I think we have a enough history on Chris Carter for there to be at least a reasonable concern that what he has done this year may be an anomaly. I'm not too worried about it.
By years end his OPS will be back in the high .700's, the same place it always is. If you give Chris Carter 550 PA, he will hit 35 HR, have an OPS in the high .700's, drive in 90 runs, and strike out close to 200 times. He does it every year, and would have done it last year is the Astros hadn't started platooning him at one point. He really is one of the most consistent hitters in baseball. He will also have a ton of completely non-competitve AB's, and be a defensive liability. He's certainly a net positive over 162 (I repeatedly made this argument last year when he was the favorite punching bag), if you stick with him, but he's just an OK player. The 36 HR's make his numbers look a lot flashier than his actual value. In terms of player value, I would equate him with Marwin Gonzalez.
Marwin is far more valuable. Chris Carter is sort of like Mark Trumbo in terms of value, yet Trumbo has made 2 all-star teams because chicks dig the long ball.
If viewed strictly from a season-to-season context; with Carter, the devil was always in the details and it's his consistent inconsistency that made him so maddening. True to form this year: April: .922 May: .686 June: .848 July: .724 August: .847 Yes, it'll all even out - but he's been a below-average hitter for ~40% of the season. Are the peak months worth the down months? For a team like the Astros, who are going to finish a few games in or out of the playoffs... I just don't think you can bank on guys who spend too much of their season in holes - no more Carters, Rasmus, Valbuenas, Gattis...
This. He's a replacement level player, despite the numbers. That being said, the Astros have had below replacement level production for much of the year at 1B.
Former Astro farmhand and Rule 5 draftee David Rollins is now with his 4th organization of the offseason, having been waived by the Mariners, then Cubs, then Rangers, and now has been claimed by Philly.
Even though he technically isn't a former Astro (he was one of the many draft picks we failed to sign in 2007), I thought I would put this here: The article is regarding Chad Bettis and coming back from testicular cancer next year. Remember to check your balls regularly. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/r...ining-despite-cancer-diagnosis-045704879.html
Bud Norris signed a minor league deal with the Angels (ST invite). If he makes the club he'll get $1.75M + incentives. Jon Singleton will make $2M this year.
Bud Norris was always so salty, Astros were poised to ride his talent, but he always seemed like a prude. After a while it seemed Astros couldn't wait to unload him. To ridicule Singleton for that contract was base. Contract worked out in favor of Singleton by a long shot, but it was a mutually agreed deal.
Here's hoping Singleton rips it up in ST and some desperate power-hungry club trades us a couple B-grade prospects for him.
Based on last year's power numbers around the league I wouldn't count on that happening. When Freddy Galvis is popping 20 HR...not sure there are any power-hungry clubs anymore.
The market has been so terrible for non-closers. Teams seem to be devaluing power and adding value to defense and putting the ball in play.
Man how the times have changed. Once upon a time the HR leader would have been a hot commodity, but modern metrics see right through it.
