Correct. That ship has sailed. I do think Hensley deserves first shot at utility IF next season. The man was on the playoff roster for God's sake.
40 man roster is not the 26 man roster. So if he's not on the 26 he's in the minors (98% chance that happens).
People asked the same thing about Montero. The Astros have the space on the 40, and I don’t think they plan on giving him years to figure it out- he does or he doesn’t figure it out this season or they move on.
@Nook is a Yuli return out of the question at this point? Still interest? My 3 Stros jerseys are Biggio, Bagwell, and…Yuli (they had a half off sale for 2019 WS gear back in the day and you’re not going to not get a $75 Yuli jersey)
I'm ready for some play on the field baseball. In a couple of weeks, we should be getting the first reports on Brantley swinging the bat.
I haven't heard anything recently about Gurriel and the Astros. I know that he was looking for a starting job after the Astros got Abreu, but I am not sure there is one out there for him. The market for "rehab" first basemen is pretty thin because there are still a lot out there. I think the Astros would certainly give him an invite the Spring Training if he goes that route, but the reality is that at his age, being a utility bat isn't likely.
Before anyone attacks me - I certainly don't want this and am not thinking now. I'm thinking 2024 trade deadline or 2024-25 off season. I wonder if the Astros would consider trading Tucker before he hits FA if they KNOW he is not going to accept an extension? As a general rule contending teams don't trade away key players but at some point losing star players for nothing will hurt. IF Tucker is gone anyway and a couple of the (already higher ranked) OF prospects take a big step forward then the haul they could get for him could be huge in extending the window.
As a general rule, you don’t trade away star players during a contending run. So I wouldn’t expect or hope to see Houston trade Kyle Tucker. That said, I always want Houston to listen to offers on any player and if another team is willing to massively overpay then I’m all for it.
Madris has a contract period that already had begun. He has 2 options remaining. He will be in the minors, but his contract status requires him to be on the 40. Similar to a R5 draft pick.
If the bat is good enough for a qualifying offer, you don't lose them for nothing. Tucker is good enough for a qualifying offer. Contenders don't trade away rentals, they trade for rentals.
What would the strict prospect haul be on trading him tomorrow so you think? 1 60, 2 50’s and a couple 40’s? Obviously Jake didn’t become a quasi star and Leon isn’t exploring some super high ceiling right now so it wouldn’t make sense- but if one of those things changed and I thought I could get a catcher of the future, a guy I had high hopes for on the IF and a couple interesting arms I’d not be opposed to exploring that kind of thing. If you are talking about a couple 50’s a couple 40’s and some Jags I’d not be interested.
The QO is a good point. And I know qualifying teams generally don't. I just think it's an interesting thought. Let's say that Gilbert and Melton both have great seasons and pummel high A then AA pitching and actually see AAA in 2023. Then have great years in AAA and even see time in Houston in 2024 and look to be for real. The team could get 2-4 potential impact players in the 2024-25 offseason for Tucker's 1 season of control. That would be better than a draft pick compensation. I also realize it's best case scenario and highly unlikely for Gilbert and Melton.
Today I think 2 top 50 type prospects plus 2-3 other prospects who are rated and better than just JAGs. Tucker has 3 yrs of control and is better than Pence who had 1 1/2 yrs of control left when the Astros traded him to Philly. Astros got Singleton who BA had 39th and Cosart who they had 70th along with prospect Josh Zied and PTBNL = Domingo Santana For a lesser player with half the control. Still, I'm not considering now - I'm thinking 1 q/2 years or longer from now. Edit: I just saw an old SBNation article from January 2011 that had Singleton #2, Cosart #4, Santana #8, and Zied #13 in the Phillies system. BA had Singleton #2, Cosart #4, Santana #9, Zied #23.
The fact that we will be World series contenders in Tucker's last year, there is no way we will trade him as a rental since we need him and have him potentially help a team beat us. Only teams that are contending would be interested in him.
I am pretty sure the Astros will still be contenders. But it's not a guarantee- Brantley, Altuve, Bregman. and Maldonado will be FA prior to then and Abreu will be 38 yrs old. Worst case scenario could result in a down season.
