Renfroe and Gattis doesn't/didn't get on base, not all OPS is created equal. That was also Gattis best year, not the normal one. The difference between a .350 career OBP and a .300 OBP is significant, even if the OPS+ is in the same ballpark.
Brantley last year was comparable to Contreras. I'd rather plug in Brantley if reasonably healthy for fewer years than block Lee/Diaz and waste Tucker's extension on Contreras. I don't deny Contreras is a good hitter, but he's much closer to middle of the road as a DH or outfielder. It's about value to me. There are arbitration dumps this year like Renfroe or Urshela that can DH at a fraction of the cost and no long term commitment possibly interfering with extensions. If you want to look at ops+ these guys are comps to Contreras: Teoscar Hernandez Hunter Renfroe Bryan Reynolds Christian Walker Randy Arozarena Matt Canha Brandon Drury Gio Urshela Josh Bell Eugenio Suarez Just go get one of them for DH. Contreras should start 75% of the time at catcher if signed.
For some context, the difference between .350 OBP and a .300 OBP in the 7-hole is an extra base runner every 2.5 games. That's 65 extra base runners per season.
I think the odds that Tucker takes an extension are minimal. The Astros and Tucker were far off last offseason. He wants a huge payday; well beyond what Alvarez received. Contreras is well above "middle of the road" in the DH role, and as a player that would take a large share of C, he would be an elite bat in the 7 slot. IMO, the Astros' goal isn't to extend all of our best hitters. The goal is to reach extensions with the ones that will take reasonable offers that benefit the Astros. If we hold out on FA and trades only for the hope that we can extend great players, we get worse, not better.
Were all the GM's doing keg stands last night????????? All I hear are crickets. Seems like a lot of smoke for no fires.
If you want OB, then Nimmo is clearly your preference since he's typically 50 points higher than Contreras. Brandan Donovan .394 Andrew Benintendi .373 Tyler Stephenson .372 Michael Brantley .370 Matt Canha .367 Austin Slayer .366 Josh Bell .362 Daniel Vogelbach .360 Justin Turner .350 All would likely be cheaper... some may cost prospects... His value is as a catcher. Vogelbach was 5 fewer points BA, 11 points more OB, and 33 points fewer in SLG. OPS+ 125 v 128. Vogelbach is same age making 1.5 million. The Mets got him for a guy not on their top 30 list on mlb prospect rankings.
That's fair. I want to extend Tucker, but if he's looking for the same thing Correa wanted, it's not going to come from the Astros. At worst, he's here for 3 more seasons, then turns into a compensatory pick. We have a ton of quality OF depth in our farm system..hopefully 1 of them becomes an all-star.
Technically he wasn't an 800 OPS catcher, but his ranking would be there today. He played in a era when it was Johhny Bench and then everyone else at Catcher. It was like Arod at shortstop at Texas. Nobody remembers who the second best was because they were so far above the rest. Jeter wasn't it. Like I said, it was a different era.
1) Is he free? 2) Do they let anyone DH? It's a value issue for me...Teoscar at 15 million for one year is better value if you're not plugging Contreras in as primary catcher. There are a lot of hitters in the same ballpark as Contreras that don't need multiyear deals. If the other, better options, are off the table I'm good with signing him.
They should change that in an era where both leagues have a DH and teams are developing players to be more versatile.
Sure, but if #60 on the list is making 1.5 million and costs you your 18th best prospect... That's a solid starting pitcher worth of savings...
