell
you this. If this something bringing y to the city,
which is based on Twitter, nothing will except for Dylan
Sea's coming here.

Speaker 12 (01:08:02):
Hey, I love y'all.

Speaker 13 (01:08:02):
I'm jealous that I can't be in your guys shoes
because the next couple of hours and then the rest
of the season is going to be a blast. And
then we haven't even got to the fact that football
is right around the corner. But this is Astros time, baby, Hey, eighteen,
that's why y'all got to do eighteen. Sorry, Matt Thomas,
guess what, shut your bomb mass out because we got
to hear it on here.

Speaker 2 (01:08:21):
Good things happen on eighteen.

Speaker 7 (01:08:22):
All right, out appreciate it, and many of our callers
wouldn't probably present it like that as an affront to
the Matt Thomas Show, but because Matt presents it in
that way himself, already lamenting as he signed off today
just before two o'clock, knowing that this was on the horizon.

Speaker 8 (01:08:39):
Does he think that if the trade deadline was at
three he would have had it on his show.

Speaker 7 (01:08:43):
Stuff happens during the day, during the night, during the midday,
and during the morning.

Speaker 6 (01:08:47):
It's just this normal. You know what I love about
this business life. You know what I love about this.

Speaker 7 (01:08:50):
Though, Like, dude, do you want to switch time slots?
I mean, you're fine with where you are? I'm sure
I'm fine with where we are.

Speaker 8 (01:08:56):
Just to swipe him, Rafelstone traded for Kevin Durant on
a Sunday just despite Matt Thomas. That's what happened there. Yeah,
I listen what Soup said. I think a lot of
people are feeling that way. That's the nostalgic side of things.
That's the part of this that's absolutely fantastic for you know,
just everybody.

Speaker 6 (01:09:15):
That's been through all of this with the Astros.

Speaker 8 (01:09:18):
Let's not forget WEX when it comes to the nostalgia
side of things. Nobody was more for in fact revisionist
history or just wanting to do things over. I don't
think maybe Jim Crane sends jose Al Tuvey and Alex
Bregman to that podium outside of the spring training facility.
Maybe he sends Carlos Korea because Carlos Correa is back

(01:09:41):
and forth with Ken Rosenthal after the scandal. It's one
of the top five, probably Houston sports sound bites of
all time, at least given by an athlete. You know,
if you don't know the facts, you know you know
the one I'm talking about. So the nostalgia side of
this is gonna be a lot of fun, you know
what I hate?

Speaker 6 (01:09:57):
They've we got to wait how many ten days, ten
games before they're gonna be back here in Houston to
see him line up at third base inside dyk And
Park where he's never.

Speaker 7 (01:10:05):
For the pop when they entered through the field for
the first time.

Speaker 6 (01:10:10):
All of them, by the way, and we don't even
know who all of them are yet we all know
some of them the trade acquisitions.

Speaker 7 (01:10:16):
I'm pretty sure if the Astros have Jesu's Sanchez, Carlos Correa,
and Ramona Arias in the lineup for their very next
home game, which doesn't come until August eleventh against Alex
Bregman's Red Sox, what a weird world. If Eurias and
or Sanchez hit the field before Correa, you might not

(01:10:38):
even audibly notice when Correa hits the field, the pop will.

Speaker 6 (01:10:42):
Happen, and is Dylan So starting tonight for the Astros.
It's certainly possible.

Speaker 7 (01:10:46):
We just got it's it's part of the ongoing conversation
the Astros from their general manager said we need to
be looking at adding, you know, potentially a starting pitcher,
a left handed bat, balance the lineup out, maybe something
strength in our bullpen. All those things have been said
by him. They traded a starting pitcher today. They have

(01:11:08):
not acquired a starting pitcher today. The Astros have been
TBA on who's starting tomorrow's game five times in the
last two weeks. Okay, we just won a game and
nobody knew got hurt. Jason Alexander starting tomorrow. Hey, we
just won a game and nobody got hurt. Starting pitcher
tomorrow is Ryan Gusto, and.

Speaker 6 (01:11:26):
On and on and on.

Speaker 7 (01:11:28):
It was a huge risk if the Astros now do
not add a starting pitcher, if this trade deadline, because
they've eliminated a starting pitcher from the current rotation.

Speaker 8 (01:11:40):
It almost feels like they have to go get it
or they will get a guy because of that very thing.

Speaker 7 (01:11:44):
Yeah, Spencer Arraghetti's next start will not be in an
Astro's uniform unless this has changed their mind. He is
still scheduled to make a final rehab appearance at the
Triple A level. Christian Xavier might be one more rehab
start away, and he just pitched yesterday. I don't know
what the Astros think of how he pitched. I know
the numbers, I've seen some of his pitches, I know

(01:12:05):
the velocity, and it was just okay.

Speaker 6 (01:12:08):
But I'm not sure what they think of him.

Speaker 7 (01:12:10):
In the same goes for obviously, JP Frantz and Luis
Garcia somewhere down the line in the next two to
three four weeks could be making a return, but you're
not trying to limp down the finish line. They were
in a similar we need a starting pitcher situation last year,
not because of all these injuries, just because they really
weren't getting the starting pitching they needed and they pulled
off a deal to add They added. You say Kakuchi,

(01:12:32):
it saved their season, even though he didn't pitch in
the postseason. He was absolutely incredible for two months and
they needed it. I don't know that they need somebody
that's absolutely incredible. They need somebody that's given him five
or six innings every time they give him the ball,
and when he gives the ball to Joe Aspata, they
have a chance to win that game. That's not currently
on their roster. Correy is an astro. We continue the discussion.

Speaker 1 (01:12:53):
Next the aged on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 8 (01:13:04):
In addition to trying to just keep up with all
of the things that are being tweeted about as the
timeline continues, the memes are incredible.

Speaker 6 (01:13:13):
I just they really are astros.

Speaker 8 (01:13:15):
Josh, He's got Dana Brown in a kitchen, just stern
ingredients in a pot. A lot of the reaction is
mixed to the Carlos Korea deal, as you can imagine
just the post that I made.

Speaker 6 (01:13:27):
Some of the responses like a lot of people love it,
and then a lot of people like one.

Speaker 8 (01:13:32):
Garrett says no go back, Steve says big mistake, but
then proud text and says the return of fromber Mound visits.
So there it's a wide range of emotions kind of
like us, kind of like people that I've texted with.
But I do think overall the sentiment is because we're
talking about this during the break with Cole, it is

(01:13:53):
no matter what happens in this moment on trade deadline
Day twenty twenty five.

Speaker 6 (01:13:59):
It is a cool move.

Speaker 8 (01:14:01):
Forget the baseball, forget from a nostalgia, from a this
guy's what he brings to the table, from his resume
and what he's already done in an Astros' uniform.

Speaker 6 (01:14:10):
That part of it is cool. That part's undeniable. It
is cool. From that standpoint, it is cool. And I
don't know.

Speaker 7 (01:14:16):
Work is the difference wear off for people less inclined
to care if they're not winning games.

Speaker 6 (01:14:22):
It's all they've ever done.

Speaker 7 (01:14:23):
It's all he did with Carlos Korea, essentially from his
time as an Astro twenty fifteen, postseason twenty seventeen to
his departure from Minnesota and nothing but visits to the Alcs,
even when no fans were there, even when they were
twenty nine and thirty one, even when they went to
a game seven despite being down three games to none,
as they did against the Rays. And now he is
on his way back to the team. He's not on

(01:14:44):
his way back to Houston. As you know, the Astros
begin three consecutive roads series.

Speaker 8 (01:14:49):
And there's my theory right there. What's the theory? Well,
you feel your mixed motions about this trade. You being
whoever you are out there listening right now, are watching us,
You don't know how to feel. Because of all the
baseball reasons we talked about. The Astros are about to
I want to say, it's run the gauntlet because the
Marlins are in this trip. But you have Boston, Miami

(01:15:11):
and then back up to New York on the road,
and New York at least has made some deals as well.
If you go, I don't know, this is a ten
game road trip. If you win six or seven of
these games, and let's just say, Correa is a big
part of why you do. Whether it's defensively, whether it's
with his bat, whether it's a combination of the two.

(01:15:32):
I mean, it's not that does not make a successful trade.
One road trip, that's not a successful trade make. But
you're gonna feel better about it before he ever sets
foot in an Astros uniform for a home game this year.

Speaker 7 (01:15:43):
Yeah, they need to win. It's as simple. It doesn't
even matter who they play. These are probably heavily viewed.
Three games against the Red Sox, three games against the Yankees.
You mentioned the very geographically sound stop. They will make
in between. But yeah, they gotta win games seven one, three, two,
one two, five, seven to nine. And continue with your thoughts,
your thoughts along with hours. Let's get Mario in here. Mario,

(01:16:04):
welcome into these show tell us what you got, Hi.

Speaker 14 (01:16:08):
I was looking at fangrafts of the moment that the
trade went down, and from like the middle of June
till the till now, Korea has been like one WRC plus.
He's been very good since like the middle of June.
So we are not getting like a limp fat We're
getting a really hot career right now.

Speaker 6 (01:16:30):
He is on a six game hitting streak. Heater. Yeah,
hopefully that's something to consider.

Speaker 7 (01:16:37):
I've pointed it out a few times, and I hope
it doesn't sound like I believe he's having an awful season.
He's having a major league caliber starter season.

Speaker 10 (01:16:44):
Here.

Speaker 7 (01:16:45):
He's being paid a ton of money to be better
than that. He has been better than that as recently
as last season. Last season he was a humongous contributor
offensively to the Twins, albeit and roughly just a little
over half a season. He missed a lot of timeline
last year. Has not missed a lot of time this year.
Which is a good sign, but he hasn't performed at

(01:17:05):
nearly that high a levels offensive numbers over the course
of the season, or significantly down. And yes, you've noted
a short period of time, a little over a month
where the numbers are a.

Speaker 6 (01:17:13):
Little bit up.

Speaker 7 (01:17:16):
It's still a little bit about the especially the other
two acquisitions. This is a bigger deal because of the
money involved and what it impacts presumably, I don't I mean,
if we thought Jim Crane didn't want to spend above
the CBT before this deal, I'm not sure what the
future holes. Like the Astros off season last year, I
didn't know what to expect beyond Bregman's situation obviously being

(01:17:37):
resolved one way or the other, if he was going
somewhere else for big money or if he was staying
here for big money. And then Kyle Tucker became part
of it, and Christian Walker became part of it. The
Astros have just reacquired Carlos Korea, and they've got two
more years at twenty million for Christian Walker from ber
Valdez is hitting free agency. They've got multiple seasons left
of arbitration control of Esach peretis the other two players

(01:18:00):
they've acquired a little one more year of control with
your eyes, a couple more years of control, but don't
know the actual finances to it on either of those
two deals, and neither are on a long term deal,
but have arbitration ahead of them and just the payroll
where it's at.

Speaker 6 (01:18:14):
Well if they do. Scott Boris as his age. Jeremy
Paine has hired Scott Boris as his aid.

Speaker 8 (01:18:20):
Are you renting a starting pitcher that you get today
or are you getting one with club control?

Speaker 7 (01:18:24):
You're If you're getting a picture with club control, then
he's not the caliber pitcher that you were hoping for.

Speaker 8 (01:18:29):
Do we know all the principles that have moved out
for these deals yet or totally.

Speaker 7 (01:18:33):
Chase Dawarski is one of the players headed out as
part of the Hayeshu's Sanchez deal, along with Ryan Gusto
and one other minor leaguer. Jaworski's probably the best shortstop
in the Astros farm system and not.

Speaker 6 (01:18:48):
Probably like twelve of those now that can start.

Speaker 7 (01:18:50):
They do, we don't know for how long in any
of their cases, but probably not considered a top ten
prospect in their organization, but pretty close somewhere in the
you know, eight to fourteen range and in this system
that I don't know what that tells you, but a
position I'm sure they felt like they were capable of
allowing to walk out the door. There's going to be

(01:19:10):
a prospect or two. I'm sure in the Korea deal
there are probably major leaguers involved beyond Ryan Gusto that
have gone out today. And we already know the parameters
of the Eurias deal, but we're still an hour of
deadline to go, and my expectation is before we're done today,
we're going to be talking about the starting pitcher that
they have added just to keep their numbers where they
were before we started the show today, because yesterday's starting

(01:19:31):
pitcher is not an Astro anymore, on his way to
Miami as part of the hayesus Sanchez deal. Phil, you
got a brief amount of time here with us, But
what's on your mind?

