Houston Astros: Grading Their Deadline Deals (or Non-Deals)

I don't think that the Houston Astros will be criticized by anybody for selling at the trade deadline. On July 31, they were in dead last in the National League Central and were 24.5 games back.

Ed Wade decided that the Astros needed to build for the future and focus on developing champions in five to 10 years.

The debate is going to be how good of a salesman Wade is. Did he get all he could for his athletes, or should he have pushed a little bit harder? Also, did he miss any opportunity to sell a player way above his actual price?

Let's have a look.

Hunter Pence to Philadelphia

No doubt, this was the blockbuster for both of these teams. The Phillies received Pence along with $2 million, and Houston received High-A standouts Jarred Cosart and Jonathan Singleton along with AA pitcher Josh Zeid and a player to be named later, who turned out to be outfielder Domingo Santana.

Honestly, I think that Wade could have done a little more with this deal, but I also think that he did a great job. Right up until the end, the rumors were flying that the Phillies might have to include up to four top prospects in this deal. Maybe Wade should have pushed a little bit harder on this one, but none of us really knows the inside story about how negotiations were happening.

Cosart and Singleton are both potentially future stars, but who knows how far they will develop? They are still very young, but according to Keith Law of ESPN, they are both in the top 25 prospects in all of baseball. Obviously, there's a lot of talent there.

Wade got two very solid prospects who have a ton of potential. He received a pitcher who has been doing better since he moved to the bullpen as well as a young outfielder who may very well have a lot of upside.

He gave up an All-Star, which is never popular, but when it comes down to it, Pence cannot carry all of the Astros by himself. By building a solid farm system, hopefully a whole crop of young players will come through at the same time and create a solid unit. Building the farm system is the right move for right now.

I think that both teams made a good trade considering what they want to be this season.

Grade: A-

Jeff Keppinger to San Francisco

Just like with Pence, the intention here was to help the team rebuild for the future. Keppinger was traded for right-handed pitchers Henry Sosa and Jason Stoffel.

Keppinger is a very solid player who produces a pretty high average but will rarely hit a home run. He seems to be a relatively prototypical second baseman who can also field proficiently. However, as a 31-year-old, he is near the end of his prime right now and will not necessarily be able to help Houston in the future when they are ready to be competitive.

Sosa, on the other hand, has a live arm. He is 26 years old and is able to hit relatively high on the radar gun. In 2007, he played in the Futures Game, and he seems to have a pretty good amount of potential.

As an aside, he just made his Major League debut for Houston and gave up four runs in six innings.

Stoffel is 22 years old and already in AA ball. He also has a very live arm and has plenty of time to become a contributor out of the bullpen.

Basically, Houston traded away a player who will not be much help in the future for two upper-level pitching prospects. I would say that this is a solid trade because I believe that they received live arms that can solidify the rotation and bullpen in the relatively near future and for years to come.

Grade: B

Michael Bourn to Atlanta

Houston traded away the fleet-footed outfielder for center fielder Jordan Schafer, right-handed pitchers Juan Abreu and Paul Clemens along with left-handed pitcher Brett Oberholtzer.

Basically, the end result is that Houston got younger in center field and picked up more young talent. Schafer was formerly a top prospect with Atlanta, but he has had trouble turning this potential on in the Majors. However, he has speed and will literally move into the vacancy that Bourn created. Maybe he won't be as productive yet, but the potential is why he is there.

Abreu has a powerful arm. He is also wild. He is in AAA right now, so if he can develop some control, perhaps he will be in the Major Leagues very soon.

So far in AA, the 23-year-old Clemens has been having success, and Oberholtzer has also been producing solid numbers.

Basically, this trade seems to be one that the Astros made in hopes that all four of these players will be productive in Major League Baseball very shortly.

I personally do not think that this was the greatest deal in the world. Schafer needs to show that he can produce in the Majors. Abreu needs to be able to have some control, and the other two need to develop as they are expected to. If every player works out, obviously I might change my mind a little.

Grade: C

Were There Any Opportunities That Should Have Been Taken?

The Astros tried to unload pitcher Wandy Rodriguez but were unable to find a partner.

According Joel Sherman of the New York Post on Twitter, Houston was surprised that they were not able to generate more interest in him.

Although his record does not show it, he has been having a pretty decent year and could have helped some other team. He has been effective throughout most of his career and probably could have very effectively eaten innings for a contender.

However, he has a very high paycheck. In the name of rebuilding, he probably should have been traded just because he is 32 years old and will not be part of the future, but it is understandable why he was not moved.

Because of this, I will be generous with this grade because it also would not have been smart to dump him with a lot of money for some prospects that might not have ever even reached the Major Leagues.

Grade: B