Alex Cora is an interesting hire. Liked him when I would catch him on baseball tonight. Always super praiseful of the Astros, especially with Correa which is no surprise considering Puerto Rican connection.
Luhnow on Astroline still saying he expects to get 1-2 deals done in the next couple of weeks. I think they get McCann and Encarnacion. Also hinted that they will protect 1 or 2 guys from the Rule 5 draft. Guesses there are Hauschild and Emanuel. Hoping they enter the winter meetings with really only 1 goal, to get an ace.
It appears the Red Sox have some familiar competition for Carlos Beltran’s services. According to a source familiar with the negotations, four teams have currently shown the most interest in the 39-year-old outfielder/designated hitter — the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros. The Rangers, once thought to be in the mix for Beltran, are not involved at this point. The Red Sox’ interest in Beltran has been prevalent since the outset of free agency, with Dave Dombrowski looking to replace David Ortiz with a shorter-term deal than the kind of four- our five-year contract Edwin Encarnacion figures to receive. The switch-hitting Beltran is coming off another standout offensive season, totaling an .850 OPS and 29 homers in 151 games between stints with the Yankees and Texas. Houston has been perceived as perhaps the most aggressive suitor, although both the Blue Jays have already shown the willingness to get out in front of the free agent market with the recent signing of designated hitter Kendrys Morales to a three-year deal. And with the Yankees seemingly willing to deal Brian McCann, who would currently figure to slot into New York’s lineup as a designated hitter, Beltran could offer a logical replacement. It is uncertain when any team might strike a deal for Beltran, with some teams, like the Red Sox, waiting to see what the luxury tax threshold will be under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. __________________________________________ Luhnow: This is hot stove season & we're looking to light a couple matches. When the season ended, first thing you guys thought about? A couple guys we'll lose to FA, Castro, Valbuena & Fister. How do we replace them & take this young core & build around them so we give them every chance possible to do what they're capable of? That's our goal. A lot of possibilities. Could we see one or any of them back? Yes. You stay in touch. We're open to it. Jason Castro/catching situation? Gattis was counted on the be backup & did a nice job. He can take on more next year. Are we looking for someone to share time equally or be his backup? We do need a 2nd catcher. Looking at our options. It needs to be someone who can catch our staff. Does how much he catch depend on who you bring in? That's part of it. We want Gattis' bat in the lineup everyday. Still pieces of the puzzle to come together. McCullers & Keuchel? Both are progressing well. No limitations getting ready for next year. Had both been available down the stretch, I think we have a different outcome. Keuchel return to form? He was dealing with a few elements. Cy Young season is exhausting for anyone. Hopefully he follows the Corey Kluber path. Rotation - McHugh, Fiers, Musgrove, Peacock, Paulino, Rogers? You need 8 or 9 starters to get through the year. I do think we'll add one, if not two SP, and sort out what that means for everyone else. Trade for SP? FA class not strong. What do you make of this market for SP? We saw it with Rich Hill, Scott Kazmir, Liriano, they go under the radar or sign under the radar deals & end up being a one or a two. Hopefully we can identify one of those & assess the trade market. Feliz & Devenski? Both in the bullpen help us & have experience to pitch in the rotation. We can't categorize them one way or the other. Both have stuff to get guys out in the most important situation. Altuve's season Incredible. Those are 3 [MVP finalists] incredible players. Altuve is the MVP. He deserves it. Not much he can't do. He's the heart & soul of not only our team but the league. Will the Astros be in on Otani? Very familiar with him. 30 teams will be on him. Not clear when he'll make his journey to the states. There will be a lot of bidding. Yes, the Astros will be involved in some shape or form. Thought on which he's better at or should focus on one or the other? Unclear. He wants to play both ways & is capable of playing both ways. Nori Aoki. Aoki is a different guy. High contact, high on base. We have guys who put the ball over the fence but not consistent contact. Good fit on our team, platoon or even every day. Pat Neshek. He was huge. Our bullpen is our strength. Philly was a good matchup for us. Will you add to the bullpen? LH reliever. Sipp will have a good bounce back year. If we can add one more lefty with Sipp, that'd help us. Another flame-throwing RH if they're out there. Reymin Guduan Worth it to put him on our roster. Rule 5/40 man? There are a number of players in consideration to addition to the roster. Had a meeting today. Will make decision in next couple of days. Not a slam dunk decision. What goes on at GM Meetings? Fewer people there. You get a chance to talk. We met with every team in the league. Player reps are there. We started 30 different conversations. Some are getting closer to the finish line. Some seeds planted will lead to transactions in the next days & weeks. FA/trade - lean on one more than the other? We'll do both. There are things moving along. Payroll increase? Jim will give us the support we need. He's yet to say no. Support from ownership is there. Excited for new ST home? It'll be a first class facility. Bregman. He put himself in position where he was one our most valuable players. How spoiled are we to have Springer up one year, Correa next, and then Bregman? I don't know what we'll do for an encore. 