And that's who you wanna pay 20 mil a year for a guy who would catch 70 games? And be a detriment too the Astros not having three LH hitters in the lineup with the BS idea that he puts up good numbers for a position player. Oh yeah and he sucks behind the plate.
I think it's the other way around- Contreras catches 90 ( -100) and DHs 50-60 And Lee ( or Diaz) catches 60-70.
I would think Hunter goes into the rotation, and either Urquidy or Garcia are converted to long relief. Hunter's upside is way too high to stick in the bullpen at this point.
So you think learning from Maldy is a waste of time, like taking swimming lessons instead of throwing a kid in the deep end of the pool and seeing if he drowns?
The bottom line is this. I don't want to add average players. We have average and better either in performance or potential. And we can add an above average player and they will be in the bottom of the line-up or the bottom of the rotation. So don't evaluate them by where they would hit or pitch for our team. Judge them independently.
I totally get what you're saying. Rodon would obviously give me more confidence as well. But at the cost you're getting him at, is he worth it when you could use the money elsewhere at a greater area of need? Also, Lance didn't have a full season to build up to the postseason, and Hunter Brown has barely had a chance to start in the majors. We don't know who our playoff starters would be 11 months from now or how that core would stack up to this postseason's group yet. But with six strong options at the moment, I like their odds of building a damn good trio of starters out of that group. I like those odds better than their chances of getting solid offensive production at the 8 and 9 spots in the order with the current lineup. For me, I think they need another bat more than they need another elite starter.
If this team has constructed with losing JV but adding Jose Abreu and all the improvement from the young guys is still a first-place team it doesn't seem to make sense to just be adding players to spend money. Personally I believe in our young guys like Lee and Diaz as catchers they've proven themselves at the AAA it's time to let Maldonado show these guys what to do behind the plate and would the staff. Plus we're already getting average production in Centerfield with McCormick and if Myers is healthy Maybe even better. This team has many arms like Seth Martinez and Hunter Brown that did not get the innings last year that they probably deserved. And I believe next year there will be a player or two in Triple A that probably would be Major League ready but will not get an opportunity. Unless there is a really substantial trade that can be made for center fielder or catcher or DH I don't know that there is much room for significant Improvement in the winter meetings. I would not go crazy if they decided to sign Willson, one way or another. Yes I think he'd help but delayed gratification may be the best course of action right now.
There hasnt been a single good argument. This guy is a disaster. Cant catch. Average numbers as a DH/LF option. Keeps three LH hitters out of the lineup. Blocks two stud catchers still developing and his contract is the end of atleast one of Altuve, Bregman, Tucker, Valdez, etc as an Astro, has huge off the field issues, etc.
The Verlander era has ended and the decks are cleared for some major signings. Let the bidding begin. I want a top notch catcher. I want hitting up and down the lineup. Last season ended with a WS which can't be improved, but the hitting can. For most of last season the bottom of the lineup was unproductive. If the Astros have high average and power throughout the lineup with our stellar pitching our chances are good for a repeat.