https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/2023-non-tender-candidates.html Will be interesting to see who gets non-tendered. Theres some guys in there who are potential Astros trade targets or targets for potential minor league invites or cheap 1 year deals: C: Higashioka, Kelly, Maguire, Stubbs, Nola, Stallings OF: Smith, Senzel, Grisham, Andujar, Baddoo, Brown, Joe, Lewis, Meadows, Vogelbach SP: Soroka RP: Gott, Karinchak, Akin, Mantiply
He hits right handed pitching and is a solid fielder. He is a perfect fit for the Astros that have a lot of guys that punish lefties like McCormick and Meyers. His power is legitimate against righties for his career and his OPS+ is like 135 against them.
He played 124 games in the OF this season, most of that split between CF and RF. He’s legit a good defensive player. He’s not the stud he looked like in 2019-2020 but he’s a solidly above average hitter who can handle CF and RF, and he complements Meyers. Who knows what the Giants would want for him or if he’s even available but he’s probably a better fit than any available free agent outside of Bellinger who will be way out of Houston’s price range.
Agree with this. I would love to see: Vs LHP: Chas (177) Meyers (119) Tucker (154) Vs RHP Chas (114), Yaz (126) Tucker (132) The other options for LF/CF vs RHP are: Julks (85), Dubon (84), and Meyers (78) And that's why this team needs a LF or CF that can hit RHP.
It's hard for me to make any predictions about this offseason. Even your 3 moves you suggested put the Astros luxury tax payroll north of 250 million. That's just so much higher than Crane has ever gone. Just hoping Crane doesn't go cheap. This team doesn't have massive needs to be right back in the World Series next year.
The Astros need a bat to start vs RHP and basically only have LF or CF or covering starters days off. I looked at Fangraphs and 159 hitters had 100+ PA vs RHP and 105 or better wRC+. First, I took out the obvious star players (Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuna Jr, etc) that have no chance of changing teams. Then I took out any player who can't play and OF spot unless they project to be a platoon under 100 games player. Then I took out players who are in situations where their team needs them and will not trade them. Then I took out players who have so much value that the Astros simply don't have the resources to afford them. That left 42 players. 29 are on other teams and 13 are free agents. Not all of them would be a fit for a variety of reasons, but it's a start. LAA: Moniak, Drury SF: Yastrzemski, Wade Oak: Bledsoe, Noda, Rocker ChC: Tuchman, Wisdom KC: Velazquez NYM: Stewart, Vogelback Cin : Benson, Fraley Min: Kiriloff, Kepler, Castro, Larnach TB: B.Lowe, H. Ramirez Bal: O'Hearn, Santander, Hays Mia: Sanchez, Soler ChW: Vaughn Bos: Verdugo Was: Garrett Sea: Ford FA: DuVall, Bellinger, Keirmeier, Heyward, McCutchen, Conforto, Pham, W. Calhoun, Gallo, Belt, J D. Martinez, D.Solano, Pederson.
That book came out before he even took his first MLB at bat with all the data/analytics teams have available to them. And yeah it’s pretty ridiculous to use his performance in the playoffs against him given he didn’t even start a game.
Disappearing in the playoffs? He didn’t even get a single start. This might be the dumbest post I’ve seen this offseason. Trying to come to with some narrative he only hit because Dusty managed him perfectly is hilarious. By the way, he had a higher OPS against teams above .500 than he did against teams below. Generally that means the pitching is better…
What gets me is guys on this MB are looking at Diaz regressing. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but obviously Diaz has real talent and I think he's shown the work ethic that makes it likely that he improves not regresses.
I’m president and founding member of the Yainer Diaz fan club. He’s going into his second year. He doesn’t walk. 23 HR seems abnormally high. He’s not going to continue to hit like an MVP candidate every time he catches (I don’t think anyway). Bet on an 800 ops next year, him being 15-25% above average, and be happy if he outperforms that.
