I don't think tucker is signing here, smart thing is to move him and get some assets. We could have done that in hind sight with Cole, Springer and Correa too but we were making world series runs. Tucker stinks in the playoffs anyway so use him first half of the season then move him. It's too bad we couldn't resign jv outright last year. We could have very well traded tuckers replacement to get jv back
I'm sure fans will be thrilled with a midseason trade of their all-star RF for prospects in the middle of a World Series run.
Tucker's replacement is Luis Baez. He is #2 on my current most valuable prospect list and will be playing in A ball this Spring. Tucker will be allowed to walk like Cole, Springer, & Correa before him because we will be making another run at a world series. We should be getting used to letting great players walk by now. It is part of the Astro's modus operendi and a very real part of the reason for the longstanding success we all enjoy. Thankfully Baez will be up to the job and will have a couple of great outfielders to partner with in the outfield.
That's a bit optimistic. We hope he will be up to it. He's still far enough away with enough rungs to still climb that I'm hopeful but far from certain
The only possible way I see Crane trading Tucker or Framber is if the Astros are riddled with injuries the first half of the season and out of contention by the deadline. Even in that case then they might just move Bregman and not Tucker and/or Framber.
My understanding is that if the Verlander option vests, the Mets will pay a sizable part of it - as that was part of why the Astros agreed to include that young first baseman in the package for Verlander. This year the Mets are paying Verlander $25,000,000 and will pay $17,500,000 in 2025 if Verlander reaches 140 innings. The Astros are only paying Verlander $18,000,000 this year and $17,500,000 next year if he reaches 140 innings. Astros are approaching the situation with the expectation and hope he is an Astro through 2025.
The Astros intend to not trade Bregman or Valdez or Tucker - but to use them until they sign or leave, because of their “window”. The only exception I could see short of the Astros being under .500% is if the Astros decide to sign another player that they think is undervalued in free agency (for example Chapman or Snell) and they then move Bregman or Valdez for assets. However - I don’t anticipate that happening, but they have already dabbled with Chapman a few times.
Baez is a good prospect from all the video I have had sent to me of his at bats and fielding - but he isn’t the talent that Tucker or Alvarez are. He has some holes and weaknesses and is likely to be a flawed big league hitter. He could make some adjustments and if lucky have some seasons like Nelson Cruz or other guys… but he doesn’t stand out like the first time I saw Alvarez hit a baseball or first time I saw Tucker turn his wrists.
It is a great off season thought exercise. Leaving aside the money involved, there is some degradation from Valdez to Montgomery, but it is not significant. Soler on the other hand is a major decrease. His defense is so bad, it basically eliminates any offense production. Additionally, I have serious doubts he can reproduce his offensive achievements from last year. But the real problem as I see it it that I do not think you are going to get 6 top 100 prospects for Valdez and Tucker. I think most likely, you get 4. Now, you might be able to pull a few interesting prospects that are younger and might develop. I also think you would have to prioritize a 3B and an OF, both of which are near MLB ready. That will reduce the return in my opinion. So what hypothetical trades do you think would pull in 6 top prospects?
Scott Boras is Alex Bregman Agent. You never know maybe Dana Brown and Scott Boras are talking in meetings talking about Alex Bregman Contract.
Off the cuff: Tucker to the Reds for SS Noelvi Marte, 3B Cam Collier, and RHP Rhett Lowder Valdez to the Cubs for 2B James Triantos, SP Jordan Wicks, and CF Kevin Alcantara I don’t think they’d need to prioritize any particular position in the return, given they’d be signing immediate replacements and have Dezenzo lined up to potentially replace Bregman.
This isn't Astros related, but its why baseball is the best sport... suspect Camp was his high school shortstop when he wasn't pitching, since his swing is pretty solid.
