Astros Crawfish Boxes: December 15, 2022

It’s the Thursday Boil.

So I got some comments about how some people were a little bit thrown off by the proliferation of embedded videos in the Boil lately. It’s been suggested that I tone it down a notch, but in my defense, on a lot of days, there isn’t really a whole lot to talk about. Enough about that, though. What do you think?

I’ll take into account whatever the “majority” dictates. I’m not going to please everyone, but it should be my goal to please the greatest number of Astros fans that I can, and it is.

Houston Astros News

Houston Astros Trade Target: Alek Thomas (si.com)

Astros better not steal Yankees outfield trade target from Diamondbacks (yanksgoyard.com) Houston is living rent-free in the head of every New York Yankees fan, including their bloggers.

What is the Astros’ plan at catcher in 2023? (mlb.com)

Award Nominations Prove How The Astros Dominate Houston (thecoldwire.com)

MLB News

MLB rumors: Carlos Rodón, Yankees ‘far apart’ on deal; Brandon Crawford shifts to make room for Carlos Correa (cbssports.com)

MLB rumors: Dansby Swanson market includes Cubs, Giants, Dodgers; Mets listening on Carlos Carrasco (cbssports.com)

Yankees Have Discussed Outfield Trades With Twins, Diamondbacks (mlbtraderumors.com)

Should Yankees Pay a Premium for Bryan Reynolds amid Latest MLB Trade Rumors? (bleacherreport.com)

Red Sox Notes: Middle Infield, Rotation, Houck (mlbtraderumors.com)

Dodgers To Sign Noah Syndergaard To One-Year Deal (mlbtraderumors.com)

How Much Can The Dodgers Do Under The Luxury Tax? (mlbtraderumors.com)

Three Teams, Nine Players, One Surprising Winner: Examining the Sean Murphy Blockbuster (FanGraphs.com)

JAWS and the 2023 Hall of Fame Ballot: Francisco Rodríguez (FanGraphs.com)

Giants Sign Ross Stripling, Because You Can Never Get Too Much Rotation Depth (FanGraphs.com)

Oops! All Astros: Shea Barry

Shea Barry is a six-foot-two, 195 lb. right-handed reliever from Tarzana, CA. Born on December 22, 1997, he was Houston’s 22nd-round choice back in 2019 out of the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Barry was taken off the board at the 676th overall position, the same spot as seven then-future major leaguers. The highest WAR from amongst them is held by Astros villain Mike Fiers (12.4). UCSB has seen 19-of-163 drafted players someday make the majors, led by Barry Zito (31.4 WAR).

Barry made his professional debut with the short-season-A Tri-City ValleyCats after signing with the Astros to a deal that included a $75,000 bonus. He struck out 21 in 17 ²⁄₃ innings, but also walked 16 and posted a 1.698 WHIP. Although he allowed 14 runs during his relatively short stay, only six of them were earned. Opponents only managed to hit .203 off him.

The 2021 season would see Barry promoted to the Low-A level Fayetteville Woodpeckers. In 27 ¹⁄₃ innings he struck out 20 and walked 17, putting up a 1.793 WHIP and a 7.24 ERA. In 2022, he started the year on the injured list, and was activated a month later back with the Woodpeckers.

In 2022, Barry’s best appearance by far was his performance on June 21. He struck out five batters over four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks in a 2-1 loss to the Augusta GreenJackets. Opponents slashed .295/.450/.436 in 298 plate appearances, as Barry went 0-6 with an 8.68 ERA and a 2.105 WHIP. He walked 53 and struck out 51 over 57 innings in total.