Welcome to the Launch Briefing, a daily feature, where you will find a roundup of news and interesting stories from the Astros clubhouse and from around the league.
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It’s the Thursday Launch!
Houston Astros News
McCullers, Gordon traded to the Brewers (ESPN)
Astros get Fielder in the trade (FP)
Best McCullers moments as an Astro (HC)
AL West News
Rangers release Voth (NBC)
A’s designate Civale (CBS)
MLB News
Ford called up by the Nationals
Akin set to undergo Tommy John (BS)
Zimmerman elects free agency (H)
Houston Astros birthdays
RHP Jonathan Johnson (52)
RHP Raimy Rodriguez (21, High-A)
Feature photo from Astros on X, Source Link
Well, this trade of LMJ for nobody looks like a salary dump in anticipation to a deadline trade.
We saved like $2 million. We got a minor league bat in Fielder’s son. Most importantly, we opened up two roster spots on the 40 man.
Fielder’s son is in the deal to save face. A looong shot lotto ticket.
He also has a better chance in our system to get a shot, given he is in A ball with a lot of our more legitimate prospects, and probably gets promoted in the same group as them if he can succeed there (even at his relatively advanced age for level).
It’s not like anyone is going to block him in the upper minors next year if he “takes off”.
If, given, even. Is there any reason to believe he can make it? He wasn’t even drafted by any of the 30 MLB teams in 20 rounds.
No, he has nothing going for him but age, and he’s old for level. But because he is only 21 (IIRC), all hope is not yet lost.
More or less: Stranger things have happened.
And that 30×20 is if he made himself available for one draft only.