Clutchfans is really great at overvaluing our farm. It’s ranked in the bottom half of the league but somehow we have 2 stud catchers ready to come up soon. Even though 1 came up and was so bad he was sent back down, the other one doesn’t even want to be a catcher. we complained about 1b all year, fixed it and ppl said he’s old and too much of a contract, however now seeing how the rest of FA is going it looks good. we complained about catcher all year. We complained even harder that we didn’t use vasquez. And now maldy is irreplaceable because of some unmeasurable metric? Hey let’s run gurriel back out there instead of abreu because he can pick throws better.. our farm is only strong in one area - outfield. But y’all want injury prone Nimmo on the same contract as contreras? What about blocking Leon/Gilbert/chas/meyers/etc?? And if Nimmo isn’t blocking them because he’s not CF, then are we platooning at corner outfield? Because then it feels like why not platoon a guy that can also play catcher rather than one that can also play CF where we are rampant with young talent. Instead we are trying to glorify the minor league catchers. We lost verlander, we this money on contreras isn’t hurting. Trading those OF and our best pitching prospects for a catcher would be dumber than buying one… /rant
Yeah, totally agree.... The Astros pretty much have one single weakness in the lineup and that's at C... Right now they have a shot at a really good one, no need for mental gymnastics and analytics. Contreras is 5x better than Maldy, getting Contreras and bringing back Yuli and Brantley pretty much should put The Stros as favorites to repeat. Right now, its a no brainer. The target is there...
It depends on your point of view. In my opinion, it is the Press who is undervaluing Astros Prospects by not understanding the International Free Agents we rely on heavily. They undervalue development and rely on prior lists like recruiting lists and are biased by then for years after they are no longer valid. But not many of our productive starters were ever on prospect lists for more than a few months until they surprised the preparers of the top prospect lists.
The problem with Brantley is we don't know if he can still play or not. The shoulder is not an insignificant injury, especially for a player his age. Just look at Meyers trouble coming back and he's much younger. I do hope he can. I do not believe Yuli is coming back as a player for the Astros. If he thinks he can still play at 39, he'll do it with another team. So where does that leave us? Contreras is optimal because he brings the most with the least impact on out farm prospects. Other options bring less value or cost far more from our farm. BTW - You can count on Jordan getting more starts in LF than DH. And not by a few games.
You beat me to it but the media loves to stress how bad the farm system is. I'm not saying the Astros are a top 5 farm system but it's not in dire straits as others love to point out. Houston losing their picks did hurt. As for pending needs, I trust that the organization will sign players to fill the gaps in the offense. If they get the right players, this 2023 team could be a elite offensive team in history. I hope that Houston does try to trade for another pitcher or sign one.
I would agree it takes a better player to substantially improve CF. We have a could of options that could give us above average production. That's why a CFer has to be elite or at least close to it. Catcher is actually the greater immediate need. Neither of our catcher prospects are complete players and one may not even remain a catcher. DH is the biggest question mark and the landing spot for hitters who might have to share time at their optimum positions.
What is your point here I wonder. MLB contracts are based on Owners willingness to pay, which is tied to their view on how competitive they want to be and their revenues. Have MLB player salaries ever gone down? So, what is “INFLATION” meant to mean? (Hmm, given your posting history, you couldn’t possibly be interjecting politics into free agency discussions, could you? Nah, too big a stretch by me I’m sure).
I did not know Yuli was 39, yeah Astros likely aren't bringing him back. I just think its an extremely straight forward and easy offseason. We needed a C, a 1st baseman and an outfielder. We have our 1st baseman, we just need a catcher and if they want to splurge and go get a good outfielder then I'm all for it. Astros are set on pitching. No reason to overthink Maldy, I really like him too but cmon.... Its Contreras, you get him every single day and twice on Sundays...