Speaker 9 (01:19:41):
Hey man?

Speaker 2 (01:19:43):
Calling from Vegas.

Speaker 15 (01:19:44):
I've been watching from Afar, wearing my Astros T shirts,
getting getting the hard stares from these people that I
think Rich hears. Anyway, I'm really glad for Korea. I
think that the change of scenery will do him well,
I think he potentially so the riding on the wall
with the power sales, and I think he's gonna have

(01:20:04):
a great season.

Speaker 2 (01:20:05):
That's all I wanted to say.

Speaker 15 (01:20:06):
Love you guys, watch you every day.

Speaker 7 (01:20:08):
Oh love it, simple, simple, simple. I think he's gonna
have a great season. He's got two months of baseball
in front of him, with roughly half his games to
be played at dyke And Park, the other half elsewhere
around baseball. That's where it all begins for Carlos Korea,
second time around, with the Astros on an infield that
should be defensively among the best in baseball from the
moment he gets here, I definitely feel the vibes. I'm

(01:20:31):
not upset with anything the Astros have done that I'm
aware of at this point in time, with what their
roster looks like today, not sure of the extent of
the prospects that are going out money wise, analytically, I'm
down for analyzing all that stuff. But at the end
of the day, just like with Cal McNair or Tilman Furtita,
it's not our money, it's his money. If it impacts
the way he spends elsewhere, it's definitely what we have

(01:20:54):
to discuss and we've kind of felt that all along.
But this is just like the fifteenth example. Just in
the last few years, you've spent on Brantley in a Brave,
in Montero and now Correa and Christian Walker. He's still
spending money. As a close out to the second hour
of the show.

Speaker 8 (01:21:10):
Hayman Cease to Houston is progressing. Astros might get a
reliever two.

Speaker 7 (01:21:16):
As we've discussed, the Astros are once again going for it.
We're going into our number three.

Speaker 3 (01:21:23):
Next the A teen on Sports Talk seven.

Speaker 1 (01:21:28):
Ninety seen lifelong Houston sports guys named Adam talking your team.

Speaker 14 (01:21:35):
We're so very.

Speaker 5 (01:21:38):
Adam Clinton and Adam Weckler are the eighteen.

Speaker 8 (01:21:47):
Four o'clock hour underway, and that means less than an
hour until the Major League Baseball trade deadline will come
and go.

Speaker 6 (01:21:56):
But it's not going to be one of those uneventful
who wish who would have done something type of trade
deadlines for your Houston Astros.

Speaker 8 (01:22:03):
Far from at wex. They had been busy and it
seems as if they are not done yet. And I
liked what you said last segment. Win not if they
go out and get another starting pitcher, because I think
the Ryan Gusto deal. Not only it forces their hand
to have to do such a thing, but it also
tells me that they had a pretty good idea that

(01:22:25):
they're going to be able to get a deal done.

Speaker 6 (01:22:28):
It's just a matter of who it's going to be.

Speaker 7 (01:22:29):
Yeah, I don't have any doubt about it. To particulars.
Of all of these deals not fully known, one deal
we know for sure, and Astros announced it earlier today.
Ramona Rias utility infielder, probably described as the third baseman
before today's activities. He's an Astro, a single a pitcher
moves to the Orioles. In that deal, Astros have reportedly
acquired Heyesu Sanchez, outfielder, left handed bat from the Marlins

(01:22:53):
in exchange for three players, two of the minor leaguers
reportedly one is short's up Chase Jowarski, and one major leaguer.
Apparently the other player involved is Ryan Gusto being headed
being sent to Miami as part of that deal, and
the biggest deal of the day for the Astros, I
would say quite confidently is the acquisition of infielder Carlos Correa.

(01:23:16):
Minnesota Twins seemed intent on moving on from him, as
they've done with many of the other players. They've kind
of fallen out of the race as it's now a
couple of seasons of disappointing finishes. He's got three more
years after this year remaining on his contract, and the
Astros and whatever financial parts of that deal that go
along with it, along with some prospects, are getting some

(01:23:37):
of the band back together again. Ironically, and Ac pointed
it out, but maybe not quite in these terms. He's
going to be on the field together with Jeremy Pania,
but that's for the first time. He's probably going to
be playing on an infield if he's in the game
on Friday Night, and I suspect he will be with
nobody that he's played with before. He's only been gone

(01:23:57):
for a couple of seasons. Altuves on the team, but
he's not gonna be in the infield.

Speaker 6 (01:24:01):
Obviously. They've changed first basement and he over to Christian Walker.

Speaker 7 (01:24:04):
He won't even be playing his natural major league baseball position.
Has some experience at third base. I don't think we've
mentioned that Carlos Korea very much like Alex Rodriguez before him.
I think many people thought he was destined to go there.
I don't think the Twins would have had any designs
on moving him there, and the Astros only do because
they need him over there.

Speaker 6 (01:24:25):
His experience at third base is not at the major
league level.

Speaker 7 (01:24:28):
World Baseball Classic third baseman, Carlos Korea.

Speaker 6 (01:24:31):
Carlos Correa.

Speaker 8 (01:24:32):
You know what's interesting is we and I think this
had to have been earlier this year. We were talking
with Blummer about the defensive It's not necessarily a drop off,
although I felt it was, like Jeremy Payne is a
very very good defensive shortstop. Carlos Korea was elite at shortstop,

(01:24:52):
and he's so good that you're gonna now put him
over at third base, and I don't feel like you're
gonna have any sort of drop off whatsoever.

Speaker 6 (01:25:00):
That's the crazy thing about this.

Speaker 8 (01:25:01):
You'll keep Jeremy Painia where he had, where he is
at the shortstop position, and then you're gonna have Carlos
Korea seemingly learning a new position on the fly, even
though you just got done saying he'd played there before.
Get in line behind everybody that plays every day for
the Astros when it comes I mean, Cam Smith's like, yeah,
so I'm playing right field for the first time.

Speaker 2 (01:25:25):
In my life.

Speaker 7 (01:25:26):
Yeah, there's improvements to be made at that position. I've
talked about it at Langton even in the last couple
of games. More of those same instances with Cam Smith.
Not about fielding the ball, not about chasing his path
to the ball. It's all about the other things, little
footwork things, how to get the ball back into the
infield a little bit more quickly. I don't think they're
losing much as an outfield. Heck, since Jake Myers went

(01:25:48):
down on the days that Taylor Tremmel is not playing,
he's their best outfielder defensively. I mean Chas McCormick, cause
they fill an outfielder because he's great defensively, they don't
want him in the lineup every day. End up, moving
forward in the outfield is as good as it's probably
been most of the year. Dubon Smith and at home
at least Altuve for the time being.

Speaker 8 (01:26:09):
I read the Hayman tweet before we went to break
about the He said Cees to Houston is progressing. Astros
might get a reliever too, if a deal can be completed.
Another one that is of note, and I think this
is a huge sigh of relief.

Speaker 6 (01:26:22):
I don't well, I don't know.

Speaker 8 (01:26:23):
Take it for what you will, but if I'm an
Astros fan, I would be feeling this way because I
am feeling this way John Morosi, who's been on the
show before. Bryce Matthews is not going to the Marlins
or the Twins in the trades the Astros have completed
thus far today. Doesn't mean he's not on the move still,
because I do think they're gonna go get a starting pitcher,

(01:26:43):
but I sure hope that he's not part of a
deal for that either.

Speaker 7 (01:26:46):
Yeah, you may have some flexibility, albeit with players who
you know their ceilings. Like none of the three players
the Astros added are on the rise. None of the
three players the Astros added are likely to have future
seasons that you set the world on fire, And that's
the hope of a guy like Bryce Matthews. That's the
hope with if any of their younger players. Same thing
with Jacob Melton. These are their top two prospects heading

(01:27:07):
into this year, and they're now, at least for the
time being, arguably regulars for the Astros. But you wouldn't
want to include Bryce Matthews, who's probably getting sent down
now that they have players at his position, and then
he can continue playing on a regular basis. You don't
want to send him out when Joe Aspata fills out

(01:27:27):
the lineup card for the first time ever as reigning
American League Manager of the Year next year for the
home opener or the opener of the season should they
not be at home, he should get Brice Matthews is
probably going to be his second basement.

Speaker 6 (01:27:39):
Yeah, I mean, I am envisioning.

Speaker 8 (01:27:42):
See, I know you said top of mind earlier we
were talking about a potential twenty twenty five World Series run.
As we start talking about where are you put in
East Soak peretis in twenty twenty six? What is your
opening day lineup in twenty twenty six? Just because these
questions will eventually have to be a regardless of whether
or not they win this year.

Speaker 7 (01:28:02):
The other part of the off season is today is
going to happen during the off season. Well, let's say
all these pitchers that are currently hurt and all these
position players that are currently hurt, what if they're all healthy,
You're gonna have a heck of a time figuring out
who's on the twenty six man roster. The rest of
the year. But you're going to alleviate some of that
problem when you turn around and trade some of these

(01:28:23):
guys that you still have control of in the upcoming
off season, and you're going to have to every player,
all three of the players. Only three players that they've
added are under club control at least through twenty twenty six,
longer for Sanchez, longer for Korea, but all three of
them are under Astro's club control for another season an
undetermined amount of money, or for the two arbitration guys.

(01:28:45):
We know the Carlos Korea money because he's under contract.
How much of it is your money? How much of
is the Twins money? A different story. But if Perettis
is healthy and these guys are all healthy, and Myers
is healthy and all these things have fallen back into place,
well now you figure out, well, what holes do we
have with who else was on a one year deal
that's not coming back, or how else can we strengthen

(01:29:05):
the overall team by potentially moving players?

Speaker 8 (01:29:08):
And if Frombers leaving in free agency, then you're going
to have to replace that starter somehow.

Speaker 7 (01:29:13):
And there's a thought, I'm sure inside the organization that
that's the secondary reason, maybe the primary reason that you're
looking to add a frontline pitcher, not I need to
fill out the rotation. I need to fill out the
front of the rotation for the next two months plus playoffs.
And maybe that is a pitcher that's also at the

(01:29:33):
front of a rotation in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 6 (01:29:35):
Way, it wouldn't be a rental. But then, of course,
technic is.

Speaker 7 (01:29:38):
A rental either way. It's just you are. It's no
different than well, if it's all contra or sees, it
is a rental.

Speaker 6 (01:29:44):
It's just like Kokuchi.

Speaker 7 (01:29:46):
My thought would be different this offseason though, as opposed
to last year's offseason. I thought there was a zero
point zero percent chance. You say Kakuchi was pitching for
the Astros in twenty twenty six, You say they added
him the day the season ended, and he was awesome
the day the postseason ended. But it might be different
because of the landscape of your pitching staff. We already
knew Fromber and Hunter Brown were in the rotation next year,

(01:30:07):
so you had two aces. Now you have one and
uncertainty with Fromber. That's a huge, huge difference in my opinion.

Speaker 8 (01:30:17):
Just in case you're curious, as it pertains to all this.
Astro's optioning Shay Wickham to Triple A Sugarland following yesterday's game,
and John Singleton cleared waivers and was outright off the
forty men roster. He was DFAD on Monday. I'm just
trying to keep track of who was coming back from

(01:30:38):
injuries now and how that plays into all this. You're
talking about a team that could still maybe add Ordon
Alvarez to the mix.

Speaker 7 (01:30:44):
Oh, they're adding ord On unless there's a recurrence of
the injury. I've said it now. This is the third
time everybody's back.

Speaker 8 (01:30:49):
Like the last twelve hours have been about oh well
Josh Naylor and now hey u Haaneo Suarez.

Speaker 6 (01:30:55):
The Mariners are really going for it. Well, if the
Astros get healthy.

