Sounds like Brantley and Vazquez are likely the last two big additions. Thad should put them well under the CBT, no?
If that were the deal then I would expect they’d be well under the first CBT threshold. I would hope they’d also add a good lefty RP to round out the pen; Taylor Rogers would be my first choice but there are several options out there.
That was a foregone conclusion when they couldn’t match JV’s offer and they weren’t going to give any other higher priced free agent more than a 3 year deal. They’re not going to overpay or spend just to spend.
It will be interesting if Vazquez and Narvaez get 3-4 year deals and we sit still. Almost have to trade then.
I think Vazquez signs he will be the Everyday guy. With Maldy getting Framber and Garcia. Brantley won't be till atleast February. The Astros will make moves before then.
There is probably more truth than fiction. Never have understood all the hate for Houston. We don’t throw D size batteries at your players or call your cities ****holes like their fan base dose. But we still get hate or indifference. Prior to trash-gate 2017 it was Rockets 1994 and SI printing a Houston only NBA champ magazine unlike for every other NBA title winner that got an SI cover. So didn’t start in 2017. That just gave them something to sink their teeth in. That’s ok. At least Fiers doesn’t have to worry about a 2022 ring weighing his hand down do you Mike.
It is an interesting question. I think it depends on the GM doesn’t it? FWIW I don’t think a real GM would have done any better than Crane and his lackies did. For one thing, Crane handles the free agent contract offers and always has. Also, Crane has pushed Luhnow (Verlander) and Click (last year) to spend money when they didn’t necessarily want to. I can tell you I asked someone with the Astros what would have happened if Click was still GM and he said Montero would have still been resigned but the Astros would have not given Abreu three years and would have ended up with Josh Bell for 2/35-40…. We can debate of which is a better deal. Right now I feel that Abreu was a better choice but maybe he ages and that third year is a loss. Where we are going to miss having a GM will be in trades involving minor leaguers and the draft and player development. When it comes to contract values and offers, Crane is as good as any GM.
If we get vasquez and brantley I think the offense is stacked. Until brantley comes back, let meyers play center and Chaz play left and platoon them both on days yondon plays left. Have yordon dh on days vasquez catches and let him play left on days maldy catches so that vasquez dhs. This way you have vasquez as a full time starter and you try Meyers out to see if he has something until brantley returns
Love Jake from rake farm but that ship has long sailed. I hear Jackie Bradley Jr is a free agent.... Might satisfy some here. lulz.
Two years but the second year is completely guaranteed with a player only opt out. Teams are willing to go to two years but want a buyout or a standard two year deal. Conforto is set on a second year player option so if he fails to play well he has a good nest egg, but if he bounces back he can get a long term deal next off season. General feeling is that Boras thinks with teams like Astros, Rangers, Giants, Blue Jays, Yankees and Red Sox all wanting a corner outfielder; someone will breakdown and give him what he wants. He is a risk, but I will admit that the possibility of him bouncing back and playing for the Astros is really enticing. I am not counting on Alvarez and Brantley (if back) being able to play 160 games between them in LF.
Can you prove your point by showing evidence of a time where Chas defense helped us win a game? Maybe in the playoffs even? I kid. That is a good point
I love both those guys and think they are close to interchangeable from a skill stand point. Metrics still say Meyers is an elite CF and slightly better than Chas who is merely above average.
This is the best news we could see but I think it has to be the nerd cave double checking to see if the A's are being more realistic yet. No way we give 2 mlb arms they can pound sand.
