If by getting “burned”, you mean “acquiring vital pieces to a WS championship”, then yeah, he was burned. Losing Hader sucks, but who the hell cares. I’ll take the ‘ship 10/10 times over Folty developing and Hader coming out of nowhere.
Doubtful that he regrets either of those trades given that they yielded pieces that directly led to a World Series title.
You realize that Luhnow has made moves that involved sending out prospects since those 2 deals, right? You know...Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole?
Not really. Flexibility was a big issue with Gattis not playing a position and it hurt us in the playoffs. Diaz can be the primary DH when he’s not giving Gurriel, Altuve, Correa, Bregman a day off..they could still DH. And there’s Tyler White who could probably match Nelson Cruz production in a full season of AB’s. Astros need a catcher, LF, SP. I think Michael Brantley is the perfect LH bat the lineup needs. I’d hope Ramos is the first choice as catcher. A Cervelli/Realmuto would be fallback. CF Springer 3B Bregman 2B Altuve LF Brantley SS Correa C Ramos 1B Gurriel RF Reddick C Chirinos/Stassi IF/DH’s Diaz & White OF Kemp & Marisnick/Tucker/Straw
If Crane and Luhnow really do get Harper here: CF Springer 3B Bregman 2B Altuve RF Harper SS Correa 1B Gurriel DH White C Chirinos LF Reddick C Stassi (or replacement) IF Diaz OF Tucker In this scenario, I think Jake is sent down and Kemp is dealt. Wow, the first 5 batters in that lineup are all elite All-Star players. Then you follow that with 4 above average bats. Sick! This gives Tucker another year to establish himself. We can then wait and see if Springer accepts an extension.
Harper isn’t going to the Cubs. I don’t think he ends up in Chicago but if he does it will be on the South Side. Machado’s strong preference is to be a Yankee but the White Sox and Phillies likely out bid them.
Are people really thinking the Astros paid $6.5MM for a backup catcher as their first offseason move without knowing how the FA market would play out and how much money they might need for actual starters?
I'll just have to disagree then. I think they play it smart stick him at 1B and save him for emergance OF duty as only. I wouldnt put alot of money on that theory
They have spoken to and discussed deals with a number of teams. There is a very high likelihood they end up with an improved bat at DH or OF. Hell if nothing else they have discussed a deal for Castellanos. His glove is bad but he is an .850 OPS guy.
The Astros are still open to improve at catcher. They signed him believing if nothing better materialized they had upgraded with Robinson regardless. It isn’t a pressing concern now. However Luhnow has always stressed defense at the catching spot and they don’t have that now.
I think Tyler is fools gold. There is a reason he has been stuck down in AAA so long. Gets hot like he did during his player of the week run and then EXTENDED cold spells. Not sure he can be trusted to be a reliable DH at the major league level.