Speaker 8 (01:30:58):
In addition to the moves they've made, good luck getting
anywhere past second place in this division.

Speaker 7 (01:31:03):
Fine, the Mariners are going for it. You're not even
debating that they're definitely going.

Speaker 8 (01:31:07):
For it because everything comparing it to any other season
leading up to this, anything would be going for it
compared to that.

Speaker 7 (01:31:14):
Yeah, also true, but forget about other seasons. They just
added the guy that's at the top of the league.
Nobody's driven in more runs than Suarez. He's now on
their team. They're going for it. They added Josh Naylor,
they needed first baseman the entire year. Instead of struffling
through a bunch of different guys, they've solidified.

Speaker 6 (01:31:31):
They are could be.

Speaker 7 (01:31:33):
They are definitely, on paper, a extreme even in their ballpark,
super plus offense. I said at the beginning of the show,
I think there's a chance that for the next two
months it's the most productive offense. They're going to strike
out of plenty and they still do, and they've added
at least one player that strikes out a ton. But
this is a super potent lineup if Suarez his finger

(01:31:56):
is fine, and obviously I think we'll see that tonight
when he's in the lineup.

Speaker 6 (01:31:59):
It is.

Speaker 7 (01:32:01):
Rodriguez, Raley, Rose, Arena, Naylor, and Suarez, probably JP Crawford
in front of those five. That's the top six in
your order. Is there is there a better top six
on paper in baseball? Even though Rodriguez hasn't been unbelieved.
Are the Astros healthy, Yes, well, the Astros top six
probably is Painia.

Speaker 6 (01:32:20):
Put them against that Painya, Penya, Correa, Altuve. You're putting
Korea in the two spot.

Speaker 7 (01:32:29):
I think so Paynya Korea, Altuve, Mores, Yiner, Walker, Cam
Smith seven.

Speaker 6 (01:32:38):
Yeah, I mean you've already them.

Speaker 2 (01:32:40):
You didn't.

Speaker 7 (01:32:41):
I didn't expect Christian Walker, but there You're right. He
had a good month of June July. Jiner had a
very good month of July. Also contributed to this.

Speaker 8 (01:32:50):
To the last couple of wins, no doubt there weren't
many in that home stand.

Speaker 6 (01:32:54):
I'll put I'm gonna go out on the limb here.

Speaker 8 (01:32:56):
Their next home stand, WEX will be far more successful
than their last one.

Speaker 7 (01:33:01):
Yeah, still forty five minutes plus to go till the deadline.
Expect a starting pitcher to land with the Astros. We'll
hear from Dana Brown in the final hour of the
show just a few minutes after the deadline passes Carlos
Correa rejoining the Astros. Two other acquisitions set for play,
hopefully as soon as tomorrow Night with your Houston Astros.

Speaker 8 (01:33:20):
The ad on Sports Talk seven ninety We are hoping
to have Brian McTaggart on sooner rather than later. One
of the things he tweeted just during the course of
the last hour or so since this news broke about
Carlos Correa coming back to Houston. In case you've been

(01:33:43):
under a rock, Correa told me, this is Brian mctagger
tweeting this. Carea told me several of his teammates in
Houston have texted him and called him and to tell
him how excited they are. He said he expects to
be on a flight to Boston tomorrow morning, not that
there is any doubt, but you know, essentially once the
physical done, he's gonna be in the lineup asap, which

(01:34:03):
is again tomorrow Night's gonna be his first chance, and
it is going to be surreal.

Speaker 6 (01:34:09):
I this is where this is where the.

Speaker 8 (01:34:14):
Bregman departure kind of hurts, because that reunion would have
been even more fantastic. But then you wouldn't be trading
for Carlos Korea if Alex Bregman was here, So you
have to think about all this.

Speaker 6 (01:34:23):
Guy. It's just.

Speaker 8 (01:34:26):
I've never I can't remember a Houston trade that was
big of magnitude like this where I had so many conflicts,
like was it conflicting like this for people? When the
Barkley trade was made, That's the only one I could
think of. Every other trade that the Houston sports landscape
has made most of the time, you feel like you
got the better end of the deal because the best player.

Speaker 6 (01:34:46):
Yeah, I'm sorry, you're going to say that. It's the truth.
It's the truth, though.

Speaker 7 (01:34:50):
Yeah, they clearly in this case because it's not it's
not a competition. The Barkley deal, you gave up two
players that were really good, and one of them obviously
went on to continue to win championship and other deals
that they've made. It just it wasn't really did you
get the best player? Well, of course you got the
best player, there's no question about it. And that's what
happened today. It's just a matter of what does he

(01:35:10):
have for you over the next three years and verbally,
as he spoke with Brian mctagger, like you noted, it's
obviously going to be great. You know, he's got one
goal here, he's texted with teammates here, everybody's excited about
the fact that he is back with the team as
they get set for this long road trip.

Speaker 6 (01:35:29):
I get it, there should be a lot of good
vibes they.

Speaker 7 (01:35:33):
Have only though this is where again they only have
so much to work with. If if they were looking
to land a better twenty twenty five player, then they
probably look elsewhere. They also now know who's on their
team for three years, presumably with Korea because of his contract.
Maybe this year this was the worst of the years

(01:35:54):
you're going to get. I mean, how much below seven
hundred ops can you get? I don't think that's gonna happen.
But it's no worthy that this team, with what they have,
with the prospects they felt okay with moving and the
finding the gms that had the gms that liked their
prospects like Ryan o'harn the Astros would love to have them. Well,
his price is too high for you don't have the

(01:36:15):
ability to compete with the other teams to get him.
You have the ability to compete to get Jesus Sanchez,
and now you did. And I was going to be
an everyday player for this team. Same thing with Rice
and Carlos's case.

Speaker 6 (01:36:25):
I don't know how many.

Speaker 7 (01:36:26):
Other teams were in on Korea because of financials involved,
but they're significantly better than they were before the deadline.
I think that's the lowest bar I could set. And
I'm saying significantly better because now every day seven players
in the lineup, maybe eight matter to the opposing team
starting pitcher and bullpen guys and catching reports.

Speaker 6 (01:36:49):
Finally, and they haven't.

Speaker 7 (01:36:50):
For the last three four or five weeks, the Astros
have managed to play basically five hundred baseball. They had
a basically they won half their games last month, so
somehow one game it was only five hundred. I think
they were finished twelve and thirteen in their twenty five games,
So all the good.

Speaker 6 (01:37:07):
Times that were rolling in June really did go out
the window in July.

Speaker 7 (01:37:10):
They were the best team in baseball in June and
they were not the best team in baseball in July.

Speaker 6 (01:37:15):
That is the simplest way we could put it.

Speaker 7 (01:37:16):
Yeah, they're months this season. They were barely winning the
first three month. Two months of the year. They were
two games over through March and April. There were another
two games over after May, and then they crushed in June.
They went nineteen and seven in June. Last month they
went twelve and thirteen.

Speaker 8 (01:37:32):
Why do I have an inordinate concern that somehow Corey
is not going to get his number one jersey back?
These are the things I need to know. Come on now,
Brendan Rodgers, give it up. You're not even playing right now.

Speaker 6 (01:37:43):
Okay, let's get Paul in here. Let him weigh in
on things.

Speaker 7 (01:37:46):
What's going on, Paul, welcome into the eight team. Carlos
care Hey, sus Sanchez, Ramona Ries, they're all astros.

Speaker 6 (01:37:52):
What's up?

Speaker 12 (01:37:53):
Good afternoon, gentlemen, the exciting times.

Speaker 3 (01:37:56):
The family reunion, no doubt.

Speaker 12 (01:38:00):
Yeah, now I remember, like a siven or so ago,
one of you guys, said Christian Walker. Yeh, it's okay, Yeah,
I completely get it.

Speaker 13 (01:38:08):
Don't worry.

Speaker 12 (01:38:08):
He's not gonna be here next year. Tax too much
touch money at sixty millie. No, no, no, you know what,
because you and I both know there's no way we're
giving these operators. Oh man, Yeah, in the Crowford boxes,
in the Crawford.

Speaker 7 (01:38:24):
Boxes, probably gonna leave it there. Sorry about that, Paul.

Speaker 6 (01:38:29):
Was it the Lynchburg? What's on? I think he's probably
down on Memorial, That's what it was.

Speaker 7 (01:38:34):
Which one though, I mean, all of them impact your
cell service equally, there's two sets, No way there. I mean,
I don't know what they're gonna do. I'm really not
in the seat today to say what their off season
plans are for this presumed surplus of talent they now
have on their roster. Remarkable how they've been able to

(01:38:56):
make their way through the forty men roster and having
all these I mean we know on the show and
obviously they did similarly but with visuals on Space City
Home Network this last homestand the Astros dugout and clubhouse
was overflowing with players because if you're on the forty
man roster, you're basically were in their clubhouse. So many

(01:39:17):
guys on the injured list that are pitching for one
of their minor league affiliates, and thus many of them
made their way to the ballpark.

Speaker 6 (01:39:24):
Christian Javier among them.

Speaker 7 (01:39:25):
Other players that are continuing to go through rehab rejoining
the team in Houston. Carlos Jeremy Pania had been in Florida.
He came back to Houston to participate in the two
rehab games with the Space Cowboys. They went well, by
the way, I haven't really mentioned that DH Night one
shortstop Day two that was yesterday.

Speaker 6 (01:39:43):
He homered yesterday.

Speaker 7 (01:39:44):
No reports of anything negative coming out from either of
those two games, and obviously got his time in on
the field yesterday, so he's expected to be with the
team for tomorrow's game against the Red Sox, so I
don't have official word from anybody involved in the deals
that have not been announced yet. The Rise deal is
been announced, and I believe that is the move that
made with Whitcomb to get him off of the active roster.

(01:40:05):
And then similarly, they opened up two spots on the
forty man roster with Luis ki Orme, who was waived
while injured, then cleared waivers. He accepted an assignment back
with the Space Cowboys DFAD John Singleton similarly, and he
has cleared waivers, though not yet clear where he intends
on continuing his pursuit of Major League Baseball. But that's

(01:40:27):
the spot on the forty man that now your Riots
will take. Sanchez presumably will take the forty man spot
of Ryan Gusto since they were involved in the same trade,
and then a roster spot would be needed for Carlos Korea,
just to make sure you have every spot available to you.
But it stands a good chance if physicals are passed,
and I think a lot of teams prepare themselves so

(01:40:48):
physicals can be passed as quickly as possible. There's only
so many games left this season. If Carlos is healthy
and he is even though he didn't play yesterday. I'd
love to see him in the lineup as early as tomorrow.
And I do really believe that. You know, you have
look at some of the season. Do you prefer Jose
Altuve batting second? Do you prefer Jose al Tuove batting third,

(01:41:11):
because that as they join, as he joins the team,
I would just look at that, see what the results
have been, and go off of that. And we've talked
about where he's been in the lineup. He finally got
back to the leadoff spot for the first time since April,
and some think it's because, yeah, well they were able
to play him at second base so he doesn't have
to come in so far, and he's already said he's
a little uncomfortable running all the way in from left

(01:41:31):
field and then immediately becoming the first batter. When Altuve
has batted second this year, he's got a six forty
three OPS, better than one hundred and fifteen played appearances.
When he bats third, his OPS is nine thirty two.
Doesn't mean you can't bat him second. It's not the
end all be all. These are still relatively small sample sizes.
I brought up with Christian Walker about a thousand times.

(01:41:54):
But yeah, bat Carlos Korea second behind Paynya and bat
Altuve behind him.

Speaker 8 (01:41:59):
Again has nothing to do with batting order, but the
Astros will pay him majority of Korea's deal, according to
John Morosi, which is something I did not see coming.

Speaker 7 (01:42:11):
Well, once once it happened, and once we got the
earlier report and figuring what they did by doing that,
that means they weren't going to give them prospects they
weren't comfortable moving on from and they said, Okay, we
don't need more money. You can't buy better players. We're
going to keep these players and we'll just pay for it.

(01:42:32):
Jim Crane is again spending money to win.

