The only position player they should be looking to upgrade from is Stassi (C) and maybe Gurriel (1B) and Reddick (RF). White is a very valuable hitter; there are only 5 current free agents who project to have a higher wOBA than White: Harper, Machado, Grandal, Flores, and Moustakas. I am in favor of keeping Tucker to replace Reddick. I doubt they could find a taker for Gurriel’s contract, but if they could, I think Moustakas would make a good fit for Houston’s roster. And I continue to hope that if Grandal signs for less than $70M, it is with the Astros.
Justice thinks we will only make a move at a bargain. It still seems like we need to make an OF decision, at minimum. If Corbin Martin is truly ready for a MLB promotion, I might be ok with waiting on a SP too.
Tyler White's .888 OPS last year was higher than what E. Encarnacion has put up in all but 4 out of his 13 seasons and much higher than the .810 that EE put up in '18. I could still see the Astros pull off a Realmuto trade. We could see Keuchel resign. Maybe a Greinke trade. Possibly sign a reliever. I'm more than happy with a White/Gurriel/Brantley DH platoon. Actually, I am ecstatic about signing Michael Brantley. He will be awesome in this lineup.
With the success that Stassi had behind the dish last year pitch framing, I don’t see us paying a replacement 70 million dollars (or anywhere close to that). I think Realmuto would make sense to Luhnow because of the cheap financial cost and limited 2 year commitment. Our FO loves Gurriel—can’t see him moved, nor do I consider Moose an upgrade. Reddick may eventually be moved, but my $ is on him being here until Tucker proves he can’t hit MLB pitching. At this point, I don’t see an obvious cheap upgrade for White. I would have loved Cruz, but it’s time to move on and see what White can do in 2019.
I would have loved an All-Star roster with both Cruz and Realmuto included, but I certainly can’t complain about a bottom 4 of White-Gurriel-Chirinos-Reddick/Tucker. I still have no idea how Tucker makes the MLB roster, unless he takes Jake’s place or White’s place.
I wonder if some Could it be that some in here have low opinion on Tyler white because we’re in a must-win mode right now. I like TW but he has been inconsistent last 2 years when given a chance.
I wonder if some Could it be that some in here have low opinion on Tyler white because we’re in a win-now mode this and next year. I like TW but he has been inconsistent last 2 years when given a chance.
So you’re not ok with paying Grandal $70M/4yrs, but you’re ok with giving up $50M+ in surplus value to acquire Realmuto for 2 years? Houston likely doesn’t have a stud catcher in the pipeline; the longer term solution (assuming the value is there) is better for them.
Tucker doesn't have to make it out of spring training. If White struggles you can move Brantley to DH and put Tucker in LF. I expect some creative disabled list usage this season based on the players we have without options.
That would involve cutting White. The only way I want to see Tucker in an Astros uniform is if he earns a spot; not because someone else failed.
Who said anything about 50 mil of surplus value? Yes, I’d be willing to trade for Realmuto for a Cole-like or Verlander-like package.
Ok. I think at this point every fan and GM on earth would be willing to trade a “Cole-like package” for Realmuto.
And yet, it happened in our last 2 major trades. Don’t act like these types of things don’t happen. We won’t trade for Realmuto unless the demands satisfy our wants. We are not in a position where we are forced to buy. While we fans demand high-quality moves, Luhnow and company have the wisdom to make only the ‘right’ deals.
White can have hamstring "discomfort" and go on the DL. How is Tucker going to "earn" a spot? Hit .400 with a 1.200 OPS in spring training again? Hit .330 with an OPS nearing 1.000 in AAA again? I don't think that gets him a job over Reddick or White if they are on the roster and producing. Tucker doesn't have a spot unless someone getting paid big money or without options gets moved. They aren't using Tucker as the 4th OF. Either he starts in Houston or he starts in AAA. Barring an injury, White or Reddick would have to be moved. I don't expect the Astros to carry a 4 man bench considering we will need the 8th bullpen arm with our current rotation.
Tend to agree with most of that. I’m guessing the coaching staff will be monitoring specific changes in Tucker’s approach in ST to see if he has learned anything. I think he could win a job over Marisnick and Kemp. I could see him as a 4th OF that gets about a 50% share of playing time with Reddick/White/Gurriel. I could see Jake as the DL replacement that gets about 250 ABs subbing for the bi-weekly rotation of 7-day DL stays.
I don't see him replacing Marisnick or Kemp as the 4th OF. They want him to play everyday and they like getting Springer out of CF on a semi-regular basis. They played Tucker in 1 game in CF last year. Not sure if they feel comfortable letting him be the backup CFer, and pretty sure he won't be a backup at all.
Theoretically I agree with you. They will want Tucker getting everyday action. However, practically, Tucker won’t get action on this team in 2019 unless he takes on a part time role or a key player sustains a lengthy injury. Also, Tucker doesn’t have anything else to prove in AAA. I could argue that any MLB ABs would better serve Tucker than everyday playing time with inferior pitching. My gut says there’s about a 75% chance Tucker makes the OD roster if he does not bust in ST. I don’t know whose place he will take, but I think he will make the team in some capacity.
The idea of an mlb top 20 prospect being in a part time or bench role is silly. If Tucker is in the majors, he will play everyday, and given his profile, it will be in the corner OF. There are many pathways to an everyday role for Tucker, but the most likely is that one of the current 12 projected position players incurs a significant injury. Because of the DH and since most of the players on the roster can play multiple positions, it gives them the flexibility to add the best overall player when picking injury replacements. There is far more upside to Tucker starting in AAA (due to the potential to gain an extra year of control) than there is to force him into the opening day roster in a part time role or at the expense of another good out of options player. That said, there’s always the potential that Houston receives a trade offer they like for one of the other current projected everyday players (ideally Reddick, Gurriel, or White), which would open up a spot for him on the opening day roster. In the unlikely scenario in which all 12 position players stay healthy and productive all season, and Tucker plays well in AAA, and Houston doesn’t get a good trade offer for any of their everyday position players, and Houston doesn’t get a good trade offer for Tucker, then I suppose they’ll have a problem. But that would be very unlikely and it wouldn’t be a terrible situation; my guess then would be that Marisnick would be cut loose, Reddick would shift to LF, Brantley would DH, and White would become a bench player. The real player whose future has to be resolved by 4/1 is Kemp. Since he is out of options and cannot play CF, there is no place for him on the current projected roster. So the question becomes if he will be DFA or traded, since those would be the only possibilities (assuming Houston doesn’t keep 13 position players).
So, if we still have glaring needs to fill, and no bargains out there, then what? A non-bargain move or no more moves at all? I suppose this could be read as we want to preserve our assets and resources. Doesn't sound like a "all in now" approach to me.
