I am not saying that Bagwell is some savant - but the Astros were keeping Montero with or without Click… same with Abreu. The negotiating etc. was already well underway when Click was still present and Click wanted Abreu or That former Pirate. Bagwell has said some things I don’t agree with, but those two moves were happening. Maybe Click would have already gotten more bullpen help or maybe he would have called up France earlier…. IDK. If I had a rebuilding team, I would call Click… he is qualified as a good GM… Sometimes **** just happens. A signing doesn’t work out… players get hurt etc… Right now I’m curious to see what Brown can pull off. From what I have heard he has been very active - but it comes down to who he gets and how well they perform. If the Astros get healthy and he adds a couple relievers - the Astros may go on a run, they have the horses when healthy.
And the year after that. He still has two arbitration years left. He's not signing a long-term deal without testing free agency.
Not a free agent for 2 more years… but people have been obsessing about his extension or him leaving here for the last 1.5 years, so it feels like this is a FA year for him.
They could also pay him what he would get in FA… now…. And he doesn’t have to worry about a freak injury. The Braves were able to extend guys. Other teams have done it too. It is possible, but there are no “discounts” in the extension game, just exclusive negotiating rights.
I agree Montero was coming back, and I was a fan of that. The question is for how much and how long. We are below the luxury tax thresholds from my understanding, but having more maneuverability to get a Eovaldi or some depth would have helped... perhaps at a utility level because Grae, Bligh, Hensley have all been bad.