Speaker 6 (01:42:37):
That's what he does. Believe it or not.

Speaker 8 (01:42:39):
All Right, we're going to try and get Brian McTaggart
on the phone here sooner rather than later. We'll try
to actually do that for next segment. Just the timing
and obviously it's a very busy day and we're talking
about the last thirty minutes of the trade deadline, where
I don't think the Astros are done, or at least
they're they're definitely trying to not be done. As John

(01:43:02):
Morosi said, the Dylan Cease trade. That's that's the name
that's most often associated with them in the last hour. Still,
so it sounds like after that was dead, now it's backupak.

Speaker 7 (01:43:12):
Yeah, I'm not really getting aguage is silly. I think
that's totally unnecessary reporting. I get it what their jobs are.
But until the deadline passes and it's five point fifteen,
those deals are not dead.

Speaker 6 (01:43:24):
Meryl Kelly is being moved.

Speaker 7 (01:43:26):
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been shifting away from trying to
play competitive baseball. The adding players Astros need a starting pitcher,
but when they see Meryl Kelly, he'll be pitching for
the Texas Rangers. The Rangers have acquired starting pitcher Meryl Kelly.
According to Jeff Passon, they've had a very good year
on the on the mound as their starters go, makes

(01:43:48):
them even stronger. Of Aldi de Gram, Kelly lighter. They've
had a very good year. They're going with even more strength,
and they like Seattle, enter play tonight five games back
of the Astros. One of those two teams will gain
a game on Houston tonight, the other will lose a
half a game on the Astros. They play each other tonight.
I'm sure the Astros will be locked in four thirty

(01:44:09):
next who knows what's next. Signature segment Brian McTaggart, Astros
Talk for Sure.

Speaker 1 (01:44:17):
The A team on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 8 (01:44:24):
All Right, we don't want to waste any time. Let's
get him in here. Brian McTaggart of MLB dot Com.
Sort of a busy day for you, sir. I would
imagine Carlos Korea, among others, coming back to Houston. It's
fascinating for so many different reasons. But you have actually
spoken to Korea, and he is I'd say it's safe
to say he's very excited to come back home.

Speaker 16 (01:44:47):
Yeah, talk to him about thirty minutes ago. Yeah, super excited. Basically,
he said he had talked to the Twins about the
direction of the team.

Speaker 2 (01:44:56):
Obviously they're having a fire sale.

Speaker 16 (01:44:58):
He didn't want to be a part of that, and
so he said that they would agree to be traded.
He said the only place that he wanted to be
traded to was the Astros, and that sort of got
it going. They have to work out the money, a
bunch of money coming back to the Astros, of course,
and it's done. He's coming back. He says, he's he's
talked to some of his teammates already. He's going to

(01:45:19):
go to Minnesota today to help his wife pack, and
up on a plane tomorrow to Boston and he'll join
the Astros in Boston and play third base, which he
says at this point in his career is a great
move for him. He did that in the World Baseball Classic,
and he said in Minnesota they had been talking about
moving to third but they never really got a shortstop,

(01:45:39):
so he kept playing shortstop.

Speaker 2 (01:45:40):
But he said, the goals come home and win championships.

Speaker 8 (01:45:44):
And I think it's interesting that this trade doesn't get
made if Alex Bregman isn't playing short third base in
Boston tomorrow night.

Speaker 2 (01:45:51):
I'm sorry say that again.

Speaker 6 (01:45:52):
I said, this.

Speaker 8 (01:45:53):
Deal doesn't get made if Alex Bregman isn't playing third
base for the Red Sox tomorrow night.

Speaker 2 (01:45:59):
Yeah true, yeah true.

Speaker 16 (01:46:00):
Uh, you know, Bragman resigned, resigns, and yeah, it's out
of the question. It's it's gonna be weird having Korea, Bregman,
and a'l tu Bay back in all in the all
in the same ballpark. Didn't think I would see that again,
But uh, uh, you know, I think it's the kind
of deal that that Korea could be energized by this
and us. He's jumping into the middle of a pennant race.
Now the Mariners and Rangers are both making trades to

(01:46:23):
get a lot better. This is going to be a
really fun couple of months.

Speaker 7 (01:46:26):
What are real expectations for h the Astros moving forward?
Considering the financial commitment they've now made, It's it's almost
as if this is their team maybe for the more
than just short term future.

Speaker 16 (01:46:41):
Yeah, I mean, I'll have to dig into that a
little more. You know, Korea is here for a couple
more years. Yeah, I mean, I think that's a good
question going forward. I don't have, you know, a solid answer,
because I haven't really thought a whole lot about it yet,
but uh, you know that, you know, Jim Crane is
going to always make the moves to try to win
now and then worry about tomorrow tomorrow.

Speaker 7 (01:47:01):
What are your kind of just two months? You got
two months plus playoffs with Carlos Korea. Looking at what
he did last year, albeit hurt, looking at what he's
done so far this year, what do you think of
realistic offensive expectations?

Speaker 6 (01:47:12):
For Carlos Korea.

Speaker 16 (01:47:15):
Yeah, I mean, if he can approach what he did
last year, you know it hit better than he did
this year than.

Speaker 2 (01:47:21):
I think the Astros will take that.

Speaker 16 (01:47:23):
I mean, you know, there's still a chance they could,
you know, acquire another player. But they got Hayesius Sanchez,
it's going to come in. They got Urias yesterday, They're
gonna get Panya back probably tomorrow. So this lineup is
gonna be a lot better with Carlos Korea and those
guys in it. And uh, you know, you know, fifty
three games Proofully in the pudding. You know how well

(01:47:45):
he plays, how well he swings the bat. But it's
going to energize this team and give them a jolt,
and that's what they need.

Speaker 7 (01:47:50):
One other thing, because we keep talking about the departures
of leadership Korea previously Bregman Moore, recently, the team kept winning.
The team seemingly has a fantastic clubhouse and a culture
of winning, and all the newcomers have said exactly that,
and they keep winning. Do you think there was an
element of the of what Carlos brings off the field
inside the clubhouse on the field, even with how he

(01:48:11):
leads this team.

Speaker 6 (01:48:12):
Do you think any of that was missing.

Speaker 16 (01:48:17):
I don't think it was. I don't think it was
missing it. I mean it probably went down when Carlos left.
I mean, you couldn't understate what what he meant to
that team leadership wise. And then we all saw the
mound visit in twenty twenty with Valdez, and he became
the face of the sign stealing scandal, defending all his teammates,
all the visits to the pitcher's mound, the stuff he
would say in the media. You know, he always struck

(01:48:38):
the right tone and times were bad, I don't think
Altude was ever comfortable or ever will be comfortable. And
that role sort of as a spokesman for the team
Korea kra Is and you know, now he's thirty one
years old and you know, back to where it started.
And I think he's definitely going to assume a lot
of leadership on this team, not only on the field
but in the clubhouse, just like he did before.

Speaker 8 (01:48:59):
Speaking of a sum, are we to assume that because
Ryan Gusto is out in one of these deals, that
the starting pitcher, whether it's rental or long term, is
a formality like the Astros are going to have to
get another starter before five o'clock.

Speaker 16 (01:49:16):
I wouldn't say some formality. I mean they're trying. They're
trying on Dylan Cease, which has been reported. I mean
he was I think I think they were close last night,
so you know, they got to they have some pitching
depth once they get healthy. So even if they don't
get Cease, I think that, you know, they still have
the chance to have some pitching depth towards the end
of the year and going in the next year. But
they're working really hard to add a picture they can

(01:49:39):
line up behind Valdez and Hunter Brown and give them
a you know, a solid one two three going into
the playoffs.

Speaker 7 (01:49:46):
I know Ac kind of asked you about this earlier,
but I think the fans want to hear more of it.
The genuine excitement in your exchange with Carlos Care about
becoming an Astro again, did it Did it seem fairly
tangible and obvious?

Speaker 2 (01:50:02):
Yeah, I mean, I uh.

Speaker 16 (01:50:03):
I called him uh as I was hopping on a
shuttle bus and he said he was hopping on an
elevator and I said, well, let's let's touch pace in
ten minutes, and he called me back, and uh yeah,
I mean he seemed he seemed pretty excited, especially the
part where he said that once realized it wasn't gonna,
you know, work out of Minnesota, that he said, there
was only one place that I would go, and that
was you know, he had he had a no trade class,

(01:50:24):
so he had to approve the trade to Houston, and
then it was up to the front offices and agents
and everybody to work out the money. But the fact
that all his teammates are calling him, calling him, and
he did use the word excited, and to get to
Boston tomorrow and see everybody, and uh, I think he's
pretty I think he hit pretty well in Boston during
his astro's career. So maybe he'll pop some over the

(01:50:45):
Green Monster tomorrow and get this toick going.

Speaker 8 (01:50:47):
Who's more excited in the Korea family, Carlos or Danielle
about coming back to Houston.

Speaker 16 (01:50:52):
Well, I think it's probably Korea's parents who live in Houston,
so they're going to get a chance to see the
grandkids a lot more.

Speaker 2 (01:50:58):
In Crave even talked about that a little bit too.

Speaker 16 (01:51:00):
You know, when you when you have kids, you got
to put them first on a lot of these decisions
and the chance to come back to where his parents
live and the grandkids can hang out with the grandparents.

Speaker 2 (01:51:09):
That's going to be cherry on top for Korea.

Speaker 8 (01:51:11):
It's a wild day. We know you're busy. We're gonna
let you get back to it. We really appreciate you
taking the time out. Brian McTaggart MLB dot Com. Enjoy
the rest of the deadline day, Brian.

Speaker 2 (01:51:21):
Okay, we're getting close.

Speaker 8 (01:51:22):
TOPU later, all right, Brian McTaggart here on Sports Talk
seven ninety Yeah. I did not see that third option coming.
The grandparents are actually the most exciting.

Speaker 7 (01:51:32):
Happy twenty ninth to Danielle celebrated her birthday earlier this week.
Carlos Correa's numbers, as you and Brian alluded to eight
thirty one ops career at Fenway Park, which is almost
exactly what his career ops at the ballpark normally formerly
called Minute Made Park are formerly called Yes, Minute Made
Park now dyk In Park eight thirty three. He'll also

(01:51:53):
play at Marlins Park, presumably mm hm.

Speaker 6 (01:51:57):
Do they still have the in the outfield there?

Speaker 7 (01:51:59):
They tried, They've gotten rid of some of it, and
it also was less and less useful in that it
was used in a celebratory fashion. There hadn't been a
whole lot to celebrate there a little bit under seven
hundred ops there Yankee Stadium. For the first time in
a while, at least this year, Jose Altuve will not
be the only Astro Boode in their lineup when they

(01:52:20):
play at Yankee Stadium. Same ops there that he has
everywhere else. Carlos, that I mentioned about a eight thirty
nine ops.

Speaker 8 (01:52:27):
You get booed when you walk them off twice in
the same series with home runs, one of them to
end the series. Suck it, Yankees fans, That was my analysis.
I just love that marinate all these teams doing all
these things. Y'all playing catch up ball, as Rick Flair
likes to say, very very exciting day, and it ain't over.

(01:52:47):
One more segment with us before the deadline, and then
of course we get to react all over again when
the Astros Land Dylan cees next.

Speaker 1 (01:52:56):
The aged on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 6 (01:53:01):
Currently has seven home runs on the season.

Speaker 8 (01:53:05):
Carlos Carrea will finish the twenty twenty five campaign with
how many home runs Adam Wexler exactly double that total.

Speaker 6 (01:53:13):
I was gonna say fourteen two, which is my.

Speaker 7 (01:53:15):
Idea, which isn't I mean, that's three and a half
homers a month. That's nothing. But he's hit even less
than nothing for the first four more hitter friendly park now,
I mean he plays half of his game. How many
home games do they even have left? I mean, it's
just not even that they don't. Actually, they were talking
about this on the broadcast yesterday. I don't know if
you happen to be listening to us.

Speaker 8 (01:53:31):
Hev side at that point, and I think after this
next home stand following that they only have the six
games left.

Speaker 6 (01:53:42):
Is that sound right?

