I would maintain that this debate, as lively and interesting as it may be, is a bit premature. Barz and others have made the point above already, but we're talking about guys who have yet to throw a major league pitch and/or hit a major league two-seamer in a regular season major league game. While it's pretty easy right now to get all googlie-eyed about Bryant because of his off the charts spring training, adjustments will be made by proven major league pitchers, not to mention the knees, shoulders, wrists, or obliques which will be pulled once the dog days take the stage.

If Bryant should win the MVP award in 2017 or 2018 and Appel wins 15 games that year -- yet Appel is the winner of the 2nd and 6th game of the World Series which the Astros eventually win with a bunch of know names after Springer, Altuve, and Correa -- did the Astros blow the draft in 2013? And whether or not Aiken is a first rate closer on some team or a car salesman that same year, did the Astros make the right call with him or not?

The point is that this discussion is chock full of what-ifs and who-the-hell knows what's gonna happen. But back to the point, the Astros do get a #2 pick this year because of the Aiken deal. That, to me, is a good thing.