MLB Trade Rumors: Houston Astros Are Idiotic to Not Deal Brett Myers

With Brett Myers, the Houston Astros have a strong closer that a few teams would undoubtedly like to get their hands on. They also have little to no use for him because they are terrible. 

Closer is a concern for teams that plan on having late leads, and the Astros are not going to have many of those. 

This is why the recent turn of the ol' rumor mill is so perplexing. 

The Rumors

USA Today's Bob Nightengale got the Myer's trade talks going. Not surprisingly, the topic came up as a result of the Giants new need for a closer. 

"

The #Astros are shopping Brett Myers, be interesting if #SFGiants have any interest as closer with Wilson potentially gone #mlb

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 14, 2012"

In a move that could only not be described as idiotic if it is a bluff, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow shot down that report. Mark Berman, Fox 26's sports director, relayed the message. 

"

Astros GM Jeff Luhnow told FOX 26 Sports there's nothing to a report in USA Today that closer Brett Myers is on the trading block.

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 16, 2012"

Why This Strategy Makes No Sense

At 4-5 this season, the Astros are exceeding expectations, and that still only puts them at a level that is just bad and not disastrous. 

The Astros have finished under .500 for the past three seasons, and were a paltry 56-106 last year. This is an organization that has holes on all levels of their system, and there isn't anything in there presently to suggest those holes are going away. 

This means that Myers brings very little value to them. While trading Myers would leave the Astros in a bad position at closer, that's why they moved him there in the first place, they can't be concerned about that. 

In the end, what good is a guy that will help you bolt down a lead when your team only wins 56 games? 

The Astros need to ship him out for some young talent. A couple of prospects to help this team find a light of hope for the future is far more important than the difference between winning 60 or 55 games this season. 

Astros fans better hope that Luhnow threw that statement out there as a way to drive up the price. If not, there will be no end in sight to their struggles.