We aren't privy to the extra revenues they've seen with more playoff games, better advertising rates, etc. Crane knows what this team was making from 2011-2016 vs. 2017-2019, and what impact a tax (or repeater tax) would have on the overall bottom line vs the increased revenue with attendance (playoff attendance) and sales that typically come when a city is crazy about a team.
Toro, Abreu, Forest Whitley for Kimbrel. Too much for 1.5 years of service? Kimbrel was terrible last two years. He is amazing this year… will he be next year?
Scherzer, Kimbrel, and Iglesias here we come. Even with unlimited money I just don’t see where you can upgrade this lineup. Not with Maldy such a key piece of the defense and Straw on pace for 3 fwar (and the bench guys all playing well). But with unlimited money there’s almost always room to add Aces and Closers. SP: Scherzer, Greinke, McCullers, Valdez, Odorizzi RP: Garcia, Stanek, Javier, Raley, Baez, Iglesias, Pressly, Kimbrel Trades: Urquidy for Scherzer and PTBNL (SS Sammy Infante) Abreu and Paredes for Kimbrel Nova and Dubin for Iglesias
I would consider that a big overpay but I am really high on Toro and I like Abreu quite a bit. If Abreu is traded for Kimbrel, he should be the headliner and the Cubs should be eating some money. I don’t want to trade Toro for a reliever.
I don’t think Bregman would be good enough at SS. I would utilize Toro as an everyday sub who played 3B, 2B, 1B, LF, RF, and DH.
Rodriguez is Richard Rodriguez. Astros sold him off in 2015 and then he was signed as a minor league FA by the Pirates in 2017. Makes no sense to mention him as a failed trade imo. Laureano was traded for Brandon Bailey because he was about to be gone in the rule 5 draft
If we look at Toro as only a utility guy and we have Diaz coming back next year, I would strongly consider using him to grab Kimbrel for 1.5 years of service. Cubs would have a need for an everyday 3rd baseman if they go in rebuilding mode and don’t resign Bryant.
Going to lose Verlander, Grienke, and Correa after this season. Should continue to be competitive but this is the last best opportunity to go for it all. Bring on Scherzer and Kimbrel!
I'd very much like to see him play some OF in winter ball somewhere. He did get, for the first time in his career, a start at SS and 1 in LF in Sugar Land this year. Agreed on Bregman, he's not an everyday SS
Prior to Straw breaking out, I was looking at Toro as a potential offseason move to CF. He is an underrated athlete and deceptively fast runner. I think he still has quite a bit of upside defensively and could plane out as an excellent defensive 3B/2B.
Isn’t Max a known user of the sticky stuff? Id like to see how he pitches in July before we go all out to acquire him. SP isn’t really our area of need but understand that things would be reslotted if he were acquired. Scherzer also turns 37 this month, and I wouldn’t be surprised if WAS wanted nothing to do with trading him to HOU...their org has been pretty vocal and salty about the Stros.
Big presumption they’re going to lose everybody. Also, a lot of the performances this year have helped shed light on this teams true window and payroll limits… something that was less clear prior to the season.
Max has allowed 4 runs in 25 innings since MLB made the sticky announcement, he should be a top target if indeed the Nats decide to sell, which is doubtful with them just 4.5 games back of the Mets Having said that, if they DO decide to move Max, there is zero chance they would turn down a better offer from the Astros and take something lesser from another team because they are "salty" about 2017. A majority of that kind of crap is media driven anyway, the guy actually a part of MLB organizations know it wasn't an "Astros" thing but an MLB thing....and even if they are pissed or whatever, if they move Max they are going to do it for the best package to improve their organization. Would we be willing to offer the best package for a rental Ace? Doubtful because most likely some of the other organizations could offer up better prospects....but even on that what we see is what the media publications think about farm systems, how actual organizations view or kids could easily be something totally different...in fact with how so many of our young pitchers have done, our prospect arms are potentially viewed a lot higher by actual GM's than the media twitter dudes
I'll pass on trading assets for a big name SP. We have an abundance of quality SP and a real lack of good relievers. Should be able to deal organizational depth to fill holes in the 7th and 8th inning. Our window stays open after this year because we've got several good, young, cheap starting pitchers, a deep lineup, and a lot of money to spend in the offseason. Personally, I'm hoping a chunk of it is spent on Correa. But they should be able to pick up an all-star caliber bat if he leaves, with money left over.
Don't think the Nats are going to trade Max and if they do more than likely it's not to us. He's a huge addition wherever he goes and that concerns me (example going to a team like Boston).
Crane understands this He remembers what adding Verlander meant I agree, Max if very likely not moved...but if he is, I would guess Crane asks Click to look into it
