[Official] Astros Off Season

Only a mid-level troll. You should’ve thrown in Brown to take it next level.

If I’m the Astros, I absolutely would watch Springer if the Bluejays take a step back.

I’d also tell Diaz he’s either going to be a full time catcher or a part time bat…his choice. The Astros seem to think he’s got the tools to be a catcher.

 

Varsho

xwOBA
2020: .288
2021: .323
2022: .298

wRC+
2020: 76
2021: 99
2022: 106

OPS+
2021: 102
2022: 109

McCormick

xwOBA
2021: .311
2022: .325

wRC+
2021: 108
2022: 114

OPS+
2021: 107
2022: 110

I'd rather have McCormick, all 6 of our SP and give Meyers, Brantley, Gallo, Conforto or someone else a shot.

 

That was entirely due to Dusty playing Vazquez 37% of the time.

 

Exactly. 37% playing time.

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/v...g-wasnt-right-deadline-acquire-contreras-cubs

 

Yeah, the Diamondbacks OFs are kind of hard to see as a fit. McCormick is better than people think. We already have Leon so I’m not sure what the point of Alek Thomas is.

The simplest and surest way forward is 1 of Conforto or Benintendi and 1 catcher.

 

Mccormick last year over a 600 PA pace was on track for 2.5 WAR. I know people around here look at him as a weak link, but he’s a slightly above average starter at CF. His plate discipline improved over his rookie year, and he had a very strong postseason on top of that last year.

 

McCarthy is a fit. If you wanna add Thomas that's a Future move. So adding both would be Ideal. Starting Thomas in AAA. McCarthy would be you everyday CF. You sign Benintendi to play LF and look for a Catcher. I would say Meyers, Leon and another for Moreno so we stay young and cheap. Let Moreno learn from Maldy

 

https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/can-texas-rangers-close-gap-with-astros/


One of the worst most ignorant articles I've read this off-season.

 

Varsho only makes sense if the intention is to have him split time at C and CF (like 60 games each). I do think he’s a superior hitter to McCormick but agree paying the cost for him wouldn’t be worth it for the marginal upgrade there, and there’s a chance McCormick produces more than Varsho.

 

I mean, finishing 37 games back instead of 38 is technically closing the gap...

 

If you’ve got Yordan, McCormick, Tucker and Benintendi/Conforto in the OF, plus Meyers in reserve and Leon, Gilbert, Barber and Melton in the minors, I don’t see much point in adding anyone in place of or in addition to that group.

The bigger question is catcher. I lean toward a quality defensive backup and see what happens with Lee/Diaz.

 

Varsho is a gold glove OF with nice speed and power. You dont risk his knees giving out and losing all of that.

 

38 games. That’s the spread they need to close…lol

 

Kevin Kiermaier to the Jays

 

So I guess we just keep waiting for Benintendi and Conforto to make up their minds.

Seems like Rodon is holding up the market.

 

Meyes would be traded. LEOiN might be a SS or 2B if needed.

 

I don't know what's worse, Astros at 10 or Darvish and Snell three spots ahead at 7.

 

Without catching, Varsho and Chaz have been the same player so far in their careers.

 

The projected improvement in total value available is really minor now that Contreras and Nimmo are off the market. Benintendi offers only a marginal upgrade over Meyers/McCormick/Dubon in LF; only about 1-1.5 fWAR. Conforto, Brantley, and the other options offer even less of a projected upgrade. At catcher, Narvaez/Vazquez only represent a projected 1 win upgrade over Lee/Diaz/Maldy. By far the most obvious way to improve the overall team outlook via free agency would be to pay Rodon, which would move Brown/Urquidy to the pen and replace innings by projected replacement level players like Taylor, Bielak, France, and Mushinski.

The value just might not be there. That said, I would expect that eventually several options at LF and C would drop their asking prices dramatically once the number of available everyday/significant roles drops down to 1-2. Houston could end up with way lesser options (like Gallo or Profar in LF or Alfaro or Zunino at C), but pay WAY less, potentially making them one of only a few contending teams entering the season with significant financial flexibility. I would much rather see that outcome than give somebody like Benintendi $70M+ or overpaying via trade.

 

Cubs are trying to win this year, they are in on Correa

So if it’s a deadline deal cause the cubs are out of it, the value of a guy like Jake could change drastically by then

He could be having a good year in which case no way you would give 4 years of him for a couple months of Happ. Or he could still be sucking in which case they would likely find a better deal (

Then you don't give up anywhere close to what they would want for him. If he isn't going to play catcher at least a third of the time, he isn't worth the cost, nowhere near it.

Doesn't mean he isn't a very good player, just not worth it