From everything I've read, the TV revenue issue is real. TV in general is an issue across the board. You know a lot of these owners are talking about this among themselves. This is why we are seeing more trades for pitching. I think once Cease is traded, you will see more pitchers signed. I am holding out hope that someone falls under the radar that Houston is willing to sign. I don't think there is a lot of money out there that teams are willing to spend right now.
The Hot Stove has come to a grinding halt. No one is spending money right now. Look for the MLBPA to sue again claiming collusion.
There are a lot of good guys still on the SP market. Not any 1-2s, but plenty of guys with good MLB experience that could upgrade the Astros rotation at the back end.
That is exactly what I am hoping for. I know Brian McTaggart has hinted about Houston possibly trading Jose Urquidy. I think it's foolish to count on McCullers and to a lesser extent Garcia. They might be ready to go in July, but you have no idea what you're getting at this point. They are going to have to find 100 plus inning to cover in the bullpen with the losses of Maton, Neris, and Stanek. I can see why no one has gone out and signed Bellinger and Snell just yet. Cody had a great 2023, but outside of that... he has been one of the most inconsistent players out there. Snell had two great years where he won two cy-youngs, but he has also had his issues in between winning those awards. Snell is going to get paid regardless. He apparently wants to pitch for the Yankees.
I actually think that the best option for 2024 is to trade Dubon for a bonafide MLB piece. Either a young established RP or bench/platoon player who can help this team. His value will never be higher. His glove and contact ability are his only real MLB skills. His lack of power and taking pitches/walks along with just average speed/baserunning keeps his ceiling very low (even if floor is high). I think Pedro Leon would be able to fill his spot even if he does strikeout more than we would like. With Kessinger on the roster a 2B,SS, 3B isn't needed but he can play them in an emergency and has a much higher ceiling. He is 26 and has over 1100 AAA PAs so it's time to see if he can hack it but there is no place for him with both Dubon and Kessinger on this team. Cots Contracts (baseball prospectus) estimates $3.4M over the CBT. According to the Athletic article announcing Caratini signing, Roster Resource estimates them $0.4M over and Spotrac has them just barely higher also at $0.4M over. According to all the prognosticators the estimate them to be currently over the CBT but close enough they can get under it with a move or two if that is the priority.
Nobody that would be enough of an upgrade to justify the FA contract. France and Urquidy are perfectly fine BOR arms. This team needs a TOR arm or just save the money.
I will be surprised if two of Dubon, Kessinger, & Urquidy are not traded before Spring training. A return of a low priced reliever that leaves us under the CBT, and a high ceiling low A prospect would be all it would take to make me and Crane happy.
Per Fangraphs: Cronin is a pitch data fave with a 93-94 mph heater that features tail and uphill plane, and his slider has plus raw spin. He had huge ground ball rate and allowed basically no fly balls (but they left the yard when he did) but every thing else was bad in 11 IP in MLB debut last year He is basically an older "stuff" guy who has not harnessed control or command and is not seen as a real prospect.
Sounds like adding another arm to the bucket of AAA/AAAA pitchers and hoping a couple stick because we won't spend the money for a legit reliever.
This is fine as a strategy. We only really need one leverage guy and not even that if Graveman or Montero is good. If nobody in that bucket sticks trade at the deadline.
Cronin only throws like 94 but has the movement and spin Houston likes. He must induce lots of weak contact because he hasn’t really struck guys out in the minors and he’s not a control guy because his walk rates haven’t been that good either. But he almost never gives up home runs and gets tons of ground balls.
List is up to 10 AAAA arms on the 40 man (not including Whitley since I still consider him a prospect): Dylan Coleman Shawn Dubin Seth Martinez Matt Gage Bennett Sousa Brandon Bielak Oliver Ortega Declan Cronin Ronel Blanco Parker Mushinski Plus 3 more not on the 40 man in Brailyn Marquez, Wander Suero, and Tayler Scott. Bielak is the only one who is out of options. Its a plethora of AAAA arms.
Was this mentioned? Joel Kuhnel was the guy getting designated for assignment to make room for the new guy.
