The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Brian McTaggart On The Astros Offseason Moves and Mauricio Dubón Trade

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

Brian McTaggart On The Astros Offseason Moves and Mauricio Dubón Trade

The man that broke the story on Mauricio Dubon to the Atlanta Braves joins us next. It's our friend. We hear him every Thursday during the baseball season, and we are certainly going to see a lot of him because the cougars are going to make a great bowl appearance and a long, long run towards a national championship, Brian McTaggart, MLB.com on the show. Tags, how are things? Things are well. What's going on there?

Nothing. We got people flipping out over Mauricio, Dubon. Let me ask you this. Ramon O'Reas was non-tendered. All right. Now, the infield congestion was less congested. Are you surprised one to ten that this happened? Give me a scale for the audience.

Probably two or three. I mean, if you would have told me at the end of the season, I thought they would have kept one of those guys. But as you talk to more people, as the offseason goes on, and you realize they got to free up some money to do some other things. And then it became likely that, you know, paying Mauricio do, $6.5, $7 million when if this team is healthy, he probably doesn't play much at all, just doesn't make a lot of sense. And so that's, and, you know, infield's an area of strength.

They have a lot of depth there when they're healthy. So it makes sense. It's not like they're going to put all this money from, I think it's about $8.5 million they're saving by Urius and DuBon being gone. It's not like they're going to stick that in their pocket. they're going to try to reallocate it and get some pitching, which is their biggest needs. So a long way to go on this off season. I know DeBan was a popular player, man, I loved him to death and was texting him last night and laughing.

But man, you know, we've seen this stuff before. It's a business. And at the end of the day, it all comes down to money. So do you think this was part of the plan was to get rid of two utility guys? Does that mean now Christian Walker is safe? Or is everything still on the table when it comes to shaking up this infield for 2020? 26. I think if they traded Christian Walker, they're going to have to trade. They've got to like trade Paredes probably. And until, and I don't think they're going to do that. I think Dana Brown's

come out and said he's not going to do that. So I don't think Christian Walker is going anywhere. I mean, they got rid of two utility players. They did add Nick Allen. So he can play up the middle. Perettis, you know, can play first and third. You know, Correa can play short and third base. So they're covered in a lot of different ways without Dubon because, you know, Alan can't come in late in the game and, you know, fill a need as well. You know, not a great offensive player, buddy. He's younger and, you know, maybe he's got a little bit of an upside and he's got three years of control left when Dubon would have been gone after this year.

What does this mean, if anything, for Bryce Matthews, do you think they're planning on him having a role in the infield? Yeah, I think it opens up maybe a little spot to where if he has a good spring, he can force his way in there. We've seen him play some short and second. You know, maybe he beats out Nick Allen for a spot in the middle of the infield. You know, I know, he's the first draft pick that Dana Brown had coming to the Astros, and he's a guy Dana Brown really likes. And, you know, he had the flashes last year where he looked really good. And he had a really good minor league season. So he's played a little bit of outfield as well. So I think Matthews very much, if he has a strong spring,

can put himself on the map to get to get in here and get some bats in this infield. But you know right now it's a pretty crowded infield they got rid of two players got one back and they still probably have too many players on the infield so um you know they still have 13 guys that are arbitration eligible that on friday they have to tender contracts too so there's going to be a few more guys who are going to get non-tendered or maybe they trade somebody before friday so they can get something back and return so we're just get we're just getting started in this off season there's going to be a lot of stuff going on yeah that was leading me to my next question MLB.com with us here on Sports Talk 790.

I mean, where do you think the next domino is? There has been mention of Jake Myers. We just hinted at what you did with Matt about ESAC Paredes or Christian Walker. I mean, where do you think the next move comes from? Yeah, it would not shock me if they trade Jake Myers before Friday. I think they feel it's probably time maybe to see, you know, see what Zach Cole has. Yes, he strikes out a lot. But, you know, Jeremy Pena struck out a lot, too, when he came up.

Let's find out what Jake Melton has. You know, looks like this is going to be a big year for Cam Smith and Wrightfield. You know, it's Jesus still going to be here. Are they going to DFA him? And there, you know, a few other role players who might be on the bubble, you know, guys like Tremel and so forth. But, yeah, they're still trying to shape this. And I think once they get all the position players sorted out, we get past this arbitration deadline. They get a better idea of their payroll.

They're going to go start to acquire some pitching. but I just would be surprised at this point if they traded Paredes because I think he's going to be right in the middle of that lineup. And I think Walker would just be really tough to trade at this point as well. Because of the fandom, it's a tough move for a lot of fans today because Mariso did a variety of things. But if there's an end game to it, making it a sexier offseason, I get the sense, and again, I'm going to trust you more than myself,

but it feels like to me there's going to be some shuffling for sure. But we're going to be still looking for that while, moment. I don't know if we're going to get it this off season. Do you feel like there is something in Dana's repertoire that says, let's go get somebody that people don't anticipate the Astros having on their radar? I don't think so. I don't think there's going to be a wow moment. I think there's going to be a lot of moving pieces. And I think they're going to acquire a lot of players who people are going to go like, hmm, okay, whatever. And then the Astros will have to see how they fit. I just don't see them going after the Dylan ceases and guys that the top

market or the starting pitchers, because I just don't think they're going to spend that money. I mean, they haven't done that, you know, in this ownership, and I don't think things are going to change. And, you know, they are a little bit budget conscience. They're not cheap. They're trying to keep it close to the CBT without going over. So there's going to be some challenges there. But I do think they'll add a couple of arms, not high-level arms, but arms. But I don't think we're, you know, they're not going to, they're not going to go out and sign a frontline free agent outfielder or bring in, you know, a top starting pitcher. That's just, not going to happen, and that's not what they need.