Speaker 7 (01:53:43):
No, it's definitely not right. I'm about a little little
too far along.

Speaker 8 (01:53:45):
Then I misheard them, but it was something insane like
there's not that many.

Speaker 6 (01:53:48):
It's like twenty ish total. Yeah exactly.

Speaker 7 (01:53:52):
I mean you've played two thirds of the season and
then you split the final third half home half road.

Speaker 6 (01:53:56):
You're how I feel about that?

Speaker 8 (01:53:57):
Well, although it's probably better if you trying to keep
a marginal narrow lead, it's not a narrow I mean
it's not eight games, but it's not two.

Speaker 7 (01:54:06):
And with a five game lead, you have three games
left with Texas in their ballpark, three more left at
your ballpark, and then after that final Texas series you
play Seattle. Those are your last six home games or
Texas and Seattle. Six left with Texas, three left with Seattle.
You have an eight game lead. If the Rangers or
Twins win none of those three remaining series, even if

(01:54:30):
they're two games to one, that the Astros win, rather
than to say a sweep, it becomes math and the
difficulty in passing the Astros, you won't have won the
season series talking about them. The Astros will have the
season series tiebreaker over both of them if what I
suggested happens. So now not only do they have to
pass you, I mean now they have to pass you,
they can't tie you. So now you're talking about they've

(01:54:52):
got to outplay you in the other forty four games
by eight. And that means if you go twenty two
and twenty two ish, they'd have to go thirty two
and sixteen, thirty two and fifteen. Extremely unlikely for any
of these teams to go on a run like that
for the way that they've played. Even though you could
argue that the Mariners, Astros and Rangers the best team

(01:55:15):
they'll put on the field this year. We haven't seen
it yet. We'll see it for the Mariners tonight. The
Mariners are healthy and they'll all be out there tonight.
And their pitching staff is healthy. The Rangers Merril Kelly
whenever he pitches, for the most part, their offensive lineup
is healthy. And if all these healthy and Da Gram's healthy,
that they'll put their best lineup on the field. We're
not there yet with the Astros. We don't have Jordon

(01:55:37):
Alvarez out there. You're getting Jeremy Panya back tomorrow night.
You may or may not get Jake Myers back, and
you probably are not getting Esach Perettis back. I assume
after these trades go down, and maybe even tonight, we
will hear from Dana Brown here on the show in
the second segment sometime around five twenty five, twenty five,
and he might in fact be able to acknowledge that

(01:55:59):
he socked Perettis, has gotten his second opinion, and it's
not expected to play.

Speaker 6 (01:56:03):
Will he have his apron on? Will he have his
apron on?

Speaker 8 (01:56:07):
Yeah, because he's been cooking all day, way over my head.
It's funny now that you think about it, isn't it.

Speaker 16 (01:56:14):
Uh?

Speaker 7 (01:56:15):
Yes, I fall out of my chair on ITV.

Speaker 8 (01:56:17):
You just the sense of humor coming from that side
of the console today is palpable. I really am expecting
to hear Dylan sees to the Astros in the next
ten minute, well nine minutes basically. Now we're down to
single digit minutes left in the twenty twenty five trade deadline.
And I gotta say, even with the Justin Verlander trade,
which went down to the seconds, I think there was

(01:56:37):
thirty seconds left technically until it could be completed and approved,
this is by far the wildest during the golden era
of Astros baseball.

Speaker 6 (01:56:46):
Don't you think? I Meanranky came, but the amount of
moves and Correa.

Speaker 7 (01:56:52):
Of great magnitude. Yeah, but Cole was an off season deal. Granky, Verlander,
Korea Verlander twin have all been added.

Speaker 6 (01:57:01):
At the deadline the second time.

Speaker 7 (01:57:03):
Second acquisition that's fourth on the list, Greanky acquisition probably third.
Correa in the magnitude of his name, comes in second.
The first Verlander acquisition blows this away, in my opinion,
blows it away from a wow. The Astros did this
because we're in love with the person. The nostalgia. They

(01:57:25):
didn't add an All Star today. They might in the future,
but he didn't play that way this year. Yeah, he's
only getting older.

Speaker 6 (01:57:31):
He'll make the twenty twenty six also. Well, so here's
the deal.

Speaker 8 (01:57:36):
Somebody asked on MLB Network Radio, what do they have
left up to give for Dylan cease and Greg Tooey
our buddy said, news flash, they haven't given anyone up
of significance for the guys they have traded for. You
agree or disagree with that in the grand scheme of things.

(01:57:56):
I know, Ryan Gusto just started and went six innings
and it was a nice story. But like right, and
Gusto's the fifth starter maybe for most Major league teams.

Speaker 7 (01:58:05):
As a rookie, this is a possibility his sentence, but yeah,
no disrespect starter for a team that had no starters left.

Speaker 6 (01:58:12):
Yeah, but that's why he was That's why he was
out there.

Speaker 7 (01:58:14):
No, a couple of years ago you made or two
drafts ago, Walker Yannick was your top pick. He's your
top catching prospect and top five in your organization. Your
best pitcher in the organization is at Triple A now
and Ulola and has pitched fairly well there. Gouts strikeout
numbers back up again for Kouchie Sullivan. These are players
on the rise, though probably not major leaguers before next year,

(01:58:36):
but probably not till twenty seven. Kevin Alvarez, in my opinion,
as a seventeen year old untouchable. And then your top
two prospects are with the team, Bryce Matthews and Jacob Melton.
They've been regular players, went healthy, regular in the lineup,
players went healthy. So I'm not sure what you know,
what have they given up? But I don't know that
anybody if you saw any name on this list, Oh

(01:58:58):
they just sent so and so for or Sanchez or
and we already know that your eyes deal, I don't
know who that would be, that you'd be. I can't
believe that they gave that person up. I mean, it's
still could happen. I don't imagine them giving up Yannick
because that doesn't make any sense for where this club
is headed. You know, Victor Krattini's not here long term.
I still think it was ridiculous that people thought the

(01:59:19):
Astros were entertaining or should entertain the idea of moving
on from Jinor Diaz at the deadline, but having a
catcher in the system as close not super close to
the major He's not even playing double A baseball yet,
but he's a college catcher.

Speaker 6 (01:59:32):
I think that's the future at catcher.

Speaker 7 (01:59:34):
I don't think they would want to move on from
him with Yaners splitting time with him yor moving to
whatever the case may be. Their system is not full
of players you think are going to be great, even
Bryce Matthews, even Jacob Melton.

Speaker 6 (01:59:46):
I don't know that.

Speaker 7 (01:59:47):
They don't have untouchable talent other than Alvarez. In my opinion,
these guys aren't like the A's made a deal for
three guys in the top sixteen of the Padre system,
including the number five prospect in Baseball, number three overalls.
Those guys, the plan is for them to make the
team in the near future and be an absolute superstar.
The Astros do not have a single prospect in their

(02:00:08):
system that would be looked at in that fashion. There's
no prospect in the Astros system other than Alvarez, in
my opinion, that is expected to be a major league superstar.

Speaker 6 (02:00:17):
Not yet. But they drafted a few. I mean, I will,
but those are souls.

Speaker 7 (02:00:21):
My comments were made with no regard to the twenty
twenty five picks. I think that's fair to say. I'm
not I shouldn't say that about them, because I don't
know that they would be either.

Speaker 6 (02:00:29):
No.

Speaker 8 (02:00:29):
But but in all seriousness, the only reason I'm saying
that is because as much as we're giving Dana Brown,
you know, his flowers or whatever you want to call it,
for today, his strength is that, at least that's his
reputation coming here from Atlanta, is building up the farm system,
being a guy who can have evaluate talent, you know,
at the amateur level to get your farm system to

(02:00:50):
where it needs to be. And so you know, this
being is one of his early full drafts. I would
look to those prospects in the future. But as it
stands today, I think the Astros are better than they
were before.

Speaker 7 (02:01:03):
Yeah, that should go without saying, and we'll see it
in action as early as tomorrow night. It'll also include
the return of Jeremy pania Worth. A look at what
the other teams in the division, the other teams in
the league, and everything going on in baseball. We have
not done a whole lot of that with the Astros
being so active, and we believe when we hit the
top of the hour at five o'clock, we will be
hearing news of them being once more very active and

(02:01:25):
helping the twenty twenty five team.

Speaker 6 (02:01:27):
We'll do that.

Speaker 3 (02:01:27):
Next the A team on Sports Talk seven.

Speaker 5 (02:01:32):
Ninety Adam Clinton and Adam Wexler are the A team.

Speaker 6 (02:01:40):
All right, it's over.

Speaker 8 (02:01:48):
The deadline is in the rearview mirror for twenty twenty five.

Speaker 7 (02:01:52):
A lot of things are going to come down in
the last handful of minutes. And still are We experienced
this right here on this very program or on the
air many times over with the deadline coming in the
afternoon three o'clock.

Speaker 6 (02:02:03):
Now it's five o'clock.

Speaker 7 (02:02:05):
Marlins report from their beat writer expecting Sandy Alcntra to
remain with the Marlins through this deadline, and we obviously
are at five o'clock. Doesn't mean it's guaranteed that that
is accurate, but it's most likely to be the case.
Late incoming trades closer for the Giants headed to the Yankees,
Camilla Dovoll Adrian Hauser headed to the Tampa Rays from

(02:02:30):
the White Sox Houser one time Astros farm hand part
of the Carlos Gomez trade. Jose Caberro often thorn in
the side of everybody. He is headed to the Yankees,
according to Ken Rosenthal, and again I do think we'll
probably see three or four other deals. Didn't mention that
the Rangers are also adding to their bullpen. Film Aiton

(02:02:51):
going to the Texas Rangers from the Saint Louis Cardinals
go bad for him, per Jeff Passing, and as somebody
pointed out, as we try to add two plus two
an equal cease. The Padres have added starting pitcher Nestor
Cortes from the Brewers. Cortes made two starts this year
after joining the Brewers, then was hurt, has been rehabbing

(02:03:11):
ever since and is expected to be available to be
activated soon. And presumably that would be jumping right into
the Padres rotation because they need him because Dylan Cees
is being moved. That's a purely hypothetical, very very busy day.
The Padres have been as active as anybody else acquiring
and moving on from players. But yes, that is possible

(02:03:34):
that adding a starting pitcher is because they are moving
a starting pitcher. Jeff Passon also moments ago saying Griffin
Jackson was involved in some very strange decision making by
his manager in their ballgame yesterday. Is being sent to Tampa,
Tampa not giving up the fight for a postseason Birth
had a good year out of the bullpen for Minnesota

(02:03:55):
and now headed over to Tampa. The award on the
Astros as of right now. They officially announced the ramon
Arias deal from late yesterday, and the expectation is they'll
be with the team and available for Joe as spotted
tomorrow night, likely starting at second base if you asked me,
Carlos Corey has already spoken to Brian mctagger, who's already
spoken to us about his arrival with the Astros in Boston.

(02:04:19):
Headed back to pack things up in Minnesota so he
can get on a flight for Boston tomorrow. So I
think that's pretty good confirmation of the reports Brian mctagger
had and others after that that he is headed back
to the Astros and Miami Marlon outfielder who bats left handed,
Hey Sue Sanchez headed to the Astros as well. Ryan
Gusto and Chase Jowarski are the names, along with a

(02:04:43):
single a pitcher involved in those three deals in some
former fashion that we are aware of, and there will
be others. Hopefully Dana Brown can influence our thoughts on
that when we hear from him in the next half hour.

Speaker 6 (02:04:56):
Did you say Charlie Morton is going to the Tigers yet?
That one is even newer than the last one.

Speaker 7 (02:05:00):
Okay, Charlie Morton reunited with aj Hinch with the Tigers.
Morton made a start earlier this week for the O's
and now is headed to the best team in that division,
the Detroit Tigers.

Speaker 8 (02:05:14):
You want to hear the most depressing stat ever, if true.
I'm not having confirmed this, but it sounds right.

Speaker 6 (02:05:18):
Okay.

Speaker 8 (02:05:19):
Lance mccullor's junior threw eighty eight innings between Carlos Correa's
stints here in Houston. Okay, does that sound right? I
guess it does.