2015 draft? Dave Stewart, Arizona's GM said we're gonna take Swanson. We wanted Bregman. For us, it was a moment of celebration. To get Tucker a few picks later, a home run. At what point did you realize this was a guy who can help us this year? I talked to his agent before the season & said maybe he'll start in High A. He said he's gonna be disappointed. He started in Double-A. We were tracking health & fitness stuff, how they feel everyday. He was writing down I want to play 162, I want to help them get to the playoffs,... He was signaling he was ready to go. That confidence says something. Alex Cora? Alex & I go back. He played a little in St. Louis. We interviewed him for Bo's staff. When this opening came, Alex came to both of our minds. He's gonna bring a great presence. He's only 4 years removed from playing. He has a good sense for the game. He has that baseball IQ. He's gonna bring that to our clubhouse & dugout. Gurriel's role? He is versatile & willing to try new things. I think Yuli is capable of playing anywhere. His bat, made consistent contact & clutch hits. Where he'll be on the field, TBD, based on who we bring in. Possibility Gurriel is DH only? We need those DH ABs to spread around the team & others we bring in. Devenski's year This is a guy we left unprotected. Came to big league camp, didn't make it but once he came up, stayed up. He's a bulldog out there. He works his tail off. Outfield - corner guys or bring in a CF? Springer can play outstanding RF. We believe he'd be above average CF. We're looking for the best bat for our lineup & produce runs. Whether that's CF, LF, RF or 1B, we have enough guys we can mix & match. First base. We'll have to wait. Yuli can play, Marwin, Reed will have a better year, Singleton, White, Moran. We have a lot of options. We can also trade or FA. Only a few places we can improve, it's LF, 1B and C. How much does clubhouse presence factor in? It's important. Cora will help but as Springer, Altuve & Correa develop, having someone in the clubhouse who's done it before, that's important. We see it in the playoffs, where chemistry comes together. For us, we take it seriously. Comfort level in terms of years? Dollars are one thing. Comfort level is shy of where you have to go to land a player. If you're shy at 2 years, it'll take 3. Shy at 4? It'll take 5. While trying to be disciplined, you have to go beyond your comfort level for a special player. Benefits in year 1/2 and down side/decline later in the contract. CBA. It's difficult to make long commitments not knowing if the rules will change. At the same time, we assume it'll be reasonable.
Astros digging hard for that short term contract. Beltran wasn't good enough to deal for at the deadline but is good enough for us to go after as a free agent.
thanks a ton for that summary JR. Great stuff in there. I can't wait for these days to pass by and to see some movement!!
The Astros showed interest in Kendrys Morales before he reached agreement with the Blue Jays, and would have continued their pursuit of Yankees catcher Brian McCann even if Morales had agreed to a free-agent contract, major-league sources said. The fit would not have been ideal, and the talks involving Morales seemingly did not get very far. But remember this going forward: The Astros’ positional flexibility enables them to consider a variety of options. Morales, a switch-hitter, would have been the Astros’ primary DH. McCann and Evan Gattis could have platooned at catcher, with each possibly getting at-bats at DH as well — though Morales, 33, has missed only 12 games the past two seasons. The Astros and Yankees seemingly are at an impasse over McCann, who is owed $34 million over the next two seasons and holds a full no-trade clause. But considering the large number of hitters available in trade and free agency, the Astros figure to end up with the offensive help they need. *Don’t be surprised if free-agent catchers start signing soon — Jason Castro and Jeff Mathis are among those drawing strong interest. *Royals catching coach Pedro Grifol was the runner-up to Alex Cora for the Astros’ bench-coach position, sources said. http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/...blue-jays-astros-kendrys-morales-notes-111516
This McCann chatter being so persistent makes me think a deal is likely. Only want to see them sign Beltran if they think he can still regularly play RF at an acceptable level.
I want no part of McCann. Why would Beltran need to play RF? Unless Springer gets hurt, Springer would get most of the RF starts, surely?
I think that this is just the NYC press flapping their gums. It is obvious that McCann is no longer a fit for the Yankees and will be moved. The NYC press is selling copy by shoveling trade speculation. The Astros probably do not want to spend more than 5 large on a C2. McCann makes 17 large for the next 2/3 years. The no trade clause and the third year option are more poison pills.
Who plays CF? Springer stands as the best, current everyday option. I suspect that Luhnow will desperately try to keep Springer in RF though, since he is more likely to get hurt playing CF. Beltran may be a better fit in LF and DH. Beltran split time in OF and DH last year. Given his age, this split may need to continue.
Astros sign Charlie Morton for 2 years. Makes me think (hope) it means McCullers, Musgrove, or McHugh is being included in a deal for an ace. If not, I don't see how it makes any sense to sign him to a 2 year deal to be the 7th best SP (behind Keuchel, McHugh, McCullers, Musgrove, Fiers, Devenski). Don't even really see a meaningful difference between Morton and Peacock in terms of floor/ceiling/value.
You obviously have not caught on to Luhnow's plan to form an entire starting rotation solely with players whose last name starts with 'M'
He's put in calls on Maeda, McCarthy, Martinez, Moore, Miley, Matz, and Manaea. He deeply regrets trading Daniel Mengden.
31 HOF with last name of M. Statistically speaking, this is an evolutionary advantage. Only 8 T's as a reference point.
Keuchel & Morton rank 1st and 2nd in the majors in ground ball to fly ball ratio amongst active pitchers with atleast 800 innings pitched. Pitching too a strong defense
