He wants another stick for his fantasy team. Getting a stud DH would make this team dominant from a fantasy baseball standpoint Now, for real baseball, adding a solid #3 starter would have a domino affect on all the young arms and solidify the staff tremendously
Hitting has been pretty cheap at the deadline, so there's little downside to trying White at DH, then grabbing a Castellanos or Encarnacion at the deadline if he turns into a pumpkin. If either Tucker or Alvarez show they can hit this year as well, that would likely solve the issue too.
Agree And.....if we end up having to play someone who isn’t ready offensively it affects that game and the immediate offense, but nothing long term (season wise) If we go with a lot of unproven starters and it doesn’t work out well, by the time we add a pitcher the pen could be overworked. Just a lot more risk going with multiple unproven starters If this were 2015-2016 I’d be fine with it, at this point I want the 25 man roster built to win it all
I'm doubtful Luhnow worries about either hitting or pitching for 2019. Right now, Luhnow is looking for targets of opportunity and pitching for past 2019.
The 2019 Astros look more like most fantasy baseball teams than most real baseball teams. Teams that win a lot of games tend to win a lot of close games and burn out their high leverage guys. Winning by a lot of runs often would help bullpen out a lot as that leads to more rest for high leverage guys. Granted, I'm pretty sure Luhnow will get whatever is of value, as Astros have a solid 25-man roster now, which is basically how fantasy teams are run.
It’s tough. Luhnow has to balance the urgency of the window (last year of Verlander/Cole, Correa/Bregman/Altuve/Springer about to get expensive) against keeping the window open. If Houston doesn’t establish 2 controllable young starters this season, I think they will be in a very tough spot next year. But even with 4 pending free agents I think there will be ample opportunity to make it so that both James and Whitley are solidified going into 2020 (assuming all goes to plan). And the depth will somewhat mitigate the risk (whether by stepping up or serving as trade fodder). The AA/AAA rotations should be sick: AAA: Whitley, C Martin, F Valdez, C Perez, Armenteros, Rodgers (with Sneed, Hartman, Bostick, and Emanuel serving as long relievers or spot starters) AA: Bukauskas, Bielak, Ivey, Bailey, Adcock, J Hernandez, LaRue, Saldana
Solid, mid rotation starters that can have a great influence on saving your pen are very valuable in real baseball Signing relief pitchers to replace McHugh and Sipp and possibly peacock are a huge part of building a real team, or signing a guy like Dallas to keep at least one of those guys in the pen role plays a big part While I agree with a lot of your thoughts here Building a real baseball team and building a fantasy team are not close to the same thing
Rotation: Verlander Cole McHugh Miley James Bullpen: Osuna Pressly Harris Peacock Rondon Valdez Devenski I think we could stand to add another bullpen arm.
Without a doubt we will carry 13 pitchers, so we will either add another arm, or another young guy will make it as a pen arm That’s why I’d love to have Keuchel back, he goes back to #3, if Miley and a young guy look good in the spring McHugh goes back to the pen, if not McHugh is starter insurance Just a lot better, and as mentioned by others to think we won’t have injuries and need multiple starters isn’t very realistic Even moreso if we have multiple young guys starting with innings limits of some sort
I disagree. Sure long term planning has to be a huge part of what he does, but he is smart enough to know we are a legitimate contender THIS year and is also smart enough to know Verlander Cole McHugh Miley James Is extremely risky, even with all the prospects that are seemingly ready or close
Luhnow has gotten value with every single one of his signings thus far. Gives him the opportunity to be aggressive adding salary if the chance is there.
I agree, although with very few exceptions every free agent signed so far has been for “good value” We haven’t seen the projected numbers come in across baseball in general Would be very interesting to know what Luhnow thinks is coming in the next CBA and how that plays into moves he is making now
I wonder if teams like the Padres, Mets, and Reds have spent to try to make their team competitive now in anticipation of a strike or drastically different competitive landscape starting in 2021.
I honestly don't think anyone knows what the Reds are doing, not even themselves. They just want asses in the seats.
Very possible, having insight into what they think is coming would shed a lot of light on how this offseason is going
BREAKING: According to my #sources, I am told that the Cardinals are close to (& finalizing), a contract extension agreement with 1B Paul Goldschmidt. It is perceived to be worth approximately $139 million/5 yrs. There are multiple incentives and a no trade agreement. #STLCards
Astros aren't building a real baseball team. It is built. They have the depth. They will likely make playoffs with out doing anything. Any moves right now are very similar to fantasy baseball. P.S. Astros number 2 baseball guy is a fantasy baseball guy.
Ok. I’m sure plenty of real baseball guys also play fantasy, doesn’t make them the same And yes we will very likely make the playoffs even without another move, in 2015 that would have made me happy
