<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I found a few recent player releases on the <a href="http://t.co/TYFvJieDwu">http://t.co/TYFvJieDwu</a> transaction pages. <a href="http://t.co/NcyhR04JAq">http://t.co/NcyhR04JAq</a></p>— Jayne Hansen (@JayneWTHB) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayneWTHB/status/531152293316411392">November 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The released: 1B Bobby Borchering RHP Matt Heidenreich RHP Raul Rivera RHP Luis Ordosgoitti LHP Kevin Ferguson IF Juan Santana 1B Yonathan Mejia C Brett Clements
Also, Jean Estrella and Will Dupont were both released from the GCL Astros. Dupont's tenure in the Astros organization lasted 6 games, and he spent much of the season on the DL after coming over from the Blue Jays with Alejandro Solarte in the Adron Chambers trade. Estrella was signed for $110,000 in the 2012 international signing period.
Interesting <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Jeff Luhnow says Carlos Correa and Mark Appel are both talents that could skip Triple A - could. Not necessarily will, could.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/532256825220272128">November 11, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Is it really? He's used that line before.... maybe he's trying to get them both inked to long-term deals before their debuts, and that will make the "could" a "will".
I only said "maybe" because there's a chance they may try to do things differently if Singleton continues to flounder... and eventually Crane will want these guys to prove it at the MLB level (albeit even if its only for a month or two) before signing them to long-term guaranteed deals. Again, its whatever the flavor of the month is at the nerd cave... apparently pitch framing is dominating this month .
I highly doubt one data point that hasn't even had a full year in the majors will change their methodology. They may be more willing to roll the dice by offering less, but I don't see them changing their methodology of trying to lock up talent at rates less than what the Astros expect they will be worth. On framing...the Astros are about wins. Whether it be framing for Conger, defense for Marisnick, plate discipline and contact skills from amateurs...the Astros are trying to get wins at a cheaper rate than their competitors. Hopefully they are good enough at their jobs that they are estimating wins well enough that they can win big with their budget.
They've had two players accept their offers (Singleton and Altuve), and three players reject it (Springer, Grossman, Dominguez). Not sure if you can really call it a viable "methodology"... especially when there's been a mixed bag of results in trying to implement it (I certainly am happy to not have Grossman and Dominguez locked into arbitration/free agent buyout deals). I don't expect Correa or Appel (who's already proven that he can 'wait it out') to accept long-term offers prior to making debuts... nor do I expect the Astros organization to excessively stash them for $$$ reasons as they did Springer (who looks better and better by not accepting the original extension... his value has gone up by proving he can have MLB success).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"He's the type player that could jump over Triple-A and go straight from Double A to the big leagues."--<a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow">@jluhnow</a> on SS Carlos Correa.</p>— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardjustice/status/532324481805455360">November 12, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"I think Appel could do that as well."--<a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow">@jluhnow</a> on Appel going from Double-A to the big leagues at some point in 2015.</p>— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardjustice/status/532324674848296960">November 12, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"1st thing he asked me when I went to hospital was, `Were you about to promote me?’ I said, `Yes, we were.’"--<a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow">@jluhnow</a> on Carlos Correa</p>— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardjustice/status/532324820218703872">November 12, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"We don’t feel those guys have to spend months at Triple-A. They’re impact-type players, and when they’re ready, we’ll know it."--<a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow">@jluhnow</a></p>— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardjustice/status/532325302387486720">November 12, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Shouldn't be surprising, they have the pure talent to do it, unlike just about all other players. Olerud Will Clark Pujols Those are the 3 guys I thought of off the top of my head, and I know there's others both good and bad; pitchers are a bit of a different animal. Hell, Mike Trout played 286 games in the minors. Correa's played 224, and without the broken leg he'd be around that number and be the opening day SS this year.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> Mark Appel now has a 2.63 ERA in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFL?src=hash">#AFL</a> after tossing 5 IP, 3 H, 4 SO, 1 BB today. Topped out at 97MPH. <a href="http://t.co/n1UGIl9agN">http://t.co/n1UGIl9agN</a></p>— Daren Willman (@darenw) <a href="https://twitter.com/darenw/status/532738663025635328">November 13, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
[rQUOTEr]DeFrancesco to manage Astros’ AAA club in 2015 PHOENIX — Tony DeFrancesco will manage the Astros’ Class AAA club in 2015, general manager Jeff Luhnow confirmed. DeFrancesco was expected to return, although he’ll be in a new setting with the Astros’ new affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies. Luhnow did not comment on the new manager for Class AA Corpus Christi, but all indications are that Rodney Linares, the High Class A Lancaster manager, will move up. Keith Bodie, the former Corpus manager, was not brought back.[/rQUOTEr]
Astros prospects squad win's AFL title. http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/11/15/astros-prospects-team-comes-away-with-afl-title/#28085101=0 Appel's final line 31 IP (led AFL) 2.61 ERA 24 K (2nd in AFL) 18 H 8 BB 0.84 WHIP (led AFL starters)
A... minor signing to report. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> signed a NDFA out of West Texas A&M: RHP Dylan James 15G/15St 98IP 2.30ERA 1.041WHIP 29BB:126SO (Senior year)</p>— Jayne Hansen (@JayneWTHB) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayneWTHB/status/534361427742425090">November 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Baseball America: Arizona Fall League Top 10 Prospects 6. Mark Appel, rhp, Salt River/Astros Appel had more to prove than anyone in the AFL after a well-documented difficult first full professional season. The No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft generally pitched well in his seven starts in the desert, although command issues caused him to leave too many balls up in the zone. His strong lower half give his pitches significant power, with a fastball up to 97-98 mph and sitting in the mid-90s. Appel has plus stuff across the board, with his mid-80s slider being a swing-and-miss pitch when located, and an above-average changeup used to keep hitters off-balance. He kept runners off base, leading all AFL starting pitchers with a 0.84 WHIP. It was a good conclusion to a rough season for Appel. Scouts project him as mid-rotation starter at present if his command doesn’t improve significantly.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Update on Carlos Correa: "He's fully recovered and will come to big league camp. I believe he'll start in Corpus." - <a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow">@jluhnow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astroline?src=hash">#Astroline</a></p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/535605285973262336">November 21, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Luhnow said on Astroline that Correa would be in Fresno or Houston by next season's end if he continues to perform like he has.</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/535605438297804800">November 21, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
