If Giles is able to convert what he has done the last 2 years to the 9th inning full time, he will be a dominant closer. Gregersen has been a top back end bullpen arm for years now. That has the makings of a great 1-2 punch. We also still have Sipp who has been great the last 2 years, and didn't struggle in the postseason, plus we have some other promising bullpen arms. On paper we should have one of the best pens in baseball, investing even more prospects would be overkill right now.
We have a good but not great bullpen...getting another stub closer will allow use to close out games when leading going into the 7th inning.
And adding a dominant starter, and a dominant 1B, and a dominant catcher, and a dominant 3B. Those would help even more. There are a ton of things that could help us. It's a about using the assets in the most productive manner, and until we see what Giles can do, spending any more on a bullpen arm is not the wisest use of our assets.
If Doug Fister can come close to his 2.40 era from a couple years ago...watch out. That would have to make our rotation top 5 worthy in all of baseball all else being equal right? Love the Fister signing...almost no risk and has potential for huge rewards.
There's virtually no chance of that happening, that was a fluke not backed by the metrics. Having said that, I think he is perfectly capable of posting a mid-3's ERA. That would give us 5 starters all with a realistic chance of posting a mid-3 or better ERA, and a 6th starter in Feldman who is perfectly average. Aside from Keuchel, we may not be too top heavy (we'll see how McCullers follows up last year) but our rotation doesn't look like one that's gonna give away many games.
Fister will be big for us. After the Nats signed Scherzer last season it messed Fister up having to move from a starter to a reliever. He can have a big year for us.
2016 Astros starter rotation now is better than what the 2015 Astros broke camp with. Fister might even be an upgrade over the end-of-season Kazmir (but not the beginning-of-season Kazmir who did not pitch for the Astros).
This team (with the signing of Fister) really has no weakness. I guess you can nitpick and say they need a more consistent bat at 1B but competition breeds excellence and I think one of Singleton/Reed will be very good this year.
Or Tyler White, Matt Duffy and Colin Moran. We have multiple options, and the DH lets us play around a little. By the time September rolls around, we're gonna have adequate production from 1B. Even if it takes us a little time to find that guy, I think we have enough cushion that we can survive without a great 1B for most of the year. Hopefully someone puts a stranglehold on the position early and that bat becomes a strength moving forward.
Based on last year, they could stand to upgrade 1B, 3B, C and DH. And even if those positions work themselves out, overall, they could still use more guys adept at getting on base with greater frequency (which could also be worked out if Springer and Gomez can stay healthy). Fingers are crossed that more of the "if only..."s work out than not.
While I agree it's highly unlikely he can post a sub 3.00 era this year, he is surely capable. In 2011 he had a sub 2.00 era in like 9 starts I think. In 2013 he had that incredible 2.41 era in 25 starts. So he's definitely capable of being a very good MLB starter when healthy. Regardless, if he makes 30 starts and is somewhere around a 3.50 era, I'll be extremely happy and the Astros will have a huge steal in Fister.
If Giles is as good as he has been so far...then you're wrong. Last year we had a "good but not great" bullpen. This year, by adding a stud to replace a mediocre player, I'd call it great. Let's see if they can perform to that level now! (made even better by Fiers/Feldman assuming the long role)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Astros rotation to start 2013: Norris Harrell Humber Peacock Bedard</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692769827212042240">January 28, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Astros rotation to start 2014: Feldman Cosart Oberholtzer Harrell Keuchel</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692768096793137152">January 28, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">Astros rotation to start 2015: Keuchel Feldman Wojciechowski McHugh R. Hernandez</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692767853800390659">January 28, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Not bad. It's a less flamboyant version of the these. Spoiler I like the flamboyant better, but both are nice. Astros logo and jerseys have beasted for years
It also has no roster spots..... Starters 1) Keuchel 2) McHugh 3) McCullers 4) Fiers 5) Fister 6) Feldman Bullpen 7) Neshek 8) Harris 9) Fields 10) Sipp 11) Gregerson 12) Giles Infielders 13) Correa 14) Altuve 15) Valbuena 16) Singleton 17) Marwin Outfielders 18) Springer 19) Gomez 20) Rasmus 21) Marisnick 22) Tucker DH 23) Gattis Catchers 24) Castro 25) Stassi The players above are essentially no doubts to be listed on the 25 man roster. To open up time (especially on the infield and at DH), you're going to be forced to move Singleton, Valbuena or Tucker down to the 40 man from time to time. Meanwhile, you've got White, Reed, Moran and Duffy (not to mention Bregman) clubbing baby seals down in AAA and AA. Once someone stakes their claim at 1st or 3rd, I would be surprised if you saw a consolidation trade to clean up the over abundance of infield prospects we have in the high minors.
I think there is a good chance Tucker and Duffy are competing for that final offensive roster spot. Duffy has a big versatility advantage because he can handle 1B and 3B. He also platoons well with Singleton and Valbuena because he's right handed, and has handled lefties very well in the minors. Tucker is a very bad defensive OF, to the point of being a last resort. Being able to play a competent 1B would be massive for him, because as is all he is good for is pinch hitting and platooning at DH. That isn't to say he won't be on the roster, in fact I would still make him the favorite, but the team will have to be convinced he's gonna hit a lot more than Duffy.
Stros carried 13 pitchers for most of last year, so it could be that there is no spot for Duffy and Tucker to compete for (that spot will go to a 13th pitcher). Some of our AAAA pitchers are running out of options as well. I don't think Straily has any more options left, so if he's not on the opening day roster, he'll be DFA'd. I think Tucker is the only outfielder with options left. If he's on the roster, there's either an injury or we're going with 12 pitchers.
I do not think that the Astros will hand Singleton the starting job at first. He will have beat out White Duffy, Reed, Tucker, Gattis, et al. I see it as a less than 50/50 chance.