I'm not sure what your point is. I would take both since they would all be backups. I would want Meyers in AAA playing every day to prove he's recovered. I would sign Nimmo and Brantley (if he's healthy). McCormick is the 4th outfielder and Leon a 5th outfielder who in an emergency could play a little infield ( like it's the 13th inning and your shortstop gets hurt). McCormick would ideally platoon with Brantley. I would have Yordan play in the field some still with Brantley seeing regular DH time mixed in. Diaz and Lee compete to learn under Maldonado. Yes, I'm ok with one bad hitter in the lineup since it would be to develop someone young behind them. If Nimmo is out I would look at Benintendi's medical and go that route potentially. Contreras is in that mix too I think. I would then kick tires on someone like Brandon Belt if still on market and you miss on those guys. Maybe a Kiermaier even though he has lost a step... depends on the money... 4th of money is ok... Just notice I'm talking about investing backup roles in Lee/Diaz. I feel the same with Leon... the hope would be they play their way into the lineup; but you're not treating them like Pena and handing them a job... their upside isn't as high...
To be fair, I agree with you. I definitely think our prospects are better than the media lists them. And our development ability is somehow still disregarded even after Peña and Javier among others. However, even in our own ideas of our farm, C is not a strength. OF and some pitching is above it (IMO). I would rather try our farm to replace CF and other outfield positions than catcher. What if Tucker walks? Would suck if we gave away Gilbert and Leon just to get Murphy and now have no one in the outfield. I am higher on Gilbert/Leon/brown/melton/etc than I am on Lee and Diaz. I watched Lee, didn’t seem good at all, and Diaz thinks he’s too good to play catcher on a World Series team THAT HAS WEAKNESS AT CATCHER. Mind-boggling that the kid would pidgeon-hole himself like that when he has an opportunity to fill a spot on an elite roster. But instead he wants to 1b/DH where we have the 2nd coming of David Ortiz and 1B is easy to fill. I should have specified that I meant overvaluing our minor league catchers and Maldy in general. Picking errant throws is a tiny part of 1b, calling a game when we have elite pitching is minor in comparison to everything else again imo. Hell, vasquez came in and called a no hitter in the WS with a new pitcher? But somehow I’m supposed to believe only Maldy can do it? Good lord.. the fact that Contreras can play Lf and DH but isn’t elite at those spots yet we want Maldy who is abysmal offensively at one and can’t play either of the other 2? We can upgrade ridiculously without effecting our farm at all. I will say, I wanted to trade Tucker/Whitley for elite pitching in 2017, so I’m not infallible by any means, but this is money, not the farm.. why are we overthinking this so much. The 2 worst players on the team were Yuli and Maldy.. one WS later and it’s pulling teeth to get some guys on board replacing either of them with TREMENDOUS upgrades for nothing but the owners dime.. Also, I would still want conforto/benintendi/MoR SP as well.. which we can do since we just saved 43 mil.
Good night. Just another day of, "we're in contact with ever one we think can help us. But it wouldn't be right to say more."
I hate to say it, but with the talk of Tucker wanting nothing to do with an extension, I’m guessing we’re unlikely to re-sign him a la the rest of our stars who get poached in FA (Springer, Cole, Correa, JV)…we really need Leon/Gilbert/Dierden or others to help ease that loss when it comes (2026?)…I’m guessing no one we could sign now will really have that big of a positive impact by 2026 when Tucker is gone…
McCormick and Meyers are just guys. Leon is on par with Lee but at a year older. Barber, Gilbert, and Melton are 2 years away if at all. You're generally pretty foolish to worry about blocking A ball outfielders. They would be up a year before Tucker is a free agent. You would then have an open outfield spot and DH (or 2 OF spots). That's 2 spots for 3 players who may never get out of AAA. The other consideration is if Altuve loses a step our leadoff hitter becomes Bregman. Nimmo gives us a top of the order table setter. It's a hedge on Altuve's age...
That's he's been working with only half the brain cells of a normal human being. And he's sorry for being so stupid. I could be wrong, but man it sure looks like it.
Passan isn't standing on a crate because he is short, it's so that his ears don't drag on the ground.
