October 8, 2025 • 8 mins
With their season officially over and the postseason underway now, the Astros waste no time in announcing plans for the 2026 season and the organization's direction moving forward. Beat reporter for the Astros, Brian McTaggart reported yesterday that the Astros will not undergo any managerial changes in the organization this offseason regarding the GM position with Dana Brown and the Manager position with Joe Espada. Clearing the air now and setting sights on next season, Dan and Chris take a moment to hash out potential starting lineups for the Astros kicking into the 2026 season.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I don't think there's anybody out there, Gordy that rationally
watches baseball that can say that this needs to be
torn down. Like I saw somebody once during the season
say this reminds me of the eight Astros.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
No it doesn't. I mean, you didn't.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Have the core of players that were going to be
productive for you that you have now. I mean, people
I think thought that Hunter Pence could be that, or
I mean, I'm trying to think of anybody else that
necessarily they believed, but no, he didn't. You didn't have
Jeremy Pania, he didn't have Cam Smith, he didn't have
Estakperetis and some of the other guys that are going
to still be meaningful parts of your organization. That I mean,
(00:38):
it's as simple as can be seen. This was a
team that was one win away from being in the
postseason again, could possibly be in this Alds right now
playing against the Mariners and see exactly what it could
look like. But that's what this season was. You had
the players, you just didn't have them enough.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
The interesting part of what he just said it made
my ears perk up because he said, you know, maybe
go get another bat.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
My retort to that is, where does that that play?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Because let's just assume, for argument's sake, your starter catcher
is yan Ar Diz. We'll see what they do on Carotena.
I think most of us would like to have Victor
Kartini back. You're gonna have to pay him a little bit
more to keep him as a I mean, he wasn't
even a backup catcher. He was a platoon catcher.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Now slash d I mean point just because of Jiner defensively, but.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
But first base is gonna be Christian Walker slash estoc paratus,
you know what. I assume that's probably where they're gonna
side him in. Maybe they decide to buy out Walker.
I don't know if I gotta pay him twenty million
this year and twenty million next year, like I may
just have him stick around and let's see if you.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Can also understand train pushing back against that and saying
like when does this end? Like when when when do
we stop you know, taking sunk costs because he's done
it twice now, Well, my.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Thing with with him is there's a good player in there.
Maybe he just had a bad year. If I'm paying
him twenty million this year anyway, I want him to
stick around and see.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
If I can find that good player again at second base.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Well, no, because I think he's a better he's he's
a first slash third baseman.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I don't think he'd be a good second baseman.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I think al tuove for as as much as we
wanted to dog his defense, I think he was fine
the backstretch of the season playing second base almost every day,
so it wasn't terrible.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
The left field experiment was okay.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
But like I'm penciling in alto Ve back at second base,
and don't forget Dubon you know is still there too,
that could play some some paying your's your short careers,
your third baseman, I don't think you're not taking Krey
off third. And then your outfield. I think Jake Myers
is the everyday center fielder. I think that's nice.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
I think he is.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, I think Cam Smith, we're sticking with him in
the right field. He is, he is your right fielder.
And then Hazus Sanchez. Look, it was not good after
the trade deadline, but this is a guy that's under
contract next year and the year after.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
But I mean, has he even mentioned and it has
been mentioned before he could be non tendered, so you
could just say, hey, look just send him on his way.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
He could and then Jordan Alvarez is your DH.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
So you're saying, hypothetically, an outfielder is where the extra
bat could be added.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, you're not. You're not adding to the infield.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Well, because that's it's interesting you bring up the care tea,
you know, part of it, because if I'm his representation,
I'm trying to get him a starting job somewhere. But
then I think the question for him becomes, all right,
what if this matters to him? Do you want to
take the money or do you want to be on
a contending team, Cause most of the teams that are
going to be looking for a starting catcher, they're not
(03:44):
contending teams. LA doesn't need a starting catcher, The Dodgers
don't need a starting catcher, the Cubs don't need one either,
and you know in New York they don't need one.