Speaker 6 (02:05:30):
I believe it. I don't really he leftn't really thought
much about it.

Speaker 8 (02:05:33):
He left after the twenty one season. That sounds awfully low.
What I don't know, it probably isn't.

Speaker 7 (02:05:41):
So Carlos's last year was, like you said, twenty one,
they won the World Series.

Speaker 6 (02:05:45):
So this is the fourth season that they were apart,
right hmm? Okay, Well, Lance missed the bulk of it,
and he's pitched a little bit this year. So sad.

Speaker 8 (02:05:57):
Chandler also had a great tweet Chandler Roam. The twenty
seven teen Astros are reunited in Detroit, the twenty twenty
one Astros are reunited in Houston.

Speaker 7 (02:06:06):
Ninety two innings of work for Lance in twenty twenty
two and twenty twenty five.

Speaker 6 (02:06:13):
Man.

Speaker 8 (02:06:13):
I bring that up in part because he's Carlos Korea's
best friend on this team.

Speaker 6 (02:06:19):
I'm sure he and his blister will be excited about this. Right,
you have to do that.

Speaker 7 (02:06:24):
Well, I think he's here. I don't think he made
the trip, but I'm not positive. He's not eligible to
come off the injured list for another five days, and
I think the expectation was he would remain on the
injured list, and so even if he was maybe in
a position to get ramped up to appear on this
two week road trip, I don't know that he would

(02:06:45):
begin on the road trip.

Speaker 6 (02:06:46):
Would rather meet them when he was available.

Speaker 8 (02:06:48):
Well, in that regard, since we're talking about starting pitching,
Chandler Roome just tweeting Astros are done. Source tells the
Athletic their trade deadline. Hall Is Correa Urreus and Jesus
Sanchez talks with Dylan Ceese were the legitimate and at
times picking up steam, but ultimately never got over the

(02:07:10):
finish line. So they did not get a starting pitcher.
How do you feel now that you know that is
not part of their hall?

Speaker 7 (02:07:17):
So let's give you what's on the horizon for the
Astros as we walk our way through that question. They
announce their pitching rotation for the Red Sox series. Hunter Brown,
Colton Gordon, and from ber Valdez expected to go Tomorrow's
Saturday and Sunday. Jason Alexander's spot in the rotation for
the time being appears needed.

Speaker 6 (02:07:35):
Yes, Gusto's gone.

Speaker 7 (02:07:36):
I would suspect another start is in line for him.
The timing on an Aarraghetty return, I believe still would
they would need somebody else to pitch before he does.
Unless the moves they've made have made them change course
on Araghetty's arrival, Could they now say, well, why make

(02:07:57):
another rehab start. He's start with us, Even if you're
he'd probably be limited to seventy five to eighty pitches.
He was up above sixty in his last one, nearly
fifty in the one before that, so he's not far
off from having almost no limits on it. But yeah,
that probably could be considered. I don't think that's what
they want to do, because it's a dangerous way to play,

(02:08:18):
that you're doing things based out of need when you
should be looking at them more out of health. There
is an off day on this road trip. Three games
in Boston followed by three games in Miami through Wednesday
of next week, the off day, as they somehow get
back to the East Coast, an afternoon game in Miami,
and they'll fly up to New York most likely after
that game on Wednesday. The off day, Thursday, August seventh
in New York, and then the three games with the Yankees.

(02:08:42):
But they have three guys in the rotation right now,
and one of them is Colton Gordon. That's what their
rotation is as of right now. They're gonna fill the
gaps and soon ARAGETI we will be back soon. Javiera's back,
and obviously Jason Alexander is on the roster. But the
fewer games he starts points to how much more serious
they are about winning. And I wish I wasn't so
negative about Gordon, but I certainly wish he wasn't in

(02:09:04):
line for ten more starts this year.

Speaker 6 (02:09:07):
But as we sit here today. It very well could happen.

Speaker 7 (02:09:10):
It's all based on the deadline deals they made for
starting pitching. Were the four guys that are pitching in
the miners on rehab appearances, plus lancemc colors. There's five
guys that are going to pitch for the Astros probably
between now and the end of the season. France, Garcia, mccullors,
Arraghetti and Javier. Those are the starting pitching acquisitions they made.

(02:09:31):
And for a bullpen that is lopsided on the left
handed side, they did not make any moves in the bullpen.
It's all predicated on who's already in the system or
maybe somebody else who's out there that's remain unsigned. How
do I feel about it was your original question. I've
given you all the information. I think what they did
in July should make them very, very worried. They have
been one of the best teams pitching, starting and relieving

(02:09:54):
three months first month of the season plus March, then May,
then June, and then they were in the bottom ten
last month. As things unraveled a little bit more, Hunter
Brown was not nearly as effective. On top of all that,
and all that, while fromber Valdez was still killing it.
That's what I would be most concerned about. I don't
know if I say they're limping to the finish line

(02:10:16):
from a pitching standpoint, but they're swimming in very dangerous waters.
And the Gusto trade just exacerbates that. Now I'd say,
I'm not enthused. What's Walter's status. It's very uncertain. I
didn't mention him because he's the guy. Yeah, he settles
all this because he was your third starter. He was

(02:10:36):
your third best starter for a big enough shunk of
the season, and when he left, he had was coming
off another fantastic outing, he really good. Elbow inflammation means
he's not going to pitch at all pretty much for
that first fifteen days, the fifteen days of his stint,
he'd need to be ramped back up again. You're hopeful
that when he does pick up a baseball, does start
throwing again, that there isn't any recurrence of inflammation, because

(02:10:57):
if there is, you're almost putting the season in jeopardy
at that point, even if no surgery or no major
injury has been found, but your timeline is just running out.
If I knew that he was going to be back
in fourteen games, I would feel great. I bet you
they play the next fourteen games and he's not involved
in any of them, especially with arrag.

Speaker 6 (02:11:15):
Getty right around the corner. Yeah, Eric Getty's pitching on this.

Speaker 7 (02:11:18):
I think he's pitching no later than the homestand beginning
with Boston. That's four series, the next four series. He
will pitch a game in one of their next four series.

Speaker 8 (02:11:27):
And if all goes well, and I really I have
no reason to believe it won't. This is not a
guy who had any sort of injury where it was like, ah, well,
we got to keep an eye on this. He's ready
or he's not. And if he's ready and he pitches
like I think he will, I don't. I'm actually feeling okay.
But of course I would feel better if they had
gotten Dylan Cees.

Speaker 6 (02:11:47):
Don't.

Speaker 8 (02:11:47):
Don't get me wrong, that's a disappointment, but it obviously was.
It sounds to me that if they couldn't get it done,
then the asking price was just a.

Speaker 6 (02:11:55):
Little bit too high on a day where they did
all of these other deals.

Speaker 7 (02:11:58):
Yeah, and keep the other part of it in mind.
It never really happened with the Astros and cease. It
also didn't happen with anybody else.

Speaker 8 (02:12:05):
Right, he's staying in San Diego, who, by the way,
doesn't have a terrible team right about now.

Speaker 7 (02:12:09):
Their playoff team, and they're a World Series caliber playoff
team because of how good they can't. When they get hot,
they're hard to beat.

Speaker 6 (02:12:17):
Period. I hope they get hot in the DS against
the Dodgers again.

Speaker 7 (02:12:21):
Maybe, and then the way things have shaped up a
few times with the top team being the Dodgers and
the team that is winning the wild Card Series that's
funneled into playing the Dodgers in the five game series.
It's been them before. They've come out on top before.
I wouldn't mind it all if that happened again. But
I'm not dismissing the rest of the league. The Mets
and the Phillies, they got at in the last forty

(02:12:44):
eight hours a lot better.

Speaker 6 (02:12:45):
I freaking Harrison Bader's a Philly now or he's hitting me.
He's a edition that guy. It was awesome sweeping him
in twenty two as a member of the Yankees.

Speaker 8 (02:12:58):
All right, Yeah, more conversation about a now completed and
I would say successful as far as the Astros go.
Twenty twenty five Major League baseball trade deadline day.

Speaker 6 (02:13:10):
We will continue to discuss when we come back.

Speaker 3 (02:13:14):
The eight on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 8 (02:13:35):
Grade the Astros trade deadline, Paul, I'm gonna give you
my grade after you give me yours.

Speaker 7 (02:13:44):
Well, you're making it easy because you're only saying they're hall.
So it's with no well characterization of what they gave away. No,
that's part of the hall. You don't get the hall
without the giveaway. So great, they're trades. Yes, okay, you
are so semantic driven. Well, you're asking me to give
you an answer on something I don't have the information on.
I already did this once today, and I think it

(02:14:05):
burned me. It was a report that the A's traded
Mason Miller and JP Sears to the Padres for the
third over the top prospected shortstop, which was partially accurate,
and I quote sweeted it and said, yeah, definitely, if
you can take an elite arm with four years of
club control and trade him for an eighteen year old prospect,

(02:14:26):
it's something you gotta do. I basically said, pure genius.
And people came back, this is the third overall prospect
in baseball. They just added, And there also were four
other prospects in the deal that I wasn't aware of
yet been sorted.

Speaker 6 (02:14:37):
I don't know.

Speaker 7 (02:14:38):
I don't know what the Assos gave up yet in total?

Speaker 8 (02:14:41):
Today, how awesome is it going to be when Mason
Miller strikes out show Hey o tany to clinch the
Division series?

Speaker 7 (02:14:48):
That could happen provided he remains healthy. I now, hitting wise,
show Hey is probably going to be healthy. But we'll
get to that a little bit later. Okay, your favorite
person covering the ass since Dusty was manager because he
had a direct line to the Astros then it apparently
still does now. Bob Nightingale says it's about thirty three million.

(02:15:09):
It's about a third of what Carlos Korea is owed
that the Minnesota Twins are picking up. That also should
give us an idea of what level of prospect, even
though I don't know who it is, or what level
that is or what his name is the Hall if
you just look at what they've done in this season,
and you at least allow for the have club control
of these guys in the future, so any moves they

(02:15:30):
want to make, they're on the roster.

Speaker 6 (02:15:31):
It's Matt r Kolski.

Speaker 7 (02:15:33):
Matt mcculsky, give me the four to one one on him.

Speaker 8 (02:15:36):
I dare you hi a left hander? He is the
prospect going to Minnesota in return for Korea. That is,
as of eleven seconds ago. Boy, he is killing you today,
Chandler Rome is You're in the middle of sentences in
his tweet. Well he called him a prospect, right, yes?
So are we okay calling? And this has nothing to
do with Chandler.

Speaker 6 (02:15:55):
This is me being you.

Speaker 7 (02:15:57):
Yes, if you play minor league bay Ball for a
professional baseball team that is one of the thirty two
out thirty major league outfits, do you automatically get to
attach the word prospect to your name just because you're
in the minors?

Speaker 2 (02:16:10):
Yes?

Speaker 7 (02:16:10):
Okay, Well, then they traded a prospect for they included
that process.

Speaker 8 (02:16:14):
Once you hear that they're eating a third of his
ninety million and the Twins aren't, and it is a
salary cap or a salary dump, as multiple national talking
heads have described it, then I wouldn't expect there to
be a huge like the best part of today. Honestly,
if we're if we're like really we want to be

(02:16:34):
like realistic about this. As Astros fans looking at the future,
is that Bryce Matthews didn't go out in any of
these deals.

Speaker 6 (02:16:42):
Uh, yeah, I knew he wouldn't.

Speaker 7 (02:16:43):
I didn't think the Astros were mortgaging any part of
what they believe is their future to do that, And
they didn't get a player that would have cost them that. Clearly,
mcculski was part of the Giants organization, was signed as
a free agent in season this year by the Astros,
and and for about a month in change, has played
with their A League outfit.

Speaker 6 (02:17:04):
I was getting ready for the season.

Speaker 7 (02:17:06):
Prior to that, So I can't there's clearly more, much more,
And I would not in a I don't know, nine
hundred and ninety nine thousand years call him a prospect
in the truest sense of the word. He pitches in
their minor league system. That's pretty much it. I mean,

(02:17:27):
I still he's a former Round two pick of the Giants. Yeah,
and they allowed him to hit free agency three years later.

