Platoons are limited with the limited bench. You can't keep everyone AND bring in someone from outside. And you do need a path for prospects to show what they can do in the big leagues.
Off season moves GM Click made as many bad moves as good ones but most GM’s do not do a lot better. The reason he will not be back is the things he did not do. Starting with carrying out his bosses requests. Recognizing future needs and addressing them well before you are forced into overspending on free agency or trades is why you pay for a GM. Anyone can react after the fact and go shopping for the best available (the best are never available) replacements. Our minor league system should have taken a mighty leap forward with our first full draft in a few years but that did not happen, and based on my own projections I do not expect much in the next rankings either. I trust Crane to take whatever time is needed to select his next GM. 1B Gurriel’s post season performance tends to indicate that whatever caused him to have such a horrible year is behind him. Of course the Astros are in a much better position to evaluate that than we are. This off-season he will get some medical information after his surgery that may keep him from being a consideration at all. Waiting for that outcome could take longer than the market will allow. I think he has to be replaced either internally or by a trade or if all else fails by a free agent that can field the position for a couple of years. C Maldonado is under contract for another season but could decide on retirement this fall. That could be encouraged by a coaching offer. If he does retire I would like to see Vázquez signed for a couple of years. Either way Lee Should be splitting time (40/60) with one of them by mid season. DH If Brantley wants to come back and play DH & LF from the bench on a prove it kind of contract he would be hard to turn down. My preference is to fill the DH position based upon the situation at hand rather than carrying a dedicated DH. OF I am content to continue with Alvarez in left field, and expect Tucker to be in right at least till the end of his current contract. Hopefully that will be extended next winter. Center field is one of those things Click should have but did not attend to at the minor league level a couple of years ago. Chaz is not the center fielder you want but he held his own through the playoffs and helped win the world series. It would not be a terrible thing to start the season with him in center field. There are a lot of options in the minors that could be ready soon. Some as soon as the trade deadline and even a full season of McCormick would be better than spending on a free agent or trading for a player that is just going to be in the way a few months later. P A deal to keep Verlander for two years with an option for a third should come in at around $33 million per season otherwise I think we would have to pass on it. The rotation has passed McCullers up and by the end of this season he will be the 6th or 7th starter. He could be traded for a couple of top 50 prospects now to fill future needs or moved to the pen later where he would fill a legitimate need for a multi inning fireman/spot starter. Active Roster Position Players 9 2B Altuve SS Pena LF Alvarez 3B Bregman RF Tucker DH Brantley or a 5th bench bat. 1B Acquisition CF McCormick C Maldonado or Vázquez depending on Maldonado’s health Bench 4 Lee, Dubon, Hensley, Meyers Rotation 6 Verlander(FA), Valdez, Javier, Urquidy, Garcia, Brown, (Without JV Valdez, Javier, Urquidy, Garcia, Brown, McCullers) Bullpen 7 Martinez, Blanco, Stanek, Neris, Abreu, Pressly, McCullers or other Total 26 active Minor league players on the 40 man roster Pitchers 7 Whitley, Bielak, Dubin, Mushinski, Murray, France, Ruppenthal Position Players/Bats 5 Y Diaz, Perez, Schreiber, Julks, Berryhill Total 12 in the minors DFA or trade Taylor, Maton, James, Matijevic, Paredes Leaving the 40 man roster at 38.
So far my two favorite acquisitions which have been discussed are Yandy and Abreu at 1B. Either one and we say goodbye to Yuli as a player. Both and we say goodbye to Brantley as well. The Splash move if we don't re-sign JV is Trout/Judge in CF who are expected to cost less than JV AAV, but with a longer commitment.
The move I do not expect that would please me most is extending Tucker, Framber and Javier. ? Or Pena, though it's early.
Reminder: The Rays are trying to clear spots in the 40 man since they have guys they like who need to be protected. That hypo would be a net gain of one player. So the types of players they’re looking for are guys not on the 40 man and who won’t need to be added this week.
If our only two moves are Trout in CF and Yandy at 1B at the cost of JV, would you do it? (this assumes Trout is being paid close to his market value and wouldn't cost much in a trade. (Salary Dump: Urquidy/Leon?). Yandy for prospects not subject to Rule 5.)
Yeah looking at it again there are multiple reasons the Rays probably wouldn’t go for this. 40 man crunch plus they are deep in pitching. I am actually not sure what they’d be looking for in exchange for Arozarena or Diaz other than young high ceiling pre-arb OF or high value prospect multiple years away from Rule 5 eligibility. Not a great match for Houston.
We arent getting Trout and adding his contract with his injuries the last few years would be stupid. Not too mention losing 2-3 Elite FA's down the road that the Astros couldnt afford. Sign a 1B. Dont trade for one. Abreu and Bell's contract predictions fit perfectally in line with the Astros payroll and are short term deals off the books when elite guys start hitting free agency. JV, Abreu or Bell, Brantley and Gurriel (for a deeper bench) and the Astros should be done and laugh at all the teams breaking the bank on Judge, Turner, Correa, DeGrom, Bogearts, etc
Trying to sort thru potential trade fits, here are the teams that could really use a pitcher like Urquidy/Brown/Garcia: Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Twins, Cubs, Orioles, Rockies. From those teams, here’s a list of potentially available players that might interest the Astros: Blue Jays: Jansen, Kirk, Teoscar, Lourdes Gurriel Diamondbacks: Thomas, McCarthy, Varsho, Carroll Twins: Kepler, Kiriloff Cubs: Happ Orioles: Santander, Mullins, Hays Rockies: Cron Of course quality SP always has broad appeal, so it’s entirely possible another team I didn’t mention would be interested in one of Houston’s 5-7 SP. but for now the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Diamondbacks would be my first calls if I were GM.
Ohtani for the entire Sugar Land Space Cowboys + 3 shipping Ports in China and Russia from Crane plus Urquidy, Garcia and Dubon. It's Tuesday. Edit, it's only Monday.
My son is moving to Albany in February. He works for Activision/Blizzard and they are relocating him. Is the snow as bad as I have heard?
The cost should not be that high precisely for the reasons mentioned. Estimates are his $37M AAV is close to his market value and the owner is liquidating to sell the team. It is essentially a salary dump. All long term commitments have risk and this is "limited" to 8 years or just over the team's normal max. And it is in a position which would make us much better. If the cost and risk were too high, then of course that takes it off the table. Even with only 119 games, he had 6.3 WAR last year.
I know there is a snow belt coming downwind from Lake Erie (around Syracuse) which is usually very heavy, but outside of this belt it's not so bad. Looks like Albany is south of this belt. Looks like 60-95 inches annually or 7" - 10" rain equivalent.
He doesn't work on Overwatch LOL. He is on a game that is scheduled for release middle of next year not allowed to say. Stupid corporate rules.
