Trade: [PHI/HOU] Ken Giles to HOU for Velasquez, Oberholtzer, Appel & others

[MurrayBannerman]

The Phillies did extremely well here. Quit *****in.

 

[punk_o_holic]

So I don't think the trade is official. Any chance someone failed their physical?

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

So I don't think the trade is official. Any chance someone failed their physical?

Nah. Teams take their time making these deals official right now. A's just announced Axford and Madsen as signed yesterday.

 

[Jack de la Hoya]

Looks like the return includes Appel but not Fisher.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

This trade also features Jonathan Arauz and Harold Arauz switching sides too. Are these guys related? Both from Panama, 3 years apart.

 

[GKJ]

Is Appel bombing or something? That seems crazy to me from the Astros side

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

That's a lot to give up. Like, a ton.

 

[Voight]

Is Appel bombing or something? That seems crazy to me from the Astros side

He must be. Lunhow is one of the best scouting guys in the last 20 years so he of all people would know when you should trade a prospect. Plus with the kind of staff he has, they must have seen something they didn't like.

So now the 'Stros only have one of their three 1st overall picks.

 

[TF97]

I know Giles is one of the better closers in baseball but this is a terrible trade for Houston.

 

[punk_o_holic]

Is Appel bombing or something? That seems crazy to me from the Astros side

Here's a quote from Steve Adams

"Appel, the number one pick in the 2013 draft, has experienced mixed success in the minors. The 24-year-old reached Triple-A and posted a 4.48 ERA with 8.03 K/9 and 3.69 BB/9. MLB.com ranked Appel as the Astro’s second best prospect between 2015 draft picks Alex Bregman and Daz Cameron. His fastball velocity has been inconsistent in the minors, ranging from the low-90s to to 98 mph. He also throws a plus slider and a changeup."

Like Velasquez, seems like a hit or miss. Could either be a stud or a dud. Time will tell.

It sounds like Appel and Velasquez had to be in the deal for the Phillies to accept it. When this trade was reported, it was reported starting pitching was next on their list. With them dealing Obie, Velasquez and Appel, I wonder if they're about to get someone(Kazmir,Gallardo, or someone else)which would have prevented those 3 to crack the Astros starting rotation for a couple of years.

 

[DJ Spinoza]

If things break right for the Phillies in this trade with Velasquez and Appel, Houston is going to look even worse in a few years for sending this package.

Before I was saying I could understand the overpayment from Houston's perspective, and on one level it still makes sense in that it's not hurting the current team, but a 5-for-2 swap, even with some boom or bust prospects, is massive for a closer. All I can think is that it's too bad the Pirates didn't have Melancon locked up for a few more years.

 

[hockeykicker]

Is Appel bombing or something? That seems crazy to me from the Astros side

Sort of. His era was 6.91 for all of 2014 (including a 9.71 era in A ball over 12 starts) and 4.99 for all of 15

 

[Terry Yake]

what the hell?

i know appel has been far from lights out in the minors but to give up on him after 2 years? what's with all the #1 overall picks getting dealt suddenly? phillies did well here

 

[Big McLargehuge]

There's very few people who I actively want to see fail, and Mark Appel is near the top of that list...him going to Philly makes that so much easier

 

[DougieSmash]

Klentak is spectacular. At worst, Appel and Velasquez could be dominant bullpen pieces.

 

[DougieSmash]

Three SP for closer is really stupid.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

I can go on with my day now.

 

[darko]

There's very few people who I actively want to see fail, and Mark Appel is near the top of that list...him going to Philly makes that so much easier

I was waiting for your shot at Appel.

 

[darko]

Klentak ictacular. At worst, Appel and Velasquez could be dominant bullpen pieces.

Velasquez yes but Appel is far from dominant anything in majors. The guy is so inconsistent.

 

[darko]

I can go on with my day now.

Poor Rosenthal was probably bombarded with that question.

 

[Voight]

Here's a quote from Steve Adams

"Appel, the number one pick in the 2013 draft, has experienced mixed success in the minors. The 24-year-old reached Triple-A and posted a 4.48 ERA with 8.03 K/9 and 3.69 BB/9. MLB.com ranked Appel as the Astro’s second best prospect between 2015 draft picks Alex Bregman and Daz Cameron. His fastball velocity has been inconsistent in the minors, ranging from the low-90s to to 98 mph. He also throws a plus slider and a changeup."

Like Velasquez, seems like a hit or miss. Could either be a stud or a dud. Time will tell.

It sounds like Appel and Velasquez had to be in the deal for the Phillies to accept it. When this trade was reported, it was reported starting pitching was next on their list. With them dealing Obie, Velasquez and Appel, I wonder if they're about to get someone(Kazmir,Gallardo, or someone else)which would have prevented those 3 to crack the Astros starting rotation for a couple of years.

'Stros stil have Kuechel and McCullers as young arms already in the majors and have plenty of good young position prospects. they also got guys like Springer or Singleton they could move for pitching. Plus an owner with $$$$ when the times right to snag a free agent ace.

 

[Halladay]

Woah, the Phillies got Appel. High reward low risk. Nice.

Trading Arauz hurts, but ideally Crawford is the SS for the nest 10 years.

 

[GKJ]

He must be. Lunhow is one of the best scouting guys in the last 20 years so he of all people would know when you should trade a prospect. Plus with the kind of staff he has, they must have seen something they didn't like.

So now the 'Stros only have one of their three 1st overall picks.

Here's a quote from Steve Adams

"Appel, the number one pick in the 2013 draft, has experienced mixed success in the minors. The 24-year-old reached Triple-A and posted a 4.48 ERA with 8.03 K/9 and 3.69 BB/9. MLB.com ranked Appel as the Astro’s second best prospect between 2015 draft picks Alex Bregman and Daz Cameron. His fastball velocity has been inconsistent in the minors, ranging from the low-90s to to 98 mph. He also throws a plus slider and a changeup."

If you're 24 and you're not there yet, much less as a #1 overall pick, it's getting late early. And if you're a contender like the Astros have become, where you're trying to add big pieces, prospects with red flags can have their value go off a cliff. Seemed like a good time to move Appel if they weren't sure they could use him.

 

[Virtanen18]

Appel is looking a lot more bust than boom. Probably not the worst decision to move on, especially if the Phillies value him.