Speaker 8 (02:17:37):
No one has answered my question yet, And this isn't
a shot at you. Why the sudden change of heart
from Jim Crane to pick up the tabs so to speak?

Speaker 6 (02:17:49):
Yeah, thirty three million? Do you split that out over
the three years?

Speaker 7 (02:17:52):
If you'll allow me, I guess more like thirty one
million over three years, because the other two or so
will hit this year somewhere in that neighborhood. So you're
bringing his figure down each of those remaining three years.
By that amount, the Astros are paying Carlos Correa a
little bit more than Christian Walker per season the next
three seasons.

Speaker 8 (02:18:11):
Sixty million dollars deal, like you a little bit more
than that somewhere in that? Is it as simple as
and I know this is a very basic view of this. Well,
prospects are what is going to cost you if you
don't want to eat the money, which is what they
did with Justin Verlander the second time. Well, we don't
have the prospects this time, at least the high end ones.
So now we will pay the money, I mean, strip

(02:18:33):
away everything. That's what this like this is, that's the
main difference between Justin Verlander two seasons ago and Carlos
Correa returning this season.

Speaker 6 (02:18:42):
Yeah, pretty much. I mean, in one deal, Justin Verlander's tab.

Speaker 8 (02:18:45):
Got picked up by the Mets so he could come
back here to play for the team whose owner didn't
want to originally pay him. And then now the owner
that we're just got done talking about once another guy
back but doesn't have the highly touted prospects, or at
least isn't willing to part with any to get him,
and the team that's trading him wants to shed salary.

Speaker 6 (02:19:07):
All right, I'll pay it.

Speaker 7 (02:19:08):
I mean it's always been Granky Verlander and Korea, they
were all salary.

Speaker 8 (02:19:13):
I remember Granky, And that was a three o'clock deadline,
by the way, because the show started and we thought
they hadn't done anything. And then at about three twelve
and eleven seconds when we had to go to break,
that's when we discovered, oh, Granky's and you immediately got
this sour look on your face because of the money
that the Astros were going to be paying him.

Speaker 7 (02:19:31):
Yeah, and we found out a little bit more that
they picked up a bunch of salary. But I this
is why its owners are trading prospects. That deals a
great example the Verlander original deal with the Tigers. Another
one the Astros gave up four fairly highly touted prospects
from their system, which at the time was still very good.

(02:19:52):
You'd made the Verlander deal, you'd made the Garrett Cole deal,
but you still had prospects that you believed were going
to be frontline major contributors. Bucascas was an early pick
and had pitched well enough to be in that deal.
Corbyn Martin had pitched well enough to be someone that
they considered a part of their future. Seth Beer was
a very high pick who had played well in the miners.

Speaker 6 (02:20:13):
Up to that point. And none of them did anything
in them.

Speaker 7 (02:20:16):
I mean, Corbyn Martin's making it back to the majors
after some of his injuries. He's did that this year
is the story. None of them were good major leaguers.
Rojas was the other player, the least touted prospect, but
the one closest to helping. He became a major leaguer
almost immediately and has been a journeyman utility man for
all the years since.

Speaker 6 (02:20:35):
That's all it cost you.

Speaker 7 (02:20:36):
For Zach Grienk, who pitched Game seven of the of
the World Series, it cost you two players who didn't
have any major three players who basically had no major
league careers.

Speaker 6 (02:20:47):
Hey, he played a journey of defense that night too.
It wasn't just pitching. So that's why teams are usually
willing to do it.

Speaker 7 (02:20:52):
And as far as I can tell there's there's no
reason for the Astros to have sellers remorse with any
of these players. But you're asked again just it's just
the team. It's at some point in the next before
the month ends, and it hasn't even begun yet. Before
August is over. Joe Spott is gonna write down in
a lineup card A lineup I think with Payna, Correa, Alvarez, Diaz, Walker,

(02:21:16):
all Al Tuove Long in the lineup, in the top six.

Speaker 6 (02:21:18):
Spots in the order. Do you think Myers is coming back?

Speaker 8 (02:21:21):
Yes, I think he's gonna play again this year. Okay,
it's gonna be late. That's fine, as long as it's
in October.

Speaker 6 (02:21:27):
Paina leading off, Sanchez in the two hole, Al two
Ve batting, third, Korea batting, cleanup, Jordan batting fifth, Walker, Smith, Yiner,
and Jake. What do you think of that lineup? I'm
like the nine. I hate the lineup. You don't like

(02:21:48):
Jordan in the five hole, Bingo, so you would flip
him in Korea.

Speaker 7 (02:21:51):
I don't want Sanchez and number two at the expense
of these other guys being bumped down.

Speaker 8 (02:21:55):
I don't, so you would just put Jose at number
two and then put Sanchez lower lay lower.

Speaker 7 (02:22:00):
Al two, Vase three, Jordan's four. Oh you got Karrea
and the two of them. I want more at bats
for Kara even those number with this aren't awesome.

Speaker 2 (02:22:07):
I want him.

Speaker 6 (02:22:07):
He was batting sixth, wasn't he? As I recall remember well,
his last season was twenty one, and I'm almost positive
that Al tuo Ve, Julie Jordan, Who am I missing Bregman?
We're all ahead of him.

Speaker 7 (02:22:25):
So that's four guys we batted fifth most off and
after that fifth sixth.

Speaker 8 (02:22:31):
Okay, I I didn't think I was crazy, and I
don't think he ever really batted ahead of five ever
really when he was here, did he?

Speaker 7 (02:22:38):
I mean, they made so many lineups, that's so yeah.
But the bat over three hundred at bats ahead of
the five spot.

Speaker 6 (02:22:45):
Okay, that's more I thought. Then all four, there are.

Speaker 7 (02:22:48):
Four spots available, so he batted in all of them. Yeah,
Jesus Sanchez is an average outfielder. I don't he doesn't
need a bat a second. I hope, I hope their
lineups a little bit better than that. And coming off
of the months that both Jiner and Brisihan Walker had
My hope is this is more of their future and
a lot less of what they did in the first
three months of the season. I probably have Sanchez behind
both of them. The only thing that you now at

(02:23:09):
least have the opportunity to consider is when you have
a second every day left handed bat.

Speaker 6 (02:23:14):
Sanchez is an every day player. He's a left handed bat.

Speaker 7 (02:23:16):
And couple that with jord On when he gets back,
and now you have some options on what actually from
a line struck lineup construct point of view, well, who
are we facing tonight, what makes the most sense, What
does their bullpen look like? How do we kind of
manipulate them into how they might make their moves later
in the game. You know, Joe Spotty just puts the
nine guys he feels good about in the lineup every
day now, and there's really nothing else you can do
about it. You gotta switch hit and catcher who you're

(02:23:38):
playing almost every day. And again, big surprise now that
Saysar Salazar is not on the roster. It hasn't impacted
how the Astros used both of their catchers in the
lineup almost every single day.

Speaker 8 (02:23:49):
Says our Salas are Adam Wesler's favorite whipping Boys.

Speaker 6 (02:23:54):
It's not it's just like Kirk and Derek. It's not
the person and Derek.

Speaker 8 (02:23:58):
It's their first day bases with your whipping boy quarterbacks.

Speaker 7 (02:24:02):
Now that's k the franchises that they work in, Derek
Carr making geez, why I don't don't put it on Sazar,
We like it on you.

Speaker 6 (02:24:12):
All right, we'll go to break now.

Speaker 8 (02:24:14):
The at on Sports Talk seven ninety in case you
missed it, the Minnesota Twins paying a whopping thirty three
million of that remaining. Well, so the figures on Korea's deal,

(02:24:34):
I was seeing different figures. I feel like, originally I
saw one hundred and two point nine and then it's
one hundred and three point four to two is what
Nightingale is reporting. But either way, the Twins thirty three
million of that, as one guy wrote on social media,
by two years, get one free if you're the Houston Astros,
because again, I don't know why I had it in

(02:24:55):
my head that Korea had two years left after this one,
but it's good for the standpoint of let's just say,
how many years are left on Jeremy Peney's deal. Three
are beers, so they're gonna they're gonna line up then
both being free agents. Yeah, you're gonna have to replace

(02:25:17):
third base and short stop that offseason, Jim.

Speaker 6 (02:25:20):
I think they'll be fine.

Speaker 9 (02:25:23):
It is.

Speaker 8 (02:25:23):
I think that might be the most fascinating aspect of
this is to just see Jeremy Pania, who's playing Correa's
old position and keeping his old position and then playing
alongside Carlos Correa, who, again, as Brian McTaggart said here
on the show and has tweeted, said I'm not going
anywhere by waving my no trade clause unless it's Houston.

(02:25:45):
So a very it's just the longer the dust has
settled and we've gotten away from the initial shock of
oh my gosh, what's happening. I don't hate the deal.
I don't hate it at all. I know there are
people that are have announced the deal.

Speaker 7 (02:26:00):
So just the particulars of the personnel movement in this
deal is as simplistic as we were discussing your Ris
deal was announced earlier today. It costs them one player
minor league a ball pitcher, Twyan Palmer. The two deals
made over the course of our program this afternoon. They
acquire Carlos kore and cash as we know from the
Twins in exchange for minor leaguer Matt mcculsky. That is

(02:26:23):
it an a ball pitcher who was once a second
round pick of the Giants.

Speaker 6 (02:26:27):
Four years ago.

Speaker 7 (02:26:28):
Sanchez was acquired for the Marlins for Ryan Gusto Chase Dwarski.
The other minor leaguer I did not mention by name
is s mill Valencia. So four players from the Astros
system today and one yesterday, you riyas officially today five
in total, one major leaguer and one legitimate top fifteen

(02:26:48):
Astros prospect that's Juwarski. You know, that's what it costs
to get three current everyday players into their lineup.

Speaker 6 (02:26:54):
You know what I'm curious about.

Speaker 8 (02:26:56):
Maybe Dana will shed a little light on this, but
he might not because it's very behind the scenes. Who
instigated this. I know that Jim Crane reportedly wanted to
go get him back, was enamored with the idea. This
is not something that we heard about until like a
week ago, right, This was not something that's like, oh man,
I'm pining for Korea this whole time. This is very

(02:27:18):
very late in the running relative to the trade deadline.
So who initiated this. Was it as simple as Jim
Crane wanted Korea back, and so he said, start sniffing around?
Or were the Twins making it very open that we're
shedding salary because ownership is about to change and all
that kind of stuff. And Jim got winded that and said, well,

(02:27:40):
maybe I you know, maybe we can have a happy,
uh you know, everybody wins type situation here.

Speaker 7 (02:27:47):
I'm just curious who Star Astros reached out to the
Twins and not that long ago. And I do think
it's it's relative to baseball then results in the Minnesota
Twins situation. Are there not many teams that are probably
looking not many AL teams. They look at the standings
and think, well, we don't really have much of a
chance to make the postseason this year, and even if
we do, what kind of team do we have? The

(02:28:08):
Minnesota Twins are better than three teams in the American
League now they're only five and a half games out
of the last wild card spot.

Speaker 6 (02:28:15):
But they also would have to jump.

Speaker 7 (02:28:16):
Over the Angels, Rays, Royals, Guardians, and at least the
Rangers and Mariners. They would have to jump all those
teams in that timeframe. All of those other teams are
making moves, and you're also six games under five hundred.

Speaker 6 (02:28:28):
So the idea that you're in it is silly. You're not.

Speaker 7 (02:28:30):
And they face those facts the closer you get to
the deadline and the fact that you're not getting great results.
They went four and six in their last ten games.
I think he became more and more clear to them
that they were going to be sellers. And that's why
it became more and more clear to Carlos Correa when
he talked with management and his manager that this is
the direction they were heading over the next twenty four
to forty eight hours starting on Monday, and I think

(02:28:51):
sometime probably within the last week, the Astros would have thought, well,
let's be realistic about this, and are other players out
there on teams who are facing reality.

Speaker 6 (02:28:59):
Let's just see where they stand.

