Ferguson Fisher and Davis are the only 3 who aren't already on the 40 man. Ferguson won't be Rule 5 eligible for 2 more years. Fisher and Davis will need to be added this offseason regardless of who else is in AAA.
Astros have 7 position players this year on 40 man not in majors. 1 catcher brings it down to 6 for Fisher, Kemp, Reed, Davis, Moran, White, Tucker, and Hernandez. Astros also might need a spot for Kyle Tucker for later in the year, though Astros may wait until they need him to create room. Considering PT and rule 5 issues, I expect Astros to do something with corner guys in high minors whether it be promote guy(s) to majors, trade for small upgrade this year, trade as piece in a package, release a guy, or trade for lower level guy.
This guy can freaking mash. He'll move quickly. http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1466342583&topic_id=&sid=milb&tcid=vpp_copy_1466342583&v=3
The gist of that roster is that Davis and Fisher have to be added to the 40 man. There are plenty of ways to make that happen, and trading some of those guys is one of them, but it could just as likely come from replacing Beltran and Aoki from within or removing a fringey pitcher (Rodgers, Diaz, Jankowski, Guduan, Gustave).
I think Aoki and Beltran will be removed from active by opening day next year, but will need to be replaced on MLB roster. If their replacements come internally, I am fine with that and listed that as a something that affects number of corner guys in high minors. Though, I still would expect at least 1 more guy to go even if both of those guys are replaced internally (granted, this is likely someone like Kemmer). I am surprised Astros don't have a SS on the 40-man in the minors. Except for Rodgers, all those fringy pitchers pitched for the Astros. Knowing how frequently pitchers are needed for injuries/give guys rest, I find it highly doubtful Astros go with less pitchers on the 40-man roster.
I give Beltran a lot better odds on sporting a ring at the end of the year and being with team next year than Aoki.
Brett Adcock vs. Myrtle Beach: 6 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 6 K He's been roughed up in the Carolina League, so this is definitely a welcome sight
He's good, would bring more speed and pop to the 9 hole. Equivalent to trading for an OF. But I think he still gets dealt. Price you gotta pay to get a top starter (along with multiple pieces of course) and not deal Tucker.
Yeuris Ramirez, a Dominican infielder who signed for $500K on July 2, 2015, hit 2 homers and drove in 4 for the DSL Blue team yesterday morning. He had an underwhelming debut in 2016, slashing .178/.312/.254 in 40 games with the Orange team.
The freak who can mash does not have a fielding position. This may slow down his progression through the minors.
No real need to have another SS on the 40-man. They have three guys capable of playing SS on the big league club (Correa, MarGo, Bregman). Their SS depth is the fact that Bregman/MarGo can shift over and then the FO can call up a 3rd baseman (Moran, Davis). Last resort, they could move Rodgers to the 60 day DL and add Reid Brignac at AAA to the 40-man.
In the short videos I've seen of him, he looks like a good enough athlete to be able to passably play LF if he works at it and keep his weight down. That may only last into his mid 20s but will make him more valuable for the first part of his career.
This is a very good point. It is just weird for me to see so many corner guys on the 40-man, see guys that are probably ready for AAA in AA, and see a guy or two in AAA that need MLB PAs to see if they are MLB quality. I see it as a point of strength to deal.
Eh that won't stop his progression. He can learn LF in the upper levels and if that doesn't work out he can easily play 1B.
Ronny Rafael, who signed for $1.5 million in 2014 but has yet to get out of the Dominican, hit a 2-run homer for the Blue team today, his 2nd of the year. He set a new career high in home runs in a season with that blast.