If this team can stay healthy and they can add a couple of depth pieces to the middle of the rotation, this is a team that I think still is a playoff team and a team that could win the American League West next year. Got more minutes here with Brian McTaggart and MLB.com. Tags, do you think there's going to be some really heartfelt conversations between the Astros and Hunter Brown and then separately, Jeremy Payne? Yeah, I think so. I mean, they're kind of to the point here, especially with Pena to where they have to maybe get an extension this year.

A year for that, it will be interesting. I mean, if we don't have a work stoppage, will they be sort of in the Kyle Tucker position to where like, okay, we're going to trade Pena to get something for him? And, you know, that probably is a trade that made sense for the Astros at this time. I mean, the Cubs give up three players and didn't get very far with Kyle Tucker. So, you know, Hunter Brown probably a conversation they're having as well. I think especially with Hunter Brown, he's a guy. I think you can build your rotation around for the next five or six years. But they're going to have to go out of the box and have one of their biggest pitching contracts that they've ever had.

And, you know, I don't know if they're prepared to do that or not. And just one more about the, we'll go back to the catching situation with Einer. Do you think there is much of a change or what do you think happens there? with Victor Karatini now as a free agent and Yiner Diaz and how they feel about him being an everyday catcher. Yeah, Yiner's going to be their start going forward. I mean, they haven't announced it yet, but I reported this morning they have a new catching coach that they've hired Tim Kossons coming in was that the Orioles were with Adley Rushman. I mean, he's going to be a key guy in trying to get Yiner better behind the plate.

I thought at the end of the season, it was probably a really good chance Caratini is going to come back, but now I get the sense that that's not going to be the case. So, you know, so they're going to be in the market as they are for a backup catcher at this point. You know, maybe at some point next year, Walter Yannick, who's one of their top prospects, a first round pick out at San Houston, maybe he gets a shot if he comes up. But going into this year, Yiner is going to be their starting catcher. And, you know, he's got to make stride with his approach at the plate. He's got to get better behind the plate.

And those are going to be a couple of the real tasks between now and opening day. that they're going to be working closely with him, especially in spring training to kind of get those things done. But unless there's some kind of surprising trade, I think Yonnier is behind the plate on opening day next year. So what would be, to wrap up our conversation, what would absolutely wow you in terms of, oh, my goodness, I didn't think the Astros had this in their bag of tricks?

Yeah, I think if they find a way to get a one or two starting pitcher from somebody, whether that's a trade. And I think they will make a couple of trades. I just don't know if they have the trade capital to do something like that. If they get somebody like Ranger Suarez or, you know, our king or somebody like that, I'd be like, wow. But again, the starting pitching market, these guys at the top end are going to want so much money. They're just not in position to do that. I think if they're going to get an impact starter, it's going to be more of more in a trade at this point.

But I still see them adding a couple arms, maybe a couple of bullpen arms, because, you know, look at what they last year. How many pitchers did they have? I don't even know, but they probably went through 10, 12, 13 starting pitchers. And it still wasn't enough. They still could have used more arms. So you taught to Dana Brown. Every time you talk to him, he's like, we need pitching, pitching, pitching, Jim Crane says the same thing. And that's their number one goal here in the offseason is to add pitching. And that's what this Dubon move was made, was to get some money so they can go get some arms. I'm just curious. The reason why I asked it is because, you know, the Astros had Dylan C's on their radar, didn't

pull off a deal at the deadline last year. that whether that was Jim Crane-infused about, I like this guy because, you know, once he gets a guy that he likes, he eventually gets him, i.e. Josh haters. I'm just curious where that would be if that was, that conversation was started up because Dana liked him or there is somebody above him that said, you know, this Dylan C's guy could be a perfect one-two compliment to Hunter Brown. Yeah, I mean, I think getting Dylan C's for, you know, half a season and, you know, giving up what, you know, a prospect, a couple of prospects is, you know, different than, you know, signing him to a five-year-old. deal worth 180 million or whatever it's going to take. I mean, those, you know, kind of two different things. So, yeah, they would love to have Dylan C.C. He would be a great fit here. But again, I mean, I just think the money he's going to want is just going to be way, put them

way over where they want to be payroll-wise. And also the commitment to, you know, a 30-31-year-old starting pitcher is a lot of the top flight starting pitchers on the market right now are 30-31 years old. They're going to want five or six year deals. Probably not the smartest business move to do that. So I can see them adding some pitching and then, hey, if they get to late July and they're in contention, then maybe

you go get a starter who's going to be a free agent that is a top line starter and you get him for two months like they've tried to do with Dillon Seas and like they've done with Verlander years ago and even going back to Randy Johnson years before that. And very last should the Astros team shop put the Justin

Verlander jerseys out for sale right now? that wouldn't be a bad reunion i think i'm generally not for getting bands back together i mean they brought back you know uh brought back marlin it didn't go well you know hector nears came back a third time i was like uh uh but justin vernon acquitly had a really good second half last year um it wouldn't be the worst thing i think to have him back in that clubhouse in that locker room it's got to be at the right price he's very close to jim crane so uh that would be big news. It wouldn't completely shock me, however. So, yeah, if you got that Verlander jersey, it was hanging next to that Correa jersey, you know, maybe there's a chance you can get the

Correa, the Verlander jersey back now as well. All right, the man that broke again the story. The big one, Maricio Dubon, now in Atlanta Brave, Brian McTaggart.