Speaker 7 (02:29:01):
You know, the Guardians really were no different if they
were interested in Stephen Kwan, which I believe that they were.
Now the Guardians just went on a big winning streak
and they won six out of their last ten, and
now they're back at five hundred and they were still
selling players now they did.

Speaker 6 (02:29:13):
Some of both twins were sellers.

Speaker 7 (02:29:16):
It was as simple as that, and they know that
their current status of when we're going to win is
not likely to be while Carlos Korea is making thirty
seven or thirty three or thirty three million over the
next three years, so we'll pay them to play somewhere else.

Speaker 8 (02:29:31):
Five minutes ago, the astros official X account released a
welcome to h Town Jesus graphic Welcoming Jesus Sanchez. Three
minutes ago, the Astros X account wished Ryan Gusto the best,
thank you for everything, Gusto, best of luck in Miami.

Speaker 6 (02:29:49):
That karrea graphic's going to hit real, real hard soon.
I'm looking forward to it.

Speaker 7 (02:29:54):
Yeah, the release I mentioned, they put it out, so
the graphical release of the acquisition of carl Korea has Yeah, okay,
that's the words, you know when they make roster moves transactions.

Speaker 6 (02:30:06):
They sent out a graphic which is just the literal deals.

Speaker 8 (02:30:10):
I wonder how long it'll take the social media staff
to find a way to put an Astro's uniform on him.
I mean city connect He is going to look sick enough.
He is going to look sick in the city Connects,
which are just awesome. It had been a while since
we had seen them, because they had been out on
the road and everything. To see them wearing those Monday night,
even though the result wasn't great, I missed those. So

(02:30:34):
we need to catch up with what Dana Brown has
had to say about the festivities though. But interesting when
asked about the pitching aspect, because Dylan Cease was like
apparently at the goal line and he said apparently that
they felt like the asking prices were too high. We

(02:30:55):
know he have a bunch of starters coming back, so.

Speaker 7 (02:30:59):
Well, I believe Dennis talk out, So why don't we
listen to Dana Brown, Astro's general manager.

Speaker 17 (02:31:03):
They were gonna need out, you know, Valdez down the
stretch and so really there was really no conversation you
know about Valdez and and and we weren't looking to
move them. So I think teams understood that we were
right here in the thick of things and we're up
by five games, and you know, no one asked.

Speaker 18 (02:31:23):
For our top of the rotation starter. Thank you, Dana,
very welcome. Yeah, uh yeah.

Speaker 11 (02:31:34):
Korea's sort of performance, I guess production over the last
few years has been a little bit up and down,
and obviously it's missed a little bit of time. Just
what was your guys's sort of assessment of where he's
at right now and just what.

Speaker 2 (02:31:46):
Quick question.

Speaker 17 (02:31:49):
This year he has been So we feel good about that,
and back into a familiar ballpark, you know, which is
a hitters friendly ballpark, and with familiar face and from
familiar coaches, we felt like, you know, we're going to
get a boost for that and just to get a
boost of more more energy, and so, uh, you know this,

(02:32:10):
this is one of those situations where you know, we
think that he's gonna come in here and really you know,
pick up where he left off and be a real
good addition to this club.

Speaker 18 (02:32:20):
So we're excited about you know, what he's going to
do here.

Speaker 11 (02:32:25):
And then just from uh, can you kind of characterize
as as this kind of got more and more seriously
down to the wire, just how involved Jim Crane was
just in kind of finalizing this.

Speaker 17 (02:32:37):
Yeah, like any like any player acquisitions, you know, whether
it's the draft, or whether it's the trade deadline, or
whether it's off season moves, you know, you always inform
your owner as to what your thought process processes are.
And so when we got to a certain point and
we started to really hone in and think.

Speaker 18 (02:32:56):
About the moves that we were gonna make.

Speaker 17 (02:32:59):
You know, we we would always fill Jim in and
give him an give him an assessment of what our
thoughts were. And so we included him and got him
involved and said, look, this is what we're planning to do,
and we got his blessing and we moved forward, uh
you know.

Speaker 18 (02:33:16):
And so you know, that's the beauty of you know,
having an owner like Jim.

Speaker 17 (02:33:20):
He's committed to winning and uh, you know, he's really
laser focused on look what we're going to do, and
and he's in. He gets involved to the point where
he wants you to just fill him in, and he
gives us the freedom and the flexibility to make the decisions.
And so, uh, you know, it's been great having his support,

(02:33:40):
you know, when we want to make these type of moves,
and so we we we let him know what our
thought process was, that he.

Speaker 18 (02:33:47):
Was on board.

Speaker 7 (02:33:49):
The voice of general manager Dana Brown of the Houston Astros,
who had Carlos Korea, he sus Sanchez, Ramon Rias all
in the span of twenty four hours to this ball club.
Much more from Dana Brown, specific on how these deals
came together and where these players will be used moving
forward when we come back here on the A.

Speaker 3 (02:34:05):
Team, the A Team on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 7 (02:34:11):
D back here on the A Team, and remember we
got you covered all throughout the evening. An episode of
the Nightcap is coming your way as soon as we
wrap things up on the A Team. So extended edition
of trade deadline Discussion as Cole Thompson continues here with
us at Sports Talk seven nine, of course, is with
you each and every afternoon with us, and then usually

(02:34:31):
we'll do that through the Nightcap. Astros back on the
field starting tomorrow earlier First Pitch with Carlos correct Dana
Brown continuing to meet with the media via zoom about
what the Astros have done today. I want to get
you caught up on a few of those items as
initial comments on new Astros infielder Carlos Korea.

Speaker 18 (02:34:50):
Yeah, I mean, look, so.

Speaker 17 (02:34:52):
You know, at the end of the day, we were,
you know, kind of looking for a bat, and you know,
we knew that we could also use an and so
you know, we felt like, you know, career would be
a good fit. So we started working through it, and
you know, look, this guy's done a lot here. He's
been very successful here, and so this thing came together.

(02:35:16):
We had talked, you know, earlier in the week, you know,
about certain bats, and knowing that he was available, and
knowing that, you know, he would give our clubhouse a charge,
give us, give the city a charge. You know, this
was a guy that you know, we started to talk
more closely about, and then it started to come together.

Speaker 7 (02:35:38):
They were having internal discussions a see.

Speaker 6 (02:35:40):
Well, was anybody having any discomfort? No, hope, that's two
totally different things. I just was using the terminology they used.

Speaker 7 (02:35:47):
We thought there would be a pretty reasonable chance that
he would address Dana Brown would address Esach Perettis injury situation.

Speaker 6 (02:35:55):
He did.

Speaker 12 (02:35:56):
Well.

Speaker 17 (02:35:56):
Look so as far as East Soak is concerned, you know,
we actually got this injury was a little bit more
significant than you know, we had first anticipate it. And
so he's gonna get his second opinion. And once we
get the second opinion, you know, we could say for sure,
but right now we could just tell you that it

(02:36:18):
was more significant, and the second opinion is coming up soon,
and so we'll have more answers for you there.

Speaker 18 (02:36:25):
But it is more significant than we had anticipated.

Speaker 7 (02:36:29):
So obviously something that they, like you said, very simple,
didn't anticipate taking place.

Speaker 6 (02:36:35):
So that brings you to what is happening at third
base for the Astros.

Speaker 4 (02:36:39):
Dana.

Speaker 17 (02:36:39):
Yeah, listen, you guys all know that as far as
Korea is a warrior, he'll do whatever he has to
do to win. You get players like this, you know
when they then we get to a certain part of
their career. You know, they know that sometimes you would
have this position change and you're going to be on
a team, you know, winning in first place, and you've

(02:37:01):
got a chance to win.

Speaker 18 (02:37:03):
And the fact that he's coming back to a familiar city.
I mean, I'm sure you know that.

Speaker 7 (02:37:09):
Continuing with one more from Dana Brown, hopefully, No, No,
it's there's a lot of a lot of things going on.
It's it's a fun day. It's a super busy day.
So we're getting it all to you and we'll continue.
Did address what would happen in his mind, and Joe
has spot his mind with everybody and how they're gonna
fit everybody in. They've got a utility player and you

(02:37:31):
ramon your eyes. They've got an outfielder and Hayes, Sue
Sanchez and they've got Carlos Correa as you just heard,
a warrior likely playing elsewhere.

Speaker 18 (02:37:39):
So I mean, look, I.

Speaker 17 (02:37:40):
Think as far as Sanchez is concerned, you're always gonna
play the outfield. He'll play a bunch of left every
now and then and right when we want to give
you know, Smith a break.

Speaker 18 (02:37:50):
But I think he's going to get.

Speaker 17 (02:37:52):
Some time in the left field, which means, you know,
Altove is gonna play some second base, and if he
plays right field, we'll give camp Smith the day off,
you know.

Speaker 18 (02:38:00):
So you know Sanchez is gonna get some playing time
in that way.

Speaker 17 (02:38:04):
It's a left hand bat if we want to you know,
he was gonna get he's gonna get these at bats
against the righties, so we could you know, he's gonna get.

Speaker 18 (02:38:11):
At bats there.

Speaker 17 (02:38:13):
And in Arias, Look, this guy can fill in and
give days guys a day off, you know, whether it's
Altuve or Dubin at second, you know, he can give
him a day off.

Speaker 18 (02:38:24):
He could give you know, Career a breather at third.

Speaker 17 (02:38:27):
And so we just added to our depth, you know,
with our position players, and so there's gonna be plenty
of playing time.

Speaker 7 (02:38:36):
Don't doubt that he's right and camp Smith is six
games from one hundred. I don't think anybody had visioned
him when he was drafted in the Cubs organization or
anywhere else in baseball that in his first full season
after being drafted would be sent at spent at the
major league level and playing well over one hundred games
at the major league level. Clearly a huge jump twice

(02:38:56):
as many, three times or two and a half times
as many potentially that he would be out there for
as opposed to when he was at Florida State. So
definitely makes sense to see how so Sanchez spelling him,
he does give you that option in either corner outfield spot.
And clearly al Tuve and that they have flexibility with
so many players. There's probably days where he will be

(02:39:16):
at second base, probably days when they're in other team's ballparks.
Do you think, you know, they just went on the
road and he played no games in the outfield against
the Arizona Diamondbacks. One last thing from Dana Brown in
something that they did not do obviously in these three trades,
they were giving up one major league player, and that
was Ryan Gusto. He's part of their starting rotation as

(02:39:39):
we speak, but they weren't able to add any additional pitchers.

Speaker 6 (02:39:42):
He addressed targeting pitchers here at the deadline.

Speaker 17 (02:39:45):
Yeah, I think the pitching additions was the biggest part
of our grind. We just felt like the asking prices
were too high, and we know that we have a
bunch of starters coming back, and so that was an
area where we knew we were getting some help, you know.
And then in terms of the bats, the two bats

(02:40:07):
that we got, we knew we had to you know,
potentially get another bat in the infield, and so we
got that with the in the utility road you uh uh,
you know, ursus and then you know, when when we
felt like career became available, Look, that really made the difference.

(02:40:28):
And you know, we pursued that bat and so, uh,
getting a bat was really important. And then the addition
of Sanchez, uh, you know that getting that left hand
bat that I talked about earlier, we felt that that
was big adding Sanchez to the mix as well. So
the fact that we added three bats and we know

(02:40:49):
that we have you know, some arms coming, you know,
we felt really.

Speaker 18 (02:40:54):
Good about this.

Speaker 7 (02:40:56):
Good stuff for the Astros. Three players that will play
large roles. The remainder of this season. The Astros, since
ac alluded to it, have in fact indicated via their
social media that somebody is back. They well crushed it,
they did, but then the video that they put together,
it's very short. A lot of feelings going on. The

(02:41:17):
Astros will be right back here on Sports Talk seven
ninety in action with these newcomers tomorrow night against the
Boston Red Sox. Can't wait to talk about more with
you guys on that we aren't going anywhere here on
Sports Talk seven ninety. Of course, the nightcap comes your
way immediately after we conclude. The Astros have reunited with
Carlos Correa. Carlos Carrea the ad on Sports Talk seven

(02:41:42):
ninety