Sanchez as a backup catcher? Gary Sánchez, C/DH Age: 30 Bats: Right Throws: Right WAR: 0.9 Sánchez provides raw power at the plate and a strong arm behind the dish. He’s below-average defensively and allows too many wild pitches and passed balls. However, he has hit 154 home runs in his eight-year career and made two All-Star teams. He’d be a solid fit as a No. 2 catcher and part-time DH matched up against certain pitchers. Best fits: Giants, Red Sox, Astros, Diamondbacks
That would be a fun add. It would make Dusty happy. If the Astros still have money to spend, he might be the best FA left for them if he is willing to sign a reasonable deal. Caveat: This assumes a SP isn't willing to be used as a long man and wait for 2 injuries before getting time as a starter and one of the better position prospects isn't willing to sign knowing he's likely a backup.
We're moving into Arbitration Season. Other activity may still occur, but the bulk of the news will be about Arbitration avoidance and submittals. If extensions involving arbitration years are made, this is the season.
It's good that you can, lol. Let's just enjoy 3 more years. Because unless the Astros are willing to pay $30+M per FA year and high value for arb seasons I don't see him signing an extension. 6 / $130 may get it done but that's not much value to the Astros except the extra 3 years. He may have agreed to 8 / $120 ( maybe less with the lower overall prices then) 2 years ago before his first 30HR season but not now. But he would have counted as $15M (not less than $1M) towards CBT. That's the price a team pays for being safe and waiting for a player to prove himself and having to pay for other established players while staying under the CBT. I think he is decided to test free agency now.
Oh there’s no doubt that he’s gone in FA. Absolutely none. If they let the no bonus, never made any money Latin pitchers predisposed to sign an extension to guarantee wealth get away that will be a crime. Tuckers just going to walk. That’s what the VAST majority of the bonus baby all stars before arbitration borderline superstar American players do. Which in that category ever signed a deal early? Evan Longoria? Because the list that didn’t extend is as long and distinguished as my johnson.
Ryan Braun is another. I think the Latin players are much more likely to do it, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that the American born players would do it as well. The Latin players are likely thinking about pulling an entire family out of poverty and changing the lives of maybe dozens of people when most American players probably aren't faced with those same pressures.
Wanted guaranteed innings and a certain number of starts and didn't think he would get that in Houston.
It is not unreasonable for those who have lacked necessities to value security more than those who have not. In my opinion, they are the financially astute ones. Not those who take the gamble to maximize every last dollar. But that's just my mindset, being risk averse unless it very well thought out.
If he does, it will be because of injury. That is the case for the vast majority of the Astros pen.... the stuff overall in the pen is very good. The Astros have some depth in the minors which will help as well. Pens are up and down from year to year so its hard to say.
I just read this MLB.com article. https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-options-for-utility-players-2023 I really don't want a veteran unless the prospects fail to be serviceable. If they aren't, then look fro the veteran. You need to keep the pipeline open on both ends or you get a BOMB.
The Astros could buy out his remaining arb season with a generous valuation ... more as a thank you for your services than anything else. Unsure if that is done much if at all. Likewise, the Astros could add an additional year to the above offer at $50 million or some such.
Giancarlo Stanton Austin Riley Mike Trout Troy Tulotwitzki Chrisitan Yelich Joey Votto (though he is Canadian I believe) Freddie Freeman
Bregman still had 1 year at minimum wage left- which- imo- was the year to get the deal done with Tucker if it was ever going to get done. He's guaranteed another 6 or 7 on top of the 5 or 6 he already got as a signing bonus- he's probably already in "more or less set for life" territory there. The real hammer you have with the American guys is the idea that if they get injured they will have to go to work someday teaching high school and coaching baseball or something like that (which is what my buddy that made it to the bigs without the big signing bonus and that didn't get to arbitration ended up doing). Tucker is now past that point with his signing bonus and guarantee at arb- so it will cost a LOT more to sign him. My friend now is coaching at a high major team in D1 which would have never happened without his 2.5 years in the majors, but that's more or less all he got out of his career playing in the majors. He made 1.2 million in his 20's which is cool and all, but also about the same amount of money that Lawyers, doctors etc made- only he had no payday. It was literally like enough for a decent downpayment on his townhome in the pretty expensive city where he lived and that was it. His wife still taught school the whole time he was playing baseball (minimum salary was more like 400k then) b/c they knew he wasn't destined to ever hit it big. That's not the deal now for Tucker, obviously. He's reasonable person set for life if he doesn't play one inning beyond 2023. Where is the leverage for Houston? There is none. They had a bit of leverage over Bregman when he signed- and they bought out his non arbitration years at 30M a year- which was a BIG number at that that time. That number isn't as big now.
