He also was the MVP of the WS and killed us. Soler can play on this team. Brantley is a platoon player at this point in his career, and you need to replace the power you are losing from Correa. It would be a very good signing. Play him in RF against RHP and LF against LHP.
“I’m always open to extension, at least a discussion,” Tucker said in February. “I feel like that there’s not any harm in at least talking about it. Whether you go forward with it or not, there’s at least some discussion. Even if there’s not, it’s fine, but I’m always open to talking about it. There’s no harm in that.” Both Tucker and Alvarez are four seasons away from free agency. Neither man is eligible for salary arbitration until next winter. An extension this spring would ostensibly buy out all three of their arbitration-eligible years — 2023, 2024 and 2025 — and go beyond 2026, when both are scheduled to enter free agency. “The thing is with an extension, it’s just a for-sure, guarantee,” Tucker said. “You don’t really have to worry about it if you go through with it. But at the same time, like if I win the next three MVPs, market value could be (high) and I could be playing under value. At that point, you just have to deal with it. I don’t see any harm in at least talking about it, if it even gets brought up.”
Where do you get the Astros are "paper thin with pitching"? By all accounts Verlander is healthy and ready to start on opening day. Valdez, Luis Garcia, and Urquidy are all 100% and very good mid rotation starters every 5th day. That leaves Odorizzi and Javier ( who Click is on record as saying they want and intend to start) as #5 and #6 until Lance is healthy Even without Lance that is a top 5 rotation in the AL. With Lance it could be the best. The bullpen is plenty deep with Pressly, Stanek, Neris, and Maton as dependable late guys. Baez and Montero have been great before and could have a bounce back. Dubin and Bermudez could be rookie weapons. Enoli, Abreu, Scrubb, and James have closer stuff and just need to have a Framber like breakthrough in command Solomon, Ivey, and Whitley are top 10 prospects and could fill in and/or surprise. I would like to see a veteran lefty for the bullpen but would hardly consider the pitching "paper thin" If anything it is TOO deep with potential and average in certainties.
Tucker and Alvarez are both about where Bregman was when he signed his 5 yr $100 mill extension which went into effect AFTER the upcoming season when he was first eligible for arb. Accounting for increases due to time, inflation, and higher CBT threshold I would offer: Tucker 7 yr $155 (includes this year pre arb and 3 FA years) Alvarez 7yr $140 Tucker gets a bit more for defensive value. They need to trade Odorizzi and possibly Diaz if they want to avoid the luxury tax but that is not likely a deal breaker. Brantley, Pressly, Castro, Stanek, Baez, Maton, and likely Verlander off the books next year allows the team to reset vs CBT and revamp bullpen. And Tucker and Alvarez are signed through 2028.
Grienke could probably secure another $25M+ in career earnings if he’s so inclined. SP market is barren.
I think 1B is more likely than 3rd if we are being honest, but he’d obviously have more value if he could still play on the left side of the if. Probably look, defensively, a lot like Yuli at that age. Also- as his skills start to diminish I expect he will add more pull side thump as he will have to cheat a little more and not keep everything up the middle. I’d like to see him do that anyway as he just doesn’t hit pull side FB (or anything really pull side) but we shall see
I can’t imagine he won’t be so inclined. Dude is a baseball rat. What else is a social anxiety autist to do in his retirement?
I thought free agency would be way more fast paced. Ready for some action and new additions or securing the most important Astros draft pick of the last 20+ years (maybe ever who knows..he’s entering his prime)
Chris Bassitt traded to the Mets. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/mets-acquire-chris-bassitt-from-as.html
There's 30 pitchers on that roster even tho it says "22+5" Some omissions I would have expected to be non-roster invites: Norel Gonzalez, Luke Berryhill, Brett Conine, Jojanse Torres, Chad Donato, Joe Record, Andre Scrubb
Not sure how reliable that Michael Schwab guy is but he said the Astros asked about Bassitt but the price was too high. I wonder if the A's asked for a higher price being divisional rivals. Well hopefully they can sign him when he's a free agent (next year?). Schwab also says potential smaller signing for the Astros in the works. Does that basically mean minor league deal with invite to Spring training type of deals?
Jose Iglesias to the Rockies Joe Kelly and Josh Harrison to the White Sox https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
If Correa and Story is out of the picture and with Simmons and Iglesias off the board, potential Pena/Diaz combo at SS? Are there any other free agent SS? On a unrelated note, Gurriel posted a before and after pic and looks like he lost weight during the off season.
My thoughts are that a veteran insurance policy just went out the window. Either it pushes them more toward Correa or solidifies Pena's job.
I haven't heard Kyle Farmer mentioned? He had a solid year and the Reds are looking to rebuild he is still young and cheap but maybe a couple of younger cheap for longer prospects could get him? Maybe Grae Kessinger and lottery ticket like Joe Record?