They got Austin Wells. I mean, I just don't see
a team out there that's gonna fit that Bill. It's
gonna be looking for a guy to be that. So
do you want to probably for the remaining parts of
your career be on a contending team and continue doing
(04:07):
what you're doing, or do you want to chase the
money and go elsewhere. I think that's the question with
them in terms of the non negotiables for me, with
you know, players and positions. Carlos Korea can sustain his
career and can be able to stave off injuries playing
third base, playing shortstop, playing the middle of the infield.
That's going to bring up the backs, that's going to
bring up the ankles, all of those things, and you'll
(04:29):
lose him for a time. It's just the way that
his career is gone. I think that this prolongs his
career playing over there at third and he's done it well.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
The other thing I didn't bring up, ramon Arius, who
you acquired at the trade downline, has another year, so
he is another utility infield.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
You and that's a decision on him or de Blonde.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
And then Bryce Matthews got his taste this year. I mean,
you're going to go through spring training. What if he
does what camp Smith did last spring training and it's
red hot.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I mean, got to bring him up, right.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
I almost I almost wonder if that's a trade candidate.
I really do, But no, they love him. He's a
Houston kid. He's your future at second base. They know
l two Ba's not gonna be there forever. Like I
get that, But I mean, you heard what Dana said
about trading for pitching, and I kind of I would
believe that if you're making a trade, you're going after
somebody that's of consequence, I e. A. Sandiel Contra somebody
(05:27):
like that.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
But I just think you're not gonna trade youth like
you like Bryce Matthews, you have team control of him
forever like that, they're not getting rid of him. And
then another one that they're very high on, Zach Dezenzo.
He gets back healthy, kind of like him. So I'm
just saying, there's so many there's so many pieces here.
(05:47):
That's why I look at a Christian Walker and go,
I get it's a ton of money. But the youth movement,
if it starts moving, and Dezenzo and Bryce Matthews are
doing those things, I gotta take the youth movement and
jump on with these guys instead of the old savvy vets.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Who aren't hitting anymore.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Well.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
I mean, but here's the thing is I understand the
you know, hey, trade Christian Walker yeah, fine, yeah, trade them.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
But you know what the who's gonna trade for him?
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Though? That's where I'm going get is that the other
team is going to say, okay, fine, we're going to
give you a little less prospect wise because then we'll
pick up a little bit more money, or hey, you
want to trade them that badly? All right, you're picking
up twenty five million of his remaining forty.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
As someone who has played the video games Madden and
NBA two K and MLB the show for decades, guys,
what I am a master of the trade machine. When
you make a trade accurate, this trade is not fair.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Do you want to force the trade? Yeah? Too many
of you try to force the trade.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Yeah, so we're gonna call we're gonna trade McCullers.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
There is no value there.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Put yourself in the shoes of the other GM and
go why am I making this trade? If you want
to trade me, Christian Walk, I'm gonna look at you
like you're nuts to go why why would I pay
that man twenty million? If he's your trash? Why is
he my treasure? That doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Well, I mean, and that's the thing too, is if
anybody that is on the mccullors train. Guess where Lance
mccullor's is going to be in February of next year.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
No, it's a great He's gonna be in West Palm
Beach with his team. It's but it's a great story.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
A coffee barista, you know, gets to pitch a little
bit with a big league team. Can't wait to see
what he does next. You're making seventeen point seven more.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I can't wait at FanFest to be able to talk
lattes and cappuccinos with him.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
But I was never that guy with Lance. But I'm
I'm just I'm look. I know he's frustrated. I'm the
whole fan base is frustrated. But at this point, dude,
like you gotta be consistent, you know, I just it's
I can't waste my time on you anymore.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I gotta win games.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Well, I mean, financially you have to, because I mean
it's again kind of what you were talking about with
Christian Walker. If he's got little to no trade value,
the hell you think with that guy?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Seventeen point seven mil this year and is seventeen point
seven mili in twenty twenty six Oh, well, baseball contracts
fully guarantee you go getting out of that one.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
That's the game for you.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Alan work In, you want to join him seven one
three two one two five, seven ninety. The other thing
that i'd mentioned, we'll talk about that a little bit
later on the show. We can get to that. But
to know, Astros is hot and heavy because well, I mean,
