Here is some good news... If the Astros get under the luxury tax for next season they could potentially have 5 draft picks before the 3rd round in the 2022 draft. We get our 1st and 2nd round picks back after losing them for 2 years for the cheating, and we could hand qualifying offers to Greinke, Verlander, and Correa. When they reject the qualifying offers and dump the Astros like Springer is going to we will have lots of picks!!!
If this board were in charge of things, we would be spending well into tax territory. As far what the real people running things will do, a lot probably depends on 3 things. 1) What Covid does this winter and how it may affect next season. 2) Whether we extend Correa. 3) Whether a real difference making player becomes available that we feel we have to snatch.
So....a guy who wasn't very mobile in left field to begin with and coming off surgery on both his knees would be your left fielder?
I would assume a guy would be more mobile after surgery than when he was playing hurt. Though, I don't think he'll be a good defender and the wear and tear would be scary.
Right....I certainly think the Astros wouldn't count on him to be more than an occasional fill in until the knees prove they are ready for more strenuous use. I can't imagine them not being extremely cautious with him in 2021.
Though, I wouldn't be opposed to Gurriel going to the bench by adding a great bat as he's getting up there in age and the rest might do him good. I think Astros have bigger needs, but if there is an opportunity, one has to at least kick the tires.
With the flood of expected non-tenders I don’t see anyway Houston trades for pitching, but I could see them trading for an OF or C. Here’s my watch list for who I think the Astros could be interested in: CF: Non-tenders: Almora, D Santana Free agents: E Hernandez, Villar, Profar, Maybin, Jay, Marisnick, Bradley, Pillar, Eaton Trade: Fairchild, Harrison, Mesa, Ray, Taylor, Baddoo, Celestino, Beck, Bolt, Moniak, Bishop, Basabe, Lowe LF: Non-tenders: Shaw, Martinez, Schwarber, Naquin, Aguilar, Frazier, Bell, Rosario Free agents: Marwin, Lamb, Bruce, Grossman, Puig, Souza, Cespedes, Choo, Rojas Trade: P Smith, Jenista, T Nevin, Rutherford, Erceg, Rooker, Diechmann, Armenteros, Reed, Ortiz, Mitchell, Craig, Ona, Fraley, J Williams, Baker, Yepez C: Non-tenders: Narvaez Free agents: Avila, Castro, Flowers, Ramos, McCann, Zunino, Chirinos Trade: A Jackson, Rogers, Rortvedt, Jansen, Sanchez, Hedges, Adams, Mejia SP: Non-tenders: Gray, Fulmer, Rodon Free agents: BAnderson, CAnderson, Archer, Arrieta, Bailey, Chatwood, DeSclafani, Gonzalez, Hamels, Happ, Hill, Kluber, Leake, Lester, Minor, Nelson, Odorizzi, Paxton, Perez, Porcello, Quintana, Richards, Sanchez, Shoemaker, Wacha, Wainwright, Walker, Wood RP: Non-tenders: Middleton, Knebel, Velasquez, D Norris Free Agents: Foltynewicz, Samardzija, Colome, Greene, Hendriks, Holland, Jeffress, Kela, May, Kintzler, McHugh, Melancon, Ramos, Robertson, Treinen, Workman, Yates
I missed LHRP, Hand should be in there. Also wouldn’t mind them looking at Watson or McGee. I left off anybody I expect to get a contract over $10M/yr. That’s why Springer and Brantley weren’t included.
I would be a little surprised if Springer went to Toronto. We can't beat their offer when they have a 53.5% tax rate?
