Yeah. They've had a pretty good system in terms of developing MLB talent... And they have the resources to retain them. But if they want to start over again, would be happy to oblige them.
I like what i saw, he needs to put people away with 2 strikes, make tougher pitches with 0 and 2 count, but fastball at 98, nice compact delivery.
Compact? I would say Appel has a very long delivery. Slider got smashed two out of two times. I don't think it deserves as high a grade as it does. It's not close to a Brad Lidge at-his-prime slidepiece.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An exec of a team that's talked to the Reds says he's convinced Todd Frazier "is legitimately out there" to be traded for - for a big return</p>— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/666325175277867010">November 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst">@jaysonst</a> Other teams say Reds are targeting big-league ready young players in any package they get back for Frazier or Aroldis Chapman</p>— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/666325678741155840">November 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
But he is a lot better than Valbuena (who I hope we trade), and is probably the best 3B on the market. Like anything else, it would depend on cost.
We need a pitcher like Zimmerman from the Nats. That gives us a nice trio of Starters. Plus trade for Chapman to give us a stub closer.
man zimmerman and chapman would be such a nice offseason. plus upgrade reed from carter and we have a solid lineup
Quite a few cards have already fallen this offseason, so my 'ideal plan' has already been forced to adapt considerably Here's a few updates: Traded Away RIGHT SO FAR - Lowrie officially dumped to the A's for possible relief help in Brendan McCurry Also traded/cut Villar, Hoes, Grossman and Luis Cruz ... all in prep for 40-man protection from upcoming Rule V draft Don't really get keeping Oberholtzer/Peacock/Straily/Asher around with so many better arms already knocking/arrived? STILL TO BE DETERMINED - Would still like to see them clear another $11M from 2016 payroll by similarly dumping Feldman and Singleton Both should each be much easier to move than Lowrie
FA Cuts RIGHT SO FAR STILL TO BE DETERMINED - Sounds like Luhnow is already moving on from all 3 of the vet pitchers above, and I'm fine with it Sipp, if reports are accurate, would be the 3rd reliever (plus Greg/Neshek) to make over $5M if the Stros were to prioritize bringing him back And that's before the impending addition of a front-line closer (more on that later) GOT IT WRONG - I think Rasmus taking the QO of $15.8M was a rare Luhnow gamble that backfired He must have played the odds that, like EVERY other player to be offered in history, Colby would reject the QO The Astros would move on in LF and receive a comp pick when he signed elsewhere This would allow the team to be a player for at least 1 premium FA without fear of losing a pick, with the Rasmus pick already in the fold Alas ... Colby took the offer and will now be 1 of the most over-paid players in MLB this upcoming season In 2016 Rasmus will earn more than James Harden ... not to mention he now is (easily) the most expensive player on the roster Bet if Luhnow new this was the outcome, he'd have never made the QO and let Rasmus walk outright Forget any dreams of Heyward/Gordon/Cespedes/Upton Thanks Colby Take some of that new cash and chop off that greasy lettuce
Arb-Eligible Cuts STILL TO BE DETERMINED http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2015/11/25/9798872/jason-castro-non-tender-candidate - I'm hoping the Rasmus budget-buster actually makes the team more likely to cut these 4 Combined that quartet of suck is likely to 'earn' nearly $20M thru ARB for 2016 (according to MLBTR projections in parenthesis) I'd have to think, for a fraction of the price, some combination or Tucker/Reed/Moran/White/Duffy can provide similar production at the corners/DH next year Seems a lock that Marwin, Conger and Fields will be back with modest raises Despite my own reservations, I'm also starting to accept Valbuena & Gattis will likely return - just PLEASE no more Carter! As for Starting Catcher ... more on that later ... Extensions RIGHT SO FAR http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastro...ds-for-payday-long-term-talks-after-cy-young/ - All reports indicate an extension is inevitable some time this offseason with the CY winner More pressing issues (RuleV/ARB/Trades) have probably taken priority early, but this seems like a matter of 'when and how much', not 'if'
CATCHER FA Signings GOT IT WRONG - Like Rasmus, Wieters probably disappointed the O's by accepting the QO to return for $15.8M next year As such, the FA market behind the dish went from paper-thin to non-existent With the trade of Nottingham, the Astros have NOTHING resembling a C prospect at any level of the system Luckily, 2 young, cheap options have emerged on the hyper-active trade market Acquiring 1 of these 2 as a replacement for Castro should already be Luhnow's #1 offseason priority There are tons of late-inning relief options available for trade, and several premium arms on the farm that could help the pen soon as well Jonathan Lucroy and Derek Norris are the ONLY legit options left to upgrade C for 2016 Trade Targets STILL TO BE DETERMINED C Jonathan Lucroy (2yrs@$9.25M = $4.6M avg) Injuries led to a poor 2015, but in 2014 Lucroy was an All-Star that led the NL in WAR(6.7) and 2B(53) At only 29, he is a career 282 hitter who also controls the running game by consistently ranking among the leaders in CS He would be a massive OFF upgrade at catcher over Castro for the exact same price He also brings an extra year of control thru 2017, and comparable DEF behind the plate Luhnow's history with the new Brewers GM should give us the edge needed to get this deal done soon C Derek Norris (1yr@$3.4M + 2 more ARB yrs) Another 2014 All-Star (with OAK), Norris played well for the Padres last year With Austin Hedges a younger, cheaper, likely better option for SD, Norris unexpectedly joins teammates Kemp, Ross, and Shields on the trade block While not the contact hitter Lucroy is (career 248 BA), he has similar pop Plus he is actually a better defender, leading the NL in 2015 with 44 runners CS Also 3 years younger at 26, and with no injury history, you could make a very good case Norris is the more attractive trade target Entering his 1st year of ARB, Norris is projected to earn only $3.4M in 2016 He would essentially replace Castro for $1M less next year, while GAINING 2 extra years ARB-control for the club
CLOSER Trade Targets GOT IT WRONG - Kimbrel was dealt for 4 prospects to the Red Sox, joining KRod(Tigers) & Benoit(M's) as closers to already change teams STILL TO BE DETERMINED - Chapman still makes a lot of sense, but only at the right price It's looking more and more like CIN will slow-play this, even up to the trade deadline, in order to extract max value in prospects by moving the premier closer in baseball A package similar to 4 players it cost Boston to get Kimbrel seems fair, but they seem persistent in being unreasonable Fortunately, there are many other trade options available to us: AMiller (NYY) + BBoxberger & JMcGee (TB) + KGiles & JPappelbon (PHI) are just a few of the other names already linked to the Astros Luhnow talks openly about additions to the pen when asked, so he will do something
Trade for Lucroy (Appel/ Cameron/Devenski Trade for Giles (VV, Straily/ Fisher/P.Tucker) Trade for McGee (Musgrove/Singleton/Kremmer Call up Freeman/Reed/White Call it a day and order WS rings.
Yea people think Luhnow was surprised that Rasmus took the offer. Luhnow isn't an idiot, he knew there was a good chance Rasmus would take it. Some people hate the power/low contact hitters so much that they think Luhnow hates em too. Luhnow isn't a traditional baseball guy. He would move on from Rasmus/Carter/Valbuena/Gattis if there was a definite upgrade available, but he won't be looking to just get rid of those guys because of the contact issues
