Are we all assuming that Click doesn't sign Yuli for a one year, team friendly deal? He hasn't been elite this year, but he's been more than serviceable, particularly after the horrid first two months he had. If we sign Yuli, I'm assuming that we'll have money to throw at a corner outfielder. Would be nice to see Click make a run at either JD Martinez or Benintendi. JD will probably be ok with a shorter contract, but I've read that Benintendi will be looking for a 5 year, $100M. To me, that would be palatable, as he could come close to replacing the OBP that Brantley has provided. I don't think Click will spend that type of money if he has to sign an expensive 1B though (whether that's Mancini or someone else).
I honestly don't see Yuli returning as a player. But they might find a position as a roving ambassador and scout. I hope Maldy is transitioning to a coaching position. Brantley just looks like he's hit a wall in his recovery. I would love it if he recovered and we could extend him. But that's not what I expect. But it's about time to see what Y Diaz and Leon can do at the show with enough PAs to make a fair evaluation in 2023. Hensley may prove a better Utility player than Dubon. A Diaz would be nice if he's not targeted as a starter in FA.
I would love to see Yuli as a part of the international players staff doing as much as he is comfortable with. Diaz has been a great player off the bench, but I looked up injury prone and there was a picture of Aledmys smiling back at me. I just do not see a full time role for him.
Define more than serviceable, his high water mark for the season was a .717 OPS and that was way back in May, his OPS hasn't topped .690 since then and August has been his worst month of the year. Yuli is a very big deal to the other Cubans, and has a lot of respect in the locker room in general. If you resign Yuli, you can't really cut him without risking some clubhouse issues (otherwise I think the Astros would have moved him out already). Better just to wish him the best this offseason and start clean next season. Name recognition aside, I can find zero on field justification for bringing him back.
Crazy outside the box thought... How about Trea Young in CF? He has the speed for range... not sure about arm strength... Plug him leadoff followed by Altuve... Probably getting an 8 year deal from someone else so it seems unlikely... worth a call though...
I'm ok bringing Brantley back for a few million and incentives that will pay him like he is now if he plays well again...
I know you mean Trea Turner, obviously. But that's exactly my thought. He plus Altuve batting 1 and 2 (either order) is something I REALLY fantasize. He 100% has the speed to play center field, and is a smooth slider/diver. He can play a solid SS so I think his arm would be fine. I think someone offers him 8 years at $30M per. I would not be opposed, he's basically a faster Brantley from the right side, with sneaky pop. Would be very un-Astros like, however. But that would be my dream.
Thank you, clearly typo while distracted... He checks off a lot of boxes and would let us move guys down the lineup that can drive in runs better like Altuve or Yuli if he's back.
Agree. Essentially, delegate the Brantley+Gurriel+Castro+Baez money to Turner (about $32M). Even taking into consideration Yordan's salary going up, and paying JV about $40M, we'd still have a little room under the cap to work with at the deadline, per Spotrac. Turner $32.5M, plus Verlander $40M, Alvarez $19.17M puts us at about $185M (by my estimates). The tax threshold is $233M, so $48M to work with. Would love to see Crane open up his pocket books, but of course, his money is not my money.
They're at 105 with: Bregman Altuve Mccullers Pressly Neris Alvarez Let's say a budget of 215... Valdez, Urquidy, Javier, and Garcia should run about 12 million if Valdez is looking 8-10 in arbitration. Figure Tucker gets about 6 million in his first arbitration.... That's 92 million for: 1B CF LF C x 2 5 x relievers 5 x bench guys I think you can get a little creative by trading for mlb ready prospects. Say you spend 38 million on Verlander... then you can move Garcia for a starting cf prospect and a starter at 1B. They could resign either Vasquez or Maldy and the backup could be Lee or Diaz to save cash. If they eat have Neris' deal i think they could find a taker to free up 4 million more. Maton could be cut... Diaz is replaceable... It will be interesting...
A deal I think works nicely for all... To Cardinals Hunter Brown Brandon Bielak Hector Neris + 4 million To Astros Alec Burleson Zack Thompson Astros free up 4 million and plug an outfield spot and lefty in the pen... Brown has no where to play even if Verlander is gone. Cardinals have 2-3 decent bullpen arms and a mediocre rotation. Burleson is blocked in the outfield... Bielak or Brown could go rotation or bullpen for them... By going cheap we might have money for Verlander or Turner...
Hell no. If we trade a starter, Garcia is the one to trade. Ideally the rotation is Verlander, McCullers, Valdez, Urquidy, Brown next year (Javier as the flex long relief/SP6 guy). If I was in charge I'd try and see if we can pry away that Vinnie guy from KC. Lefty 1B, they have another similar guy (Pratto) and need SP.
He had a good June and July but they have been sandwiched by horrid April/May and an even worse August.
Oy, i thought the Burleson trade proposals were over with when we sent Odo to the Braves. What is everyone's obsession with that guy? That is a terrible trade proposal. Why would the Astros trade a top 100 prospect (50FV) for two lesser prospects (both 40+) and include their setup man, another fringe/cheap starter, AND cash. Makes zero sense.
