Originally posted by @Stros4me in Offseason thread, reposting into a new thread so it doesn't get buried
Ross Adolph, 22, was the Mets' 12th-round pick out of Toledo in last year's draft. He spent his draft year with short-season Brooklyn, slashing .276/348/.509 with 7 home runs and 35 RBI in 61 games for the Cyclones. The bulk of his time in the outfield was spent in center. Luis Santana, 19, was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. He's been locked in as a second baseman in his pro career. Santana spent 2018 with Kingsport in the Appalachian League, where he hit .348/.446/.471 with 4 home runs and 35 RBI in 53 games. The .348 average was good for 5th in the Appy League. He'll most likely show up in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook this year. Scott Manea, 23, was originally drafted in the 40th round by the Mariners in 2015 but decided to go to junior college instead (he was committed to North Carolina State). The Mets signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2016. In 100 games with Low-A Columbia, Manea hit .261/.368/.432 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI. He caught 65 games and threw out 37.6% of would-be base stealers (48 SB, 29 CS).
Davis likely had no future with the stros and with the versatility of the current roster his depth was a luxury. I trust Luhnow. Santana is the only prospect from their Top 30. Adolph was a 12th rd OF who tore up short season ball. Manea is a former 40th rd catcher who was pretty good in A ball last year.
This appears to be a good-will move by Luhnow. JD Davis has done absolutely everything he can in the minors. Keeping him there without giving him a legit ML chance is cruel. There is just no room for him on the Astros ML roster. So The Astros traded a guy in the verge of his MLB career for a few interesting prospects ehh minor league players. A trade that would never have happened if they could muster up ML time for Davis. Sure they get an intriguing catcher in the minors, but JD Davis i think will be a .280 hitter with 20-30 HR power once he establishes himself in the Majors. It boils down to the reality of having a strong system that keeps graduating guys to MLB. Good job Astros!!!
Looks like standard trade 40-man roster depth guy for guys that don't have to be placed on 40-man. The guys acquired remind me of guys like White, J.D. Davis, Kemp, Stubbs. These guys have potential to be up and down guys or guys that stall out in AAA. Little luck and maybe more.
If Luhnow thought Davis was a future .280 hitter with 20-30 HR power in the majors, he would not have made this trade. I think they thought was I think: Davis is a decent bench player, possibly even a fringe everyday corner infielder, in the mold of C.J. Cron.
Well Luis Santana flat out tore up the Appalacchian League as a 19 year old. Reminds me of another small-statured second baseman in the organization. He'll be interesting to follow this year in A ball.
All 3 guys fit Houston’s low strikeout profile. All ahead full on the Santana-Altuve comparisons. Adolph is a nice replacement for Gilberto Celestino. Manea is a hard read given his lack of pedigree, but they needed catching depth (Chuckie Robinson and Mike Papierski do not like this trade). Baseball Prospectus has Santana 11th and Adolph 12th on their 2019 Mets list so their stocks are rising.
Lol at the comments in that Keith Law tweet. New York fans have been and always will be know-it-all turds.
In the same mold as Domingo Santana, a guy that can put up numbers but lacks an it factor. I think if a team is willing to go with the growing pains of a young player, JD Davis, would be prime for .280 and 20+ HR.... But in the world of analytics that team would always be trying to upgrade. Imagine Bregman with all his offensive skill, If not for his defensive prowess, the Dodgers win the World Series. JD Davis is a guy who needs to be stellar on offense to earn a niche, even then I’d suppose he only gets 450-500 AB a year
Who are this Chuckie Robinson and Mike Papierski? Do they not like it because the felt the Mets gave too much or the Astros gave too much?
I have no doubt he could get the 20+ HR, but no way he ever hits .280 over a full season. That would make him a star level player. Houston only had 1 player hit at least .280 with 20+ HR last season...it was Alex Bregman, MVP candidate.
They are Astros' minor league catchers who may be out of a job because of the addition of Manea. Prospect nerd humor.