some changes have not been made, but others.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I think we can probably expect them. We'll discuss here.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It is a seven ninety morning show here on your
home of the Astros in the Rockets, Sports Talk seven
ninety
I don't think there's anybody out there, Gordy that rationally
watches baseball that can say that this needs to be
torn down. Like I saw somebody once during the season
say this reminds me of the eight Astros.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
No it doesn't. I mean, you didn't.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Have the core of players that were going to be
productive for you that you have now. I mean, people
I think thought that Hunter Pence could be that, or
I mean, I'm trying to think of anybody else that
necessarily they believed, but no, he didn't. You didn't have
Jeremy Pania, he didn't have Cam Smith, he didn't have
Estakperetis and some of the other guys that are going
to still be meaningful parts of your organization. That I mean,
(00:38):
it's as simple as can be seen. This was a
team that was one win away from being in the
postseason again, could possibly be in this Alds right now
playing against the Mariners and see exactly what it could
look like. But that's what this season was. You had
the players, you just didn't have them enough.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
The interesting part of what he just said it made
my ears perk up because he said, you know, maybe
go get another bat.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
My retort to that is, where does that that play?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Because let's just assume, for argument's sake, your starter catcher
is yan Ar Diz. We'll see what they do on Carotena.
I think most of us would like to have Victor
Kartini back. You're gonna have to pay him a little bit
more to keep him as a I mean, he wasn't
even a backup catcher. He was a platoon catcher.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Now slash d I mean point just because of Jiner defensively, but.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
But first base is gonna be Christian Walker slash estoc paratus,
you know what. I assume that's probably where they're gonna
side him in. Maybe they decide to buy out Walker.
I don't know if I gotta pay him twenty million
this year and twenty million next year, like I may
just have him stick around and let's see if you.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Can also understand train pushing back against that and saying
like when does this end? Like when when when do
we stop you know, taking sunk costs because he's done
it twice now, Well, my.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Thing with with him is there's a good player in there.
Maybe he just had a bad year. If I'm paying
him twenty million this year anyway, I want him to
stick around and see.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
If I can find that good player again at second base.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Well, no, because I think he's a better he's he's
a first slash third baseman.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I don't think he'd be a good second baseman.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I think al tuove for as as much as we
wanted to dog his defense, I think he was fine
the backstretch of the season playing second base almost every day,
so it wasn't terrible.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
The left field experiment was okay.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
But like I'm penciling in alto Ve back at second base,
and don't forget Dubon you know is still there too,
that could play some some paying your's your short careers,
your third baseman, I don't think you're not taking Krey
off third. And then your outfield. I think Jake Myers
is the everyday center fielder. I think that's nice.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
I think he is.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, I think Cam Smith, we're sticking with him in
the right field. He is, he is your right fielder.
And then Hazus Sanchez. Look, it was not good after
the trade deadline, but this is a guy that's under
contract next year and the year after.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
But I mean, has he even mentioned and it has
been mentioned before he could be non tendered, so you
could just say, hey, look just send him on his way.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
He could and then Jordan Alvarez is your DH.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
So you're saying, hypothetically, an outfielder is where the extra
bat could be added.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, you're not. You're not adding to the infield.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Well, because that's it's interesting you bring up the care tea,
you know, part of it, because if I'm his representation,
I'm trying to get him a starting job somewhere. But
then I think the question for him becomes, all right,
what if this matters to him? Do you want to
take the money or do you want to be on
a contending team, Cause most of the teams that are
going to be looking for a starting catcher, they're not
(03:44):
contending teams. LA doesn't need a starting catcher, The Dodgers
don't need a starting catcher, the Cubs don't need one either,
and you know in New York they don't need one.
They got Austin Wells. I mean, I just don't see
a team out there that's gonna fit that Bill. It's
gonna be looking for a guy to be that. So
do you want to probably for the remaining parts of
your career be on a contending team and continue doing
(04:07):
what you're doing, or do you want to chase the
money and go elsewhere. I think that's the question with
them in terms of the non negotiables for me, with
you know, players and positions. Carlos Korea can sustain his
career and can be able to stave off injuries playing
third base, playing shortstop, playing the middle of the infield.
