I'm still skeptical given his inability to stay healthy and past PED use... I would only part with him for a difference maker (Castillo, Reynolds (if becomes available)), etc. Not for a middle rotation starter or nonallstar position player... Could make for a dominant bullpen arm if his arm can't handle the innings... like Archie Bradley...
Just a thought but given Brantley's struggle against lefties and Yuli getting up there i would like to see an experienced lefty bat behind Yuli and maybe an experienced righty to rest Brantley more against lefties... Diaz might be passable in left... not sure i trust McCormick or Siri yet but i suppose they need playing time to see what we have... I'm fine with centerfield unless a true allstar becomes available... not sure that's Marte moving forward... Like Mitch Moreland as a lefty off the bench on the cheap...
I think I'm at the place where if Correa is gone, we go with Pena/Diaz and use the money to buy out Yordan and Tucker for arbitration and a couple of years... If shortstop is a disaster we can trade for a rental at the deadline and have Leon playing in AAA there all year to see if he becomes passable there for 2023...
Leon is a CF’er and elite there defensively. He’s not moving. I’m fine with Pena. Astros need to sign a bat and Starling Marte fits. Slide him to LF in 2023 if Leon is ready.
Whitley never had past PED use. He tested positive for an aderall he supposedly was given for a long drive home.
I don't want Marte if his salary is the reason we don't keep other guys... that means 3 year deal to me before Tucker and Yordan get expensive in arbitration... I'm just not crazy about paying older guys for speed... would rather trade for someone than get stuck with a bad deal... I know Springer was ticked at the front office but it's a bad look to spend Springer money on an inferior player...
I don’t think any free agent signings happen until after the lockout is over. I’m assuming the lockout will happen because I don’t see a labor agreement reached before Dec. 1st.
Chicago White Sox sign Kendall Graveman to three-year, $24 million deal https://sportsnaut.com/chicago-white-sox-sign-kendall-graveman-to-three-year-24-million-deal/ Someone tell me why WE didnt resign him?
Because 3 years at elite-setup-man prices for a low-innings guy who had a great half-season for Seattle is not a good use of funds.
It was said that a 1 year deal with a higher AAV was offered but ultimately, graveman took more money overall… which was smart on his behalf. One thing I would say, to anyone who is concerned about the bullpen, with Click coming from Tampa Bay- his ability to find bullpen arms or identify and acquire talent in that particular area, isn’t one of my concerns. Worst comes to worst, you go grab another guy at the deadline and keep more flexibility in both the short and long term, rather than investing in Graveman over a 3 year period when he undoubtedly had the best year of his career. You’d be betting on his ability to replicate what he did in 2021 and paying him top dollar(by “non closer” reliever standards) and I’m not upset that we let him walk for that price. The emergence of Maton and Stanek to go along with the possibility of Dubin making an impact in 2022- makes me feel like we have plenty to bridge from SPs to Pressly. SS, CF, and possibly C are likely taking precedence over RP at the moment.
There’s an article here on mlb.com that proposes several-what I would consider “far fetched” trades- one of which includes Buxton to the Stros for Chas, Whitley, and Barber. I personally wouldn’t do that deal unless they threw in Rogers and maybe us adding another mid level prospect. here’s the article in case you guys are interested: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-black-friday-trade-ideas-2021
Sign me up for this one Chas is one of a group of potential long time CF here and not likely to be the one If we (or anyone) gets great performance from Whitley at this point then good for them. He is way past “don’t trade” status in my opinion Put Buxton in the lineup and we are the AL favorite the next two years