I agree this is good enough to win a ring. But Bregman 4th and Abreu 6th is a much better lineup. And I still think Meyers or Leon in CF with Chas as 4th OF playing 3-4 games per week is even better * * as long as Meyers or Leon are playing better than MLB average
Players should be taking discounts to play with the best team in baseball. Hopefully Abreu or Bell are ring-chasers.
Definitely a benefit of the doubt this organization has earned if they did indeed view DeGrom as a Verlander back-up plan
For Bell it would be perfect. Chance at a WS. Close to home (it was reported he was hoping to get traded to Houston at the deadline because he and his wife just had a new born baby. Would have made it easier for his parents to help take care of the baby since it would have been an easy drive) and even if he takes a discount, I'm sure the total money will still be alot.
Just remember, Breggy back to form is not outside of the top 5. B to B seasons of 7.9 and 8.9 WAR. But I have a little voice telling me (or hoping) Crane is showing a commitment to the Bull Pen in part to show JV the Astros are his best chance of accomplishing his career goals. That he will do everything possible to turn leads into Wins for him. But if it doesn't work, it's still good insurance for the remaining starters. I really wonder if he's willing to bring back JV AND make a splash that we are not expecting like he and Luhnow used to do? Crazy example: Bring back Yuli and Brantley on friendly contracts, but go for Judge or Trout as the BAT improvement in CF instead of Abreu at 1B.
I agreed that Breggy should hit behind Alvarez but it fun to see how deep our lineup could be if we get Abreu and uncle Mike back. Either way, I would be happy if we could add either Abreu or Bell to this lineup.
That he could be angling for. A short term deal with the Astros to build up value by being recoached by the staff here to maximize his performance. We have a good track record here with turning pitchers who are lemons into lemonade…
While not knowing the personnel, filling the Assistant GM positions before hiring a GM makes me wonder if he's going to formally act as GM this season and just needs his group in place to take care of the daily details. He's not really leaving room for a new GM to bring his guys along with them. Or maybe he decides to break the glass ceiling and hire the female star as GM since she won't have a team of her own. Great PR move.
DeGrom on a two year contract? 23 and 24 fortified while we still have Altuve and Bregman. Starters JV DeGrom Valdez Javier McCullers Brown Relief Pressly Neris Montero Abreu Stanek Maton Martinez Line-up Altuve 2B Pena SS Alvarez LF Bregman 3B Tucker RF Trout CF Brantley DH Gurriel 1B Maldonado C Bench Hensley IF McCormick OF Lee C Y Diaz PH Definitely over the tax threshold, definitely WS favorites.
I don't even know what to say to that rotation. We could trade Garcia and Urquidy for a bat. No F'ing way to afford both Degrom and Verlander unless Crane really wants to push all his chips onto the the table.
Obviously this is not happening, but if it did, Trout should bat 2nd and Peña 6th. Re: DeGrom - That tweet was clearly from a non-credible source, but, TBH, I’m surprised we aren’t hearing leaks to drive up his price. I think it’s Verlander or nobody in terms of FA starters, but given how Crane has made it clear he wants to spend to win, smoke around DeGrom to drive up his price would make sense.
I left them off assuming they would be part of a Trout deal. He has an 8 year commitment so total club control years is about the same.
You do realize he snuck Trout in there as well. Who are we trading to get Trout because we wouldn't have that lineup the way it is? I also don't see the need for someone like Judge. His name is sexy in the lineup but the cost to have someone that may or may not help us actually win another ring is forfeit. I would love to have two or three Segura/Brantley type bats in the lower order who can slap the ball, get on base and not k that often more so than a big bat in the middle costing several roster spots.
There is plenty of room for fantasy deals. I fantasized about Greinke several weeks before that happened based solely on the fact the Astros weren't one of the 15 teams on his no trade list. I've been fantasizing about Trout and Ohtani based on articles (ie Would Trout request a trade to the Astros) by others concerning the potential sale of the Angels. I fantasize about Judge as much to mess with Yankee fans as anything. But speculating about Rizzo is unlikely, but more realistic than fantasy.
Trout has repeatedly stated he has trouble seeing the ball in Minute Maid which is why he doesn't hit as well here.
He’s gone over the tax many seasons and says he intends too again, so no reason too doubt it. Only reason they didn’t go over the tax last year was too reset it and not get penalized for doing it this year
I assume Hunter Brown will be in the starting rotation next year. If we bring Verlander back then the rotation looks like : verlander Valdez Javier McCullers Brown Urquidy/Garcia 6th man in rotation if we go to 6 Thus Urquidy or Garcia could be used as a Trade chip to get Ian Happ or some other big bat. Otherwise what are we doing with a 7 man deep rotation that doesn’t even include some of the other up and comers in the minors ? Seth Martinez May already be a quality 5th starter too….crazy our depth
If we do bring back JV, I would like to do something like Astros get: 1B Christian Walker - Excellent defender, power hitter, good contact, should benefit from new shift rules Diamondbacks get: SP Jose Urquidy RP Phil Maton