That's going to bring up the backs, that's going to
bring up the ankles, all of those things, and you'll
(04:29):
lose him for a time. It's just the way that
his career is gone. I think that this prolongs his
career playing over there at third and he's done it well.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
The other thing I didn't bring up, ramon Arius, who
you acquired at the trade downline, has another year, so
he is another utility infield.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
You and that's a decision on him or de Blonde.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
And then Bryce Matthews got his taste this year. I mean,
you're going to go through spring training. What if he
does what camp Smith did last spring training and it's
red hot.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I mean, got to bring him up, right.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
I almost I almost wonder if that's a trade candidate.
I really do, But no, they love him. He's a
Houston kid. He's your future at second base. They know
l two Ba's not gonna be there forever. Like I
get that, But I mean, you heard what Dana said
about trading for pitching, and I kind of I would
believe that if you're making a trade, you're going after
somebody that's of consequence, I e. A. Sandiel Contra somebody
(05:27):
like that.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
But I just think you're not gonna trade youth like
you like Bryce Matthews, you have team control of him
forever like that, they're not getting rid of him. And
then another one that they're very high on, Zach Dezenzo.
He gets back healthy, kind of like him. So I'm
just saying, there's so many there's so many pieces here.
(05:47):
That's why I look at a Christian Walker and go,
I get it's a ton of money. But the youth movement,
if it starts moving, and Dezenzo and Bryce Matthews are
doing those things, I gotta take the youth movement and
jump on with these guys instead of the old savvy vets.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Who aren't hitting anymore.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Well.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
I mean, but here's the thing is I understand the
you know, hey, trade Christian Walker yeah, fine, yeah, trade them.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
But you know what the who's gonna trade for him?
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Though? That's where I'm going get is that the other
team is going to say, okay, fine, we're going to
give you a little less prospect wise because then we'll
pick up a little bit more money, or hey, you
want to trade them that badly? All right, you're picking
up twenty five million of his remaining forty.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
As someone who has played the video games Madden and
NBA two K and MLB the show for decades, guys,
what I am a master of the trade machine. When
you make a trade accurate, this trade is not fair.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Do you want to force the trade? Yeah? Too many
of you try to force the trade.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Yeah, so we're gonna call we're gonna trade McCullers.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
There is no value there.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Put yourself in the shoes of the other GM and
go why am I making this trade? If you want
to trade me, Christian Walk, I'm gonna look at you
like you're nuts to go why why would I pay
that man twenty million? If he's your trash? Why is
he my treasure? That doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Well, I mean, and that's the thing too, is if
anybody that is on the mccullors train. Guess where Lance
mccullor's is going to be in February of next year.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
No, it's a great He's gonna be in West Palm
Beach with his team. It's but it's a great story.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
A coffee barista, you know, gets to pitch a little
bit with a big league team. Can't wait to see
what he does next. You're making seventeen point seven more.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I can't wait at FanFest to be able to talk
lattes and cappuccinos with him.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
But I was never that guy with Lance. But I'm
I'm just I'm look. I know he's frustrated. I'm the
whole fan base is frustrated. But at this point, dude,
like you gotta be consistent, you know, I just it's
I can't waste my time on you anymore.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I gotta win games.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Well, I mean, financially you have to, because I mean
it's again kind of what you were talking about with
Christian Walker. If he's got little to no trade value,
the hell you think with that guy?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Seventeen point seven mil this year and is seventeen point
seven mili in twenty twenty six Oh, well, baseball contracts
fully guarantee you go getting out of that one.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
That's the game for you.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Alan work In, you want to join him seven one
three two one two five, seven ninety. The other thing
that i'd mentioned, we'll talk about that a little bit
later on the show. We can get to that. But
to know, Astros is hot and heavy because well, I mean,
some changes have not been made, but others.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I think we can probably expect them. We'll discuss here.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It is a seven ninety morning show here on your
home of the Astros in the Rockets, Sports Talk seven
ninety
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