I think the Astros will focus on back end starters mostly. Obviously you're not gonna expect Charlie Morton every year but an innings eater with upside in the playoffs to be a long reliever will be useful. The Dodgers have shown how you can shuttle starters back and forth to add more roster space and it's not like our rotation is the healthiest in the world. So adding more is always good. I think the Astros will seek middle relief help more at the trade deadline, unless they feel someone like Wade Davis can be had for value.
I think the Astros are going to focus the bullpen and defense this winter. Our defense was pretty bad and could be improved pretty easily (move Springer back to a corner, Marwin out of the outfield, etc)
I just know we need to lock up our core as soon as possible Altuve, Correa, Springer and Bregman are going to get PAID!! And we better not let someone else do it!
Bullpen I get but defense??? There was incredible defensive play after defensive play this post-season. Springer is a perfectly fine CFer. He may not be double plus like Kiermier but he made quite a few good plays. He's at worst an overall average CF. The only guys better than Springer in CF are primarily defense only guys, which come at the cost of a better hitting LF (assuming Springer goes to RF and Reddick to LF). I think replacing the MarGo/Fisher combo with a legit veteran is really the only starting position player move to make.
Bregman is here for 5 more seasons, Correa is here for 4 more seasons, and Springer is here for 3 more seasons,they aren't leaving any time soon. Altuve is first up after 2019, but I'm pretty confident we will keep him. I think we will see this quartet for at least 3 more seasons, but once you start talking about having to pay Springer and Correa on top of Altuve, then you start talking about some seriously large coin. If healthy, those 3 could easily command 80 million yearly, and that's probably very conservative. Even if our payroll has ballooned up to 200 million, that's 40%-50% tied up in 3 players.
We were one of the 5 worst teams defensively in baseball this season (if you look at UZR, UZR/150, DRS, DEF)
On defense, Bregman was gold glove quality plus in the postseason and it seemed everything was hit to him. Defense was near perfect on possible OF assists. Not sure Astros can count on defense remaining white hot. Gonzalez would be better at 1st. Reddick would be better in LF by a lot than Gonzalez. Astros aren't going to be able to get guys that are better defensively at CF, SS, or 2B without taking an offensive loss unless Angels decide to deal Trout. In other words, Astros defense can really only be significantly fixed by playing worse players or by guys that are playing to play better consistently.
I have total confidence in the Astros organization as far as doing what they need to do in the future to continue to be a world champion.
I will be surprised if they add a SP at all and totally shocked if they add a back end starter. Here are the MLB-ready starting pitchers currently on their roster for next season: Verlander Keuchel McCullers Morton Peacock McHugh Fiers Martes Paulino Rodgers Armenteros And that’s without moving Musgrove or Feliz back into a starting role or factoring in Forrest Whitley, who is one of the 10 best pitching prospects in baseball and could be ready by next July. They’ll be looking to move starters into bullpen roles or trade them, not adding more.
The way to significantly fix defense is to bench guys (Correa, Altuve, Springer) at defensive premium positions for better defensive players. Sure you can piddle around at other positions, but balls just aren't hit there enough to matter as much as long as those guys are playing. There are some great plus plus defensive up the middle players, but I for one am against benching Springer, Correa, and Altuve. As such, I am against significantly improving the defense by bringing in premium defensive players. Sure, if Astros can bring in someone like Trout or Cain (I'd move Springer to RF for those 2), do it, but I see that as highly unlikely. Edit: great catchers are hard to find and typically are on great teams.
The first guy that they need to lock up is Keuchel as he will be the first one to be a FA (after next season). Good pitching is hard to acquire (elite pitching even harder).
Good pitching is hard to acquire. Good pitching gets hurt often, losses a couple of ticks, or undergoes spontaneous suckage a lot. Astros more likely to invest in hitters and trade for, develop pitchers as needed. Astros talk a lot on thinking they can get pitchers they develop to the majors in one piece.
My dream offseason...and I know these things probably won't happen Give Altuve at least a 6 year extension. There is no financial reason to do this I know, but it will show the rest of the team that the owner is loyal and willing to spend big bucks long term to keep this young core together Sign J.D. Martinez...I'm guessing a 5 year $120 million deal...Beltran and Maybin probably won't return, so there is a DH/OF spot available. I'm not sure I want to see Derek Fisher or Jake Marisnick every day next season. I know we have Kyle Tucker waiting, but it never hurts to add the best bat in free agency Sign Wade Davis Trade for Zach Britton 2018 roster Catcher - Brian McCann 1st Base - Yuli Gurriel 2nd Base - Jose Altuve 3rd Base - Alex Bregman Shortstop - Carlos Correa Left Field - J.D. Martinez Center Field - George Springer Right Field - Josh Reddick Bench - Evan Gattis/Marwin Gonzalez/Jake Marisnick/Derek Fisher Starters - Justin Verlander/Dallas Keuchel/Lance McCullers/Colin McHugh/Charlie Morton/Brad Peacock Relievers - Zach Britton/Wade Davis/Ken Giles/Luke Gregerson/Joe Musgrove/Will Harris/Chris Deveniski
You know, there might be a few guys out there willing to put their payday on hold for a year or two in order to play for The World Series Champion Houston Astros.
this is very doable. It's not my money. if it was, I'd still do it except no britton/wade and pray giles gets his mojo for the post season. J.D reunited and feels so pretty gewd.
Anyone can get hurt ("often"). Elite starting pitchers are hard to find, and when you have it you're more then likely going to want to keep it. Just because a team decides they want to trade one of their elite starting pitchers doesn't mean that the 'Stros will be the team to acquire the player. Obviously the key here is whether or not Keuchel stays healthy next yr. If he does (IMO) you have to do everything in your power to sign him. There's no way this team is going to be able to keep Altuve, Springer & Correa (unless Crane decides he's willing to increase the payroll substantially). That said I sure hope they have the pitching to support the core they currently have while under contract.
Still pumped about this team. Not sure what they do in the offense. I hope they talk extension with Altuve, Springer, Correa, and Keuchel. I doubt first three are ready to sign. Not sure Astros would offer enough years to get Keuchel to sign. Astros have 6 starters returning with FIPs below 4. I see Alex Cobb as a good bet to be worth a ton more than the 4 yr/48 million I see on mlbtraderumors. Velocity was back late in the year. Could be 2018 version of Morton. Absolutely no room for him. Infield is set. OF Springer, Reddick, and Marisnick are set as 3 of 4. I'm big on K Tucker, but I'd be talking a lot with the Marlins about their OFs. Yelich would probably cost a ton in prospects, but he's under reasonable contract for 5 more years. Marlins won't be able to make most out of him for next three. Ozuna is great and with two years. Stanton would be crazy too, but his contract is difficult. He sucks, he opts in. He's great, and opts out. A big bat OF that could DH if Tucker pans out would be great. Astros have such a strong core, they can kick the tires on some crazy things. It is going to be difficult to do the smart little stuff as the Astros have a lot of guys that are cheap and could be decent backups or maybe average regulars with some luck. Bullpen is the only area that I see them possibly investing some cash. Only 1 starting pitcher free agent had a better year than the 5th best Astros starter. Bats look to be expensive at non-need positions or have bad blood. Cain is only one that sticks out as a guy that would really help, but he will be expensive.
It is odds. There were 32 plate appearances by position players called up from minors in 1st half ( choose 1st half to avoid Sept callup) for Astros. There were 89.1 innings for pitchers called up.
