You live in fantasy land. The Marlins turned down a deal 4 months ago that included Victor Robles who is/was a higher rated prospect than Tucker. Two years of control of the best catcher in baseball will cost you Tucker and then some
Would rather sign Cruz but I understand the want to go get a LH bat. I'd love to sign Cruz and Ramos to short term deals and then go find a SP on the trade market.
I’d guess Houston will have some degree of interest in every free agent position player that checks these boxes: 1. Cost <$15M/yr, willing to sign for 3 years or less 2. Strikes out <22% 3. wRC+ >100 Basing it on 2018 stats and projected contracts, that list would be: Steve Pearce Nelson Cruz Wilson Ramos Lonnie Chisenhall Michael Brantley Jed Lowrie Andrew McCutchen Nick Markakis Denard Span Asdrubal Cabrera Daniel Murphy Kurt Suzuki Matt Adams Mike Moustakas
Astros are interested in Grandal. Would have to give up a pick but will get one back with Keuchel walking. I'm a fan.
Feels to me like we aren't planning on doing much of anything. Moving McHugh from the BP to the starting rotation- thus weakening both areas. These "championship windows" will close faster than you think if you sit on your hands.
This is the kind of comment folks were making last offseason, right before Luhnow traded for Gerrit Cole. They’re not going to “sit on their hands”. They know what’s at stake and how quickly the window can close. The moves they make may seem underwhelming at the time, but Luhnow has earned our trust.
Remember when I was perturbed that we didn't trade for Ramos, who seemingly was traded for less prospect value. But then it was explained to me that Maldonado was a defensive gem with a cannon for an arm. The cannon for an arm was accurate, but little did we know, we had just traded for a catcher who couldn't catch. As an armchair GM, I'd do the following: Sign Nelson Cruz to a 2 year deal Sign Daniel Murphy to a 2 year deal (if we are not going to re-sign Marwin) Sign Wilson Ramos (or even Robinson Chirinos if we need to save a few bucks) Sign Andrew Miller (since we will probably need to move McHugh back to the rotation) Probably about $50M added to the payroll right there. Since they are all 2-3 year deals, I wouldn't let a $4-5M overpay bother me. Trade for Kluber (Kyle Tucker + a couple other top 10-15 prospects) Our defense takes a hit, because I put Murph at 1B, Yuli at LF, and Cruz at DH. But our lineup would more than compensate for that, in my humble opinion: Springer CF Bregman 3B Altuve 2B Correa SS Cruz DH Murphy 1B Yuli LF Ramos/Chirinos C Reddick RF Rotation: Verlander Kluber Cole McHugh Josh James/Whitley/other solid internal option Bullpen: Roberto Osuna (CL) Ryan Pressly (right hand set up) Andrew Miller (left hand set up) Will Harris Brad Peacock Chris Devenski Hector Rondon Joe Smith I know it probably won't happen, but all of those free agent targets seem reasonable (trading for Kluber is probably a pipedream), but if have anything close to the above, that's a [even stronger] powerhouse than we've had for the last few years. It would be a scary good team.
Brother, the offseason hasn't even really started yet. If nothing is done by January 1 then the pouting can begin but baseball moves way slower than any other sport.
I Fantasy land??? It as just reported. Pitcher with lots of upside Everyday young postional player CORBIN MARTIN AND TYLER WHITE
Tyler White is 28 and will be entering arbitration after next year. He's not really an everyday positional player either. Tucker and Corbin Martin MIGHT get it done if they like them compared to the other offers out there.
I've heard the Marlins turned down Robles. If that is true, Realmuto to Astros is likely a no go. Astros are looking for a sucker trade partner willing to accept a lot of unconsolidated expected WAR for short term consolidated expected WAR. Astros are not looking to trade a top prospect with 6 more years of MLB service for two years of club control.
Spoiler Scott Boras is opening his press conference by talking about declining attendance in MLB this year, which he blames on teams deliberately becoming uncompetitive. Boras just said LSU’s baseball attendance is greater than the Marlins. “The fans of Florida have certainly brought the MIA to Miami.” Scott Boras’ State of the Union address is off and going. He has three pages of notes. He starts off by crushing MLB attendance and blaming it on teams being non-competitive. He said the Blue Jays are suffering from “Blue Flu” and the Marlins bring “the M-I-A to Miami.” Scott Boras blasts #MLB for having cancer of non-competitiveness,saying ‘when teams come to Minnesota, only one of the Twins show up.’ “We have a cancer” says Boras about a system in such things as the draft that rewards systemic losing. Said teams that try to win and say go from 65 to 75 wins should be rewarded. Boras was critical of Van Wagenen going from agent to GM. But he is about 15 minutes into what sounds like a stump speech to be Commissioner or union head. Actually: defending his turf. He wants teams to spend on players/clients Scott Boras has dubbed his client's free agency as "Harper's Bazaar" Scott Boras on Bryce Harper: “Certainly Harper’s bazaar has begun. It’s fashionable. It’s historical. It’s elite. Global certainly. And certainly it has inspirations that deal with great shoes and great hair.” On Harper: “The rocket ship of opportunity is just blasting off.” “I think Bryce is open to a lot of opportunities. He’s listened to a lot of things...I think he’s going to hear everything from every one.” Scott Boras was asked about negotiating with Brodie Van Wagenen in the future, having been his once rival: "I don't think any of my clients consider us rivals." Asked where the Mets are shopping this offseason, Boras said: “They are shopping at Fred’s.” "Philosophically, I've always rejected the notion" that an agent can become a GM, Scott Boras says. Boras adds: "I've never talked to Brodie Van Wagenen in my life." He says when he meets with the Mets to negotiate this winter, he can talk to the Wilpons or other staffers. Scott Boras called Dallas Keuchel "the Tom Glavine and Andy Pettitte of our generation." "WAR is such an overrated stat," Scott Boras said.
Astros need to replace 9.2 fWAR from their rotation: +1 can come from Whitley when he arrives +1 can come from moving McHugh to the rotation +2 can come from Josh James as SP5 +1 can come from adding a good bullpen arm to take McHugh’s spot in the bullpen So they need to add a proven starter who profiles to put up 4+ fWAR next season. None of the free agent starters is projected that high, and only 5 project to put up 3+: Corbin, Keuchel, Morton, Happ, and Eovaldi. Digging deeper, here are the players who might reasonably be expected to put up 3+ fWAR next season and be available this offseason: Paxton Greinke Corbin J Gray Happ Keuchel Stroman Morton Godley I feel like Houston should have made a better play for Chris Archer. From where I sit I think the odds are pretty low of the Astros being able to match last year’s rotation barring somebody breaking out in a big way.
Astros might not be able to match 2018 starting pitching rotation but if we can match 2017 offensively, we should be able to compete with Boston and Yanks again.
I've been so busy at work, travel and trying to buy a home (good lord what a nightmare) and haven't been able to pay much attention on the Kuechel situation. Is he a for sure not going to be here guy next year? Are the Stros interested at all in trying to keep him besides the QO? I do love seeing the dream lineups with Kluber, Ramos and Brantley (dude rakes when healthy and rarely ever strikes out. Hes on my high $ dynasty team so I watch his stats closely. ) Would still love to see another strong bullpen arm but have zero idea how much money the Stros are willing to commit to increase payroll.
Sources: The Mariners are working to finish a trade that would send catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia to the Rays in exchange for outfielder Mallex Smith. Deal could be finalized in the next day. Spoiler
Honestly I dont know what will happen nor does anyone else but from all the chatter its gonna get crazy very very soon. Could you imagine Phillies getting Machado and Harper along with two of the top Pitchers?? That would be interesting
