Agree. Breggy is solidly in the 2nd tier of all 3B. All-star level. Tier 1) Arenado, Machado, Jose Ramirez (year to year) Tier 2) Bregman, Devers, Austin Riley, Chapman (year to year).
They signed Castro in free agency and had he not totally face planted last season they probably would not have acquired Vazquez via trade. I just don't see 60-80 starts for Diaz as being that reasonable given the concerns people have about his ability or willingness to develop at the position.
It's a best of all worlds scenario, but the bottom line for Yainer is they've narrowed his pathway to ML playing time this season considerably by signing Abreu. Assuming they get another LF/DH bat, he might not even be able to get near-full time work at DH. They gotta sit his ass down and explain the facts of life that if he wants to play big league ball this year, he needs to don to the tools of ignorance. If he's happy to play 1B/DH/C at AAA, well then that's on him.
Astros have been promoting and trading prospects a lot faster than they have been developing them for a few years now. Sure there will be a couple of guys that pop up, but doubtful those guys will be able to swing more than a relief pitcher (really hope we are good there) or 2nd division starter. If the Astros wanted to rebuild farm or make sure they would be able to get someone good, FA was/is the best avenue this year with the money the Astros had. I'm still high on Leon, but doubt he has much value. Diaz appears to be a bat to me. Gilbert is still far enough away that risk mitigates his value. I don't value Lee as much more than a potential backup until he makes better contact.
Sure. Which I why I said I’d offer him 5/150 and pointed out a couple things that make him 2nd tier of 3B instead of 1st tier of 3B before the I can’t read crew stumbled in. And the flaws I pointed out are also the reasons he won’t get paid until he’s 41 in FA instead probably only until he’s 38.
Yep. If they want to promote Lee or sign a AAAA catcher to motivate him and get his mind right that’s cool too. I’d rather resolve the problem externally but if his bat is special for the catcher position and he has the tools and just needs the maturity/experience I’m fine with a year of trying to bend him to our needs.
Click took apart Luhnow's international team and philosophy. I expect rebuilding it is high on Cranes list, it is certainly on mine.
Fixated on Varsho? Now I understand fixated as I was fixated on Goldschmidt. But since he wasn't available, I settled on Abreu.
Nobody cares if he hits well enough to satisfy guys on a fan sight. He will catch 80 games for the Astros in 23 and 120 in 24. If Diaz is a +hitter with +power he will be a good DH and possible bench or third catcher. First base is covered for the next few years as is catcher. If uncle Mike comes back Diaz goes back to AAA or is traded.
The Astros are not pumping out stars at this point. However, they are still producing players that matter..... consider that in the last 12 months that Pena, Brown, Hensley and Diaz all have been added. Diaz still needs to prove he belongs, but he will be on the team. Not long ago it looked like the farm dried up and McCormick and Meyers emerged. Now, the Astros are feeling the impact from draft picks lost and the transition between Luhnow and Click.... still there are guys like Lee, Leon, Barber, Gordon and Dirden who could very well give the Astros average or above production for pennies on the dollar. I do like the talent that the Astros have at the very bottom of the system like Kenni Gomez, Luis Baez and Alimber Santa. It is obviously VERY combustible when dealing with players that are 16-18 years old, but the Astros have arguably the best group in baseball. Gomez' body has drastically changed over the last year and a half and his bat speed and pitch recognition are exceptional. Baez had high exit velocities in his first pro season according to scouts and was successful. Alimber is someone that is never talked about but in a year he went from throwing 88-90 mph to consistently throwing 98-100 and even threw 103 MPH fastball his last game of the year. He has a nasty hard secondary pitch that is new and lots of movement.
For what it's worth, we have fallen to tenth in total Tax Cap Estimate with $197.3M. It doesn't hurt to have a little reserve for bargain hunting. Also, if every Astros player was paid their field (FA) value, the top 9 players would take us over the cap.
The issue I have with this is Dusty. He has already said said (and shown) that he isnt willing to develop a C in season. If Lee and Diaz show up in April and completely bust, are we going to ride Maldy into the ground?
Every team produces major leaguers that aren't stars. If the Astros farm was strong enough for trades for guys better than relievers, 2nd division starters, there wouldn't be any trade speculation involving Astros MLB pitchers, and Murphy would be an Astro. Maybe, I'm wrong, and Astros find a way to spin Gilbert and Gomez into Varsho. Maybe the Astros can squeeze just enough value to get a rental at the deadline. However, I expect any significant trades in the near future are going to involve an Astro (or a guy that is almost an Astro having a great year in AAA).
AAA pitchers likely to get innings in 23. F Whitley JP France P Maton R Blanco E Paredes P Mushinski* B Taylor* Non roster players with a chance T Ivey Position Players likely to get innings in 23. J Perez J Matijevic Non roster players with a chance W Wagner D Machado P Leon J Dirden
I wanna see a Alek Thomas for Maton and Meyers trade. Then a Alejandro Kirk and Cavan Biggio for Garcia, Whitley, Perez and Leon
I don’t know man- I think Brown is a star in the making and you could certainly argue that Peña is a potential star if he improves on that rookie season in a reasonable way.
