Cubs, Rays, Astros are the primary teams left that want a catcher. The catchers still on the market include: Gary Sanchez Omar Naevarez Tucker Barnhart Austin Hedges Jorge Alfaro In trade: Danny Jansen Yasmani Grandal Travis DÁrnaud (maybe) Luis Campansano Recently gone from the market: Wilson Contreras Sean Murphy William Contreras Mike Zunino Christian Vazquez
They already signed two players.... and finished second on Contreras. As for Conforto and the second year, it is a full player option that would only be exercised if he sucks or is injured. Boras is counting on the Astros or someone else giving in. I am not saying you are wrong, but the Astros have never been a team to over-pay under Crane. As for Vasquez, maybe they should have come up another 2 million a year to sign him, I don't think he is all that great but it is debatable. As for Contreras, giving a 5th year to a catcher that has issues calling games and is already 30 years old is problematic. If I were to criticize them for anything at this point, it would be that in hindsight they should have just signed Verlander and a mediocre back up catcher and whoever falls in the LF sweepstakes and doesn't get a good contract. Having said that, the approach the Astros have taken is smart long term.
Considering he can hit well enough to DH and the Astros expect to be really great over the next 2-3 years, Contreras having a 5-year contract would not be that problematic. Worst case scenario is that the Astros are great for 5 more years and stuck with an overpaid DH for a couple of years after getting a good value for him as a C/DH in the 1st 3 years of the deal. Astros still have a great team so it isn't too big a deal. Mostly, it would have put the Astros in a very comfortable position versus other AL West teams (i.e., it would have taken even more luck/money for the Astros to get caught).
If he is decent defensively, then probably, but I would want it closer to the 8-15 range. I would do it just because we have a lot of good pitchers and pitching prospects
The Blue Jays never have enough pitching. It mostly comes down to trying to come up with what is proper value for Jansen. IF the Astros some-how managed to get Jansen and the cost is somewhat reasonable, they would probably feel pretty good about their catching situation for the next couple years. Maybe Jake Meyers and other pieces to the Jays, but then the Astros are down another centerfielder.
I think that’s got to be a yes, right? We can cover for Urquidi with a FA inning eater like Kluber or cueto. I assume the question is opportunity cost - what else could we get for urquidi. I have no idea but on its face, seems like a good buy with those trade chips
If Brown, Leon, Gilbert, and Diaz are the Top 4 and the Astros signed a FA SP, I'd be willing to trade Urquidy and all the prospects ranked 5-10 for Jansen.
The market has changed ... for now. It's also eating up everyone's payroll capacity. There are more players than there are needs, which means there are going to be decent players available later in the offseason at dirt cheap prices. Increasing prices for free agents benefits a team like the Astros - homegrown talent is that much more valuable. Notice that basically all the star players are scattering to different teams - that's also perfect for the Astros, because it means none of the opposition is able to concentrate talent the ways the Astros currently have. Everyone else is still chasing the Astros so they are having to reach out of desperation. But the Astros have the luxury of standing pat and picking up solid role players on the cheap once this initial frenzy dies down. The way you sustainably win in any sport is to zig when everyone else is zagging - it's basic moneyball. If everyone else is chasing a handful of free agents, you find your value elsewhere.
It's a very reasonable debate. I'm just saying that things change and doing things things the way you have always done them, despite changing dynamics is not always the best way. It should be a two way street. For 6 years impact and/or above average players are paid significantly less than their performance would dictate or what more experienced players make for equal and sometimes less performance. Why is it terrible if one of those players decides he wants a bit of security by asking for a 2nd year option now that he has finally earned the ability to have some control over his career? Now I realize that Conforto didn't outperform his prearb and arb years as an Astro so the Astros didn't benefit. But why do fans always side with the owners on these matters? At some point players should have some security based on the 6 years they put in and in KY opinion Confirto's 2 year option request is reasonable with minimal long term risk to the Astros.
You can get a cheaper bat at DH with similar production... look at what Renfroe and Teoscar cost in trade...
If the Astros sign another SP like Kluber or Cueto I would in a heartbeat. Now, the pitching depth is more important.
I agree with a lot in here. My main concern with waiting is that FAs at places the Astros can improve easily are almost gone. The Astros don't have much to trade except for players that would already be Astros (i.e., the amount of MLB short term value added in a trade is mitigated some by the loss of outgoing MLB short term value).
No one knows how much money Conforto will sign for. No one knows if he's even healthy enough to play. Someone will likely accept his price - nothing wrong with that, and it doesn't mean anyone is siding with owners. But the Astros aren't desperate and don't absolutely have to be that team. At this point, do we even know if he's better or worse than Brantley?
