Hopefully looking at bench depth for the outfield

the Astros only have 3 games left vs. the Mariners

The Diamondbacks are receiving prized Mariners 1B prospect Tyler Locklear in the deal. They also are getting two pitching prospects. @DKramer_ on return

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2025

Jerry Dipoto, Mariners president of baseball operations, was just raving about Locklear's future last weekend at Cooperstown.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2025

NL West in battle brewing for All-Star OF Steven Kwan. Padres and Dodgers (and maybe others outside the division)

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2025

While I'd like to see a bat just like everyone else... I'd be stoked for Cease, especially if it's centered around Chas/Melton.

Forget his record this year, he has elite stuff... and if the Astros pitching lab has wanted him this bad for this long, they know they can fix him. If they can turn Kikuchi into an all-star - imagine what they can do with Cease.

So...Maybe Urias is a replacement for someone we're about to deal?

The good news if they're able to add Cease but not a bat we won't have to score very many to win a playoff series.

What year was it that we were getting all hyped up for a potential Cease + Robert trade with Chicago? 2022 or 2023?

I really hope we get Cease this time around

Hummel/Chas/Whitcomb/Corona/Melton - possible trade candidates to obtain Cease and also possibly Correa and Castro?

Big weekend starting tomorrow

Rangers vs Mariners

We need to win 2/3 in Boston and ideally have them split their 4 game series in Seattle so we maintain the 5 game lead over both of them

Source confirms: Cubs acquiring reliever Andrew Kittredge from Orioles. First: @JonHeyman

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2025

Was wondering if his name would come up… I'd rather have Cease but Sandy will be cheaper

tjack16 said:

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Was wondering if his name would come up… I'd rather have Cease but Sandy will be cheaper

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Doubtful

Ag_07 said:

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I like the Urias deal for a few reasons

A) It added depth at no cost
B) It won't keep us from making any other moves
C) I think it gives us a tad bit of leverage

Dana can tell MIN to fck off. We got our replacement and we're moving on. When you're ready to be serious about a CC and/or Castro deal call me. But for now we're moving on.

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Yep. It's not a flashy move, but it's super smart and savvy on behalf of Dana and the Astros.

On paper, Urias has been better than Carlos this year. And his performance, while not superb offensively, is strikingly consistent over the last few seasons, and his defense is great. He'll be a very serviceable player that replaces the AA talent we currently have at 3B.

Correa has higher upside potential, sure, but he hasn't really shown that as of late and I fear that we'd be stuck with a guy that plays worse than Urias but for the next 3 seasons after this one while having to pay him significantly more.

Correa is a good nostalgia trade to think about, but the more you look at it the less it makes sense. He just doesn't have a good spot in 2026 assuming we still have Walker (Paredes could play 1B if he's moved and Carlos could play 3B).

This move seems eerily similar to Dana brown doing the Tucker trade and not letting Alex Bregman hold us hostage until the last second. We know the Twins want to shed serious $$$, and Carlos is their only way of doing that, and the Astros are the only trade Carlos will allow. Now that we have Urias, we are not desperate to make a bad deal. Either the Twins accept that they will be eating tons of Carlos's contract, or we simply move on.

Now, I think getting a decent offensive 2B to be a priority if we trade for another position player. Cease obviously makes all the sense in the world, too, for proven starter depth that shouldn't cost an arm and a leg prospect wise.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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The Astros are in talks with Miami about trading for starting pitcher Sandy Alcántara, per people familiar with the matter.

Nothing is imminent, but both sides are serious and interested.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) July 31, 2025

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The astros sure do love their reclamation pitchers. This guy has had a terrible 2025. I wonder what they see in him

Astros need a bench as well for the postseason.

If Crane going over the CBT for Correa, Arenado, and/or Cease might as well pick up some actual major leaguers for the rest of the active roster

and the 2025 trade deadline won't be the Astros' only shot at Correa

need to burn another half-season or full season off his contract and re-engage next year

texasaggie2015 said:

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Because he's better than Zack Short and Shay Whitcomb

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what if those guys weren't good enough for Cease, so Astros pick up Uriah cheap and send him with Diaz for Cease, then close the deal for Carlos. It also would make Twins a little more desperate and give us more leverage to say, fine we walk away from Carlos.

All I do is Nguyen said:

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This is some interesting insight inside the twins org:

#MNTwins postgame clubhouse was absolutely surreal as players tried to digest what happened in an awkward 9th inning. One player said everyone was "shook."

Angry about his removal, Griffin Jax had a meeting with Rocco Baldelli for which Carlos Correa was present. (1/7)

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 30, 2025

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May have missed it being mentioned but Kody Clemens also pitched the 9th and gave up 5 runs including back to back homers.

Ryan O'Hearn would be a good addition, lefty bat, 1st baseman/DH/corner outfielder type.

Astros have been reported to have interest

EastCoastAgNc said:

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BREAKING: The Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a deal to acquire third baseman Eugenio Suárez from the Arizona Diamondbacks, sources tell ESPN. The trade is pending medical review.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025

MOAR STRIKEOUTS

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I hope he's kryptonite for them like Devers to SF, but his 3.3 bWAR would be easily the 2nd best position player on our team behind Pena (our 2nd and 3rd best players at 2.7 look to be out for most of the rest of the season if not all).

Suarez will slot in as the 4th best Mariner position player by bWAR behind Cal (5.3), Julio (4.3), and Randy (3.7 but hit a HR tonight).

It's literally silly we're still winning the division at the moment sporting Walker as our 4th or 5th best position player and his -.5 bWAR.

So, for now, lineup in Boston (mostly copying Wednesday)

Altuve 2B
Yainer C/DH
Walker 1B
Smith RF
Caratini DH/C
Urias 3B
Dubon SS
Melton CF
Chas or Trammell LF

Still thin, imo

AggiEE said:

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Big Al 1992 said:

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texasaggie2015 said:

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Because he's better than Zack Short and Shay Whitcomb

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what if those guys weren't good enough for Cease, so Astros pick up Uriah cheap and send him with Diaz for Cease, then close the deal for Carlos. It also would make Twins a little more desperate and give us more leverage to say, fine we walk away from Carlos.

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We aren't getting rid of Diaz for Cease

More than likely we will be getting rid of Chas

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Yah
Like he will be dFAd

The Houston Astros are now engaged in trade discussions with the Miami Marlins for ace Sandy Alcantara after talks with the San Diego Padres for starter Dylan Cease have cooled.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2025