Astrodomain-Houston Astros

After Jeff Luhnow’s purging of the major league roster, the team’s minor league system received a needed boost of talent.  Carlos Lee, Brandon Lyon, JA Happ, Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez and Chris Johnson’s departures have established legitimate depth in a system previously bereft of it.

The particulars:

07/04/12

Carlos Lee traded to Miami for AAA 3B Matt Dominguez and AA LHP Rob Rasmussen.

07/20/12

RHP’s Brandon Lyon, David Carpenter and LHP JA Happ traded to Toronto for RHP Francisco Cordero, OF Ben Francisco plus minor-league RHP’s Asher Wojciechowski, Joe Musgrove, LHP David Rollins, C Carlos Perez and a player to be named.

07/21/12

RHP Brett Myers traded to Chicago (AL) for LHP Blair Walters, RHP Matt Heidenreich and a player to be named.

07/25/12

LHP Wandy Rodriguez traded to Pittsburgh for OF Robbie Grossman and LHP’s Rudy Owens and Colton Cain.

07/29/12

3B Chris Johnson traded to Arizona for OF Marc Krauss and 3B Bobby Borchering.

Who reports where:

Oklahoma City -  Matt Dominguez and Rudy Owens.

Corpus Christi –  Rob Rasmussen, Asher Wojciechowski, Matt Heidenreich, Robbie Grossman, Marc Krauss and Bobby Borchering.

Lancaster –  Colton Cain, Blair Walters and Carlos Perez.

Lexington – David Rollins.

Greeneville – Joe Musgrove.

In particular, it seems Jeff Luhnow’s   focus was to add left-handed pitching..  Owens is considered most major-league ready, and might see in Houston by season’s end.  Cain and Rasmussen will start in their respective locations.  Rollins will continue his development in the Lexington bullpen.

Dominguez was recalled immediately to join the Astros following his trade, but now holds down the hot corner in Oklahoma City.  A second stint in Houston seems like a strong possibility, if no later than the roster expansion in September.  Borchering had been converted to outfield at AA Visalia, but will return to third base with the Hooks.

To me, the most interesting pieces of the deal were Wojciechowski, Perez, Krauss and Grossman. 

A former first-round pick of Toronto, Wojciechowski ranked just outside of the Jays blue-chip arms like Daniel Norris, Justin Nicolino and Noah Syndegaard after a lackluster 2011.  2012 has seen him rebound with a WHIP number of 1.12 (with Toronto).  A strong finish could see him start 2013 with the Redhawks.

Carlos Perez had the unfortunate luck of being a catcher in a system rife with great catching talent.   He has consistently posted an OPS in .800 range and could have developing doubles power.   His .984 career fielding percentage and caught stealing percentage of 33% certainly point to him staying behind the plate on a permanent basis.

A trade to Astros might have been Marc Krauss’ big break.   His power numbers are there with averages of 20 home runs, 70 runs batted in and an .859 OPS over three-plus minor league seasons.  What he doesn’t have is a position.  After 123 games in left field in 2010, he has been shuttled between first base, third base and more of the outfield, never playing more than 56 games at any one position in one season.  The Astros could have a large amount of outfield turnover in 2013, and Krauss’ power could get him a shot in 2013, possibly as the right fielder.

Robbie Grossman - A Houston native, Grossman brings a solid set of tools to the Corpus Christi outfield.   His power lies more in the doubles range with a career OPS of .767, but his stolen base rate (68%) could use improvement if he wants to hold down a spot at the top of a lineup.  

some statistical analysis culled from baseball-reference.com