OMG why have Lunhow not sign BABe RuTh!!!&@@@!!! Nobody has pick him up yet and Lunhow just sitting there! I knew this MoRAn wouldn't do anything.
Maybe the plan is to just give guys like Appel, Reed, Singleton, White, Moran their shots and roll with what we got. Honestly I am ok with that as long as we add a good addition to the bullpen. Heck even there you've got guys like Appel, Feliz, and VV who could make a big time impact.
You seem to be emotionally immature. There is a reason Jeff Lunhow is running the team. Astros aren't going to reach, because in reality they have all the talent they need in the system. No need to risk the future because this team will be a contender for the next 10-15 years. You trade all the prospects and you will shorten your window substantially.
The Cardinals didn't become the Cardinals by trading their entire farm in the offseason. Outside of Miguel Cabrera, I can't think of a situation where that even paid off. The goal is to be competitive every year. And Luhnow is setting us up to do exactly that. Teams are ancy to make moves just to make moves. It happens every offseason. Padres of last year, BoSox of last year. That doesn't always work. Hell, selling the farm doesn't always work. Especially when you sell for a pitcher. One injury and your entire future is gone. Shelby is a good pitcher, but I'm glad we didn't give up the equivalent of what the D'Backs gave up for him.
You don't really know what you're talking about in general, you sure as hell don't know what you are talking about specifically, why don't you just shut the **** up, read a little more, and learn something?
They are going to make a fairly major move and probably more than one. It will just depend on how the market plays out and what opportunities present themselves. The Astros are not going to carelessly over pay in money or assets for someone. The team has enough holes they can be flexible in how they improve the team. That is what smart teams do. Look at the Cubs. Theo and Jed missed out on David Price and the prospect cost for a closer proved too high. They signed Lackey and then jettisoned Castro's contract to sign Zobrist. These moves were probably not the moves they went into the Winter hoping/expecting to make. They waited to the right opportunity/value and pounced. The Astros are doing the same.
People complaining that the Astros haven't spent $1 billion in free agency. Never change, ClutchFans Astros forum. Never change.
While I agree with your overall premise and don't have a problem with the Astros waiting it out, these two statements are not compatible. We can't say they are going to make a major move, and then say it depends on the market. It's very possible that they make no moves because the market doesn't ever meet their prices. Every player that comes off the board reduces their options - at this point, we have no idea if the price for the remaining players will go up or down. On a side note, if Zobrist was a good value contract, then it's disappointing we weren't able to add him. He would have been an ideal fit both in terms of adding a quality bat and in diversifying the offense. If not going for a superstar Chris Davis type, a Zobrist seems like the exact type of player they'd target.
I can see where they don't seem compatible. However an addition isn't just via free agency. They have assets and if they don't spend money on a free agent, they can trade for someone. There are many balls in play. Zobrist is appealing to the Cubs because he will play a lot of second and they were able to clear their existing second baseman off the books and get a #4-5 starter. The net cost of Zobrist is about $6,000,000 a year. It isn't that the contract Zobrist signed is a steal, but it works well for the Cubs under the circumstances and their financial situation. As for the Astros, Zobrist wants to primarily play second base. Also our budget is realistically tighter than the frugal but huge revenue deep Rickett fan Cubs.
Nobody is complaining that the Astros haven't spent a billion dollars. The fact is though that they were at the bottom of the league in payroll for a half decade, have no significant long term commitments, and won't have to pay their core players for a long time. Now is the ideal time to spend on free agents. As of yet, they haven't been rumored to be a significant player with any. Still early, so who knows what may pop up.
sadly, he was the other one along with our common friend that I ignored during the season. Just thought offseason would be easier to tolerate..
Tyler White 11 for 24 since returning to Dominican league after Thanksgiving break. Hitting .325 avg/ .400+ obp on the season. Get Lucroy and sign Sipp and that would make Valbuena and Gattis tolerable for me. It would be nice to upgrade DH/3B, however. If Singleton is here, I don't see him beating out White for the 1B job. As I've stated I'm extremely high on White. I would like to see him and Reed both in the lineup at 1B/DH, but Reed may start at Fresno no matter how well he plays in March.
You are hands down one of the worst posters in the Astros sub forum... Maybe you should stick to the garm.
Singleton has Spring Training and early in the season to show he deserves the job. If he isn't looking good, they will go to Reed or White quickly. I'd love to see them trade Gattis to open room for White at DH.
Yes, they are compatible. He did not say Astros would wait until the market is over. Every year, top of the line free agents sign first and set market price for $/WAR. There is usually a little overpay here as teams get exactly what they want. Astros only have about 20-25 million to spend so they just don't have enough to buy WAR in as big chunks as is typically available in the early free agent period. Lesser free agents then sign at about the $/WAR, usually a little less. So while it isn't a guarantee that lesser players will sign smaller contracts at about the same $/WAR as top guys, it is a very good bet they do based on history and as roster spots are finite. As long as Astros don't wait until mid January, they will be fine. They want a closer and likely a lefty, but would probably settle for a lefty and a very good set up man. Get a SP if available in price range. Kimbrel is gone, but that was a crazy deal Astros don't have the finances to afford. Chapman...that situation has gone crazy, but Astros were rumored to be going after him strongly. O'Day wanted to stay on East Coast. Still plenty of guys on free agency or on teams willing to trade relief. Zobrist is not a pitcher. Zobrist is not a full time corner infielder. Zobrist's value is likely depreciating. So while his contract is fair, Astros likely aren't willing to spend significant additional resources on his position much less on a player that will likely be much worse by year 4. Astros are about diversification. Astros have spread risk among a bunch of players than just a few talents. Astros also spread risk among a bunch of different years as you never know when the injury bug will strike bad. Astros aren't throwing this season under the bus, but aren't throwing the future under the bus as well by not trading too prospects, by not signing depreciating talents except on depreciating contracts, and by not signing pitchers to long term contracts.
Jon Heyman reporting the Astros are highly interested in Ken Giles. Phillies probably asking a good bit for him though.
Gotta think the Astros break camp with the best performers out of Spring Training. Reed might be an exception due to Super 2 status or some such. Duffy, White and Singleton (barring further deals) should be battling for one position / roster spot during ST.
