If you can get Zobrist at 3rd, I will be okay with that move. High walk rate and switch hitter. Gonna need a better average from the 1st and 3rd base hitters this year obviously
It is curious as to how a guy has moved around the diamond, managed to play so many games in RF & SS (showing his arm is good), has barely played 3B. The obvious answer is Evan Longoria, but still, he missed most of the season in 2012, but Zobrist didn't play 3B at all that season. Jeff Keppinger primarily filled in for Longoria.
Sincere question: can he still play 3B? Why was he ever moved? Was it to make room for Moustakas? .359 OB% since 2011. If he declines his player option, he's leaving $12.5MM on the table - he'd obviously be on the lookout for a large, long-term payday and he's 32.
I don't think that was the reason... and he is a much better LF than he ever was a 3B. Hell, did you know that Chris Carter was a 3B in the minors?
Gordon has 319 ML starts at 3B and played the position in the minors prior to his initial call-up; he was primarily a 3B in college. I don't know a lot about the guy; I know he was a fairly underwhelming 3B (as a hitter) who reinvented himself as a GG LF who could get on base like a machine right around the time Moustakas joined the team. So how viable is a move back to third? They obviously need a guy who gets on base; I think they also need what i keep calling a consistent power bat (I keep going to Nelson Cruz as my ideal comp) - I just think the power bat will be easier to find in LF than 3B, assuming White/Reed is 1B and Gattis/Tucker is a our DH.
He was also underwhelming as a fielder. At one point, prior to his shift in position, he led the league in errors and had the worst fielding percentage of all third baseman. He was moved to LF during his 2010 demotion, which was still a year before Moustakis came up. I'm sure he could "play" 3B... much like Carter "plays" 1B.... but he'd still likely have more value (from a dWAR standpoint) as a gold glove outfielder (plus, he may just prefer to go to a team that keeps him as an OF... some players tend to want to do what they're good at... and like the bullpen discussion earlier, some guys don't know they're a better fit for a role till they actually get placed in it).
Gordon could play third but that isn't going to happen. Part of the appeal to the Astros is that he is an exceptional fielder in the outfield. In the past Gordon has said that he is not declining his player option, but has backed off of that. He gets on base, can work the count and is aggressive but not overly prone to strike out. Told that the Astros want a few good veteran bat. I do not know what the cost would be to sign him, but I suspect more than most fans think. He is a smart, fundamentally sound player. Justin Upton is another name I have heard mentioned. Have not heard much about third basemen other than the Reds want a whole lot for Todd Frazier and there is some interest in Evan Longoria but not at the prices being discussed.
Well, he'd be walking away from $12.5MM, so, yeah - I suspect he wants to get paid. He's 31; this would (likely) be his last big pay day. I'm really reluctant because, frankly, I'd rather see them invest in a power bat out there. I'm just not overly concerned with LF defense in our park.
I think his arm is better than his range... he's probably got one of the best arms in all of baseball. They do need a guy who can get on base consistently... interesting to note that he was batting 8th for the Royals in the playoffs, whereas he'd be a for-sure #2-type guy here.
Gordon should be the leadoff for the Royals but Yost is stubborn (it is only working for them right now because Escobar is having a crazy BABIP postseason). He'd be a great fit in the #2 spot here.
Nook - Do you know people in the organization? Not asking for specifics, but your wording makes it seem like you're connected in some way. If so, I just never saw you mention it before and was curious.
I used to work for the Astros and still have several family members that do as well as friends I met when working for them. My family members have progressed in the organization over time. Been told this front office over time has become less tight lipped mostly simply because there are now so many people working under the GM. When Drayton was the owner there were literally 3-4 people privy to what the team was doing in the entire organization. Now there are several dozen people with some connection to what the Astros are trying to do as far as trades, lineups and the draft. Also it isn't unusual for the GM to conduct business anywhere in MMP on his cell phone. Or atleast so I am told from those still working there.
Wonder if the Mariners will go into a rebuilding mode and make Nelson Cruz available. They need some young talent. Wonder what it would take to get him.
Eh, I'm not hung up on adding more power. The 2015 team wasn't hard up for home-runs. I'd actually prefer to add an avg/obp guy over a power hitter. I think price/years will be the big factor on Gordon. They need to avoid 5 years or longer. In fact I'd consider going up to $18m per year if they can avoid the 5th year. The Astros don't need to saddle themselves with a Shin-Soo Choo level contract.
That being said, Choo was probably one of the top 3 reasons the Rangers had their second half surge and overtook the Astros. You take him off the Rangers and put him on the Astros, and this season would have turned out drastically different. Unfortunately, if the going rate for a player of that quality is 4-5 years, you may be "saddled" with those last unproductive 1-2 years (if that even happens) to reap the rewards of the very productive first 2-3 years.
The more I think about free agency, the more I am coming around to bad years on contracts being the price of business. Paying a player 20+ million after the age of 35 is usually a terrible investment, you are likely gonna end up with at least a few years of dead salary. But, if you are gonna play with the big boys, you are gonna have to give out a few of these, because the Yankees and Dodgers of the world won't hesitate. You just have to be as judicious as possible when choosing who to give them to.
Sure; I agree. But keep in mind - there are as many as four players we all think can be upgraded or could potentially walk (Carter, Gattis, Rasmus, Valbuena) - they accounted for 101 HRs - nearly 40% of your team total. I keep mentioning Nelson Cruz, either as a perfect comp for what I'd like to see them look for in a LFer or, heck, make Seattle an offer - a guy who will hit 25-30+ HRs but do so with some consistency (higher BA, higher OB%, etc.)
