Best steak I've had is in the basement of Harrah's in Reno. Cant remember the name of the steakhouse.
Fixing the roster - position players part 1 The Astros have 4 of 9 positions locked in without any question marks heading into 2025. Catcher, 2b, RF, and DH. The other 5 all have warts. to complicate things, they have a very limited budget to fill these holes. part 1: First base: Singleton is who he is at this point. He isn't a 30hr/100rbi guy. Even vs RHP, his ISO was 28th out of 57 1b w/ at least 100 PAs. But only 8 of those guys had a better wRC+. That means 2 things: 1) he must hit in the bottom 1/3 of the order and 2) There really aren't many options better vs RHP which is 70% of the league. So, considering this, and the budget, the best option is to identify a veteran who mashes LHP. He should get a shorter, cheaper contract because there is no reason giving a long, big guarantee to a guy who will likely be your 2nd best player at that position vs 70% of the league. Singleton (.457 vs LHP / .773 vs RHP) The following players are potentially available and had at least a .750 OPS vs LHP. (2024 OPS vs LHP/RHP) Yandy Diaz (.923 /.706) C. Santana (.934 /.676) R. Mountcastle (.813 / .701) N.Lowe (.796 /.751 ) D Solano (.811 /.726 ) P.Alonso (.803 /.784) M.Canha (.774 /.657) J Turner (.758 /.729) A.Vaughn (.772 /.674) R.Hoskins (.778 /.703) C.Walker (.756 / .822) 11 options: 2= Alonso and Walker are FA who will require an extensive guaranteed contract. Since the purpose of this exercise is to build the roster into a contending one, but cheaply, I will pass. 4= Diaz, Mountcastle, Vaughn, and Lowe all have 2 years of control remaining and would require giving up enough prospect value that it should not be a primary option. That leaves 5 reasonable options: Santana= 2025 will be his age 39 season, but he played 150g and had nearly 600 PAs at a better than average clip (114 wRC+ and 3.0 fWAR). He plays exceptional defense too. He is exactly who Yainer Diaz should be in 10 years; he would be an excellent mentor. Spotrac has his market value at 1yr and $5.6M. Solano= Primarily a 2b who played more 3b and now 1b as he ages, 2025 will be Solano's age 37 season. He can still play 3b which is also a benefit, but he is a very small target at 1b which does not bode well for Altuve, Pena, and whomever plays 3b throwing. Spotrac does not list his market value but he played on a 1yr/$1M contract in 2024. Canha= 2025 will be his age 36 season. He still takes lots of pitches and plays a credible corner outfield as well as first, but he is better suited to 100g or less at this point in his career. Spotrac has his market value at 1yr/ $2.5M Turner= Going into his age 40 season, Turner has only played 13 games at 3b over the past 2 seasons. He has clearly aged into a 1b/DH player and is no longer the MVP level hitter he was in his prime, but brings great experience and should be an acceptable upgrade vs LHP. Spotrac has his market value as 1yr/ $7.7M Hoskins= Rys will be 32, has been a fulltime starter every season of his career, and was returning from a major injury last year, so likely is hoping for a bounce back in 2025. That is good for signing him short term but if thats the case he will probably just not opt out and play on his $18M final year. Even if he does opt out, he will want an everyday opportunity. Spotrac has his market Value at 3yrs/$35M. I would prioritize: Santana Canha Turner Solano Any of those guys should fit in and make a solid platoon partner w/ Singleton in the #7 spot in the order for under $8M. I would probably look elsewhere before Hoskins.
Fixing the roster - position players part 2 The Astros have 4 of 9 positions locked in without any question marks heading into 2025. Catcher, 2b, RF, and DH. The other 5 all have warts. to complicate things, they have a very limited budget to fill these holes. part 2: Third base: Unlike 1b, the Astros currently have no realistic options at 3b. If the season were to start today, it would be some combination of Dubon, Dezenzo, Whitcomb, and Kessinger. YIKES ! Dubon is a proven MLBer, but is not suited for a starting spot, especially at a position that requires offense. Besides, giving him that spot creates a different hole backing up everyone else. Dezenzo is probably the most complete but really could use more time in AAA. At the very least, he is likely to have a slow adjustment and poor first half. Whitcomb has no glove and Kessinger has no bat. So what players could possibly be available who could be a regular starter and an improvement over Dezenzo? Dezenzo: 2024=.648 OPS in 65 PAs. 2025= .657 OPS projected by ZIPS. If the Astros fill the 1b spot with a #7 hitter like I suggested in my last post, whoever is at 3b, will need to be able to fit in the middle of the lineup. This means an RBI first guy who is projected to be at very least 10% above MLB average, which is likely .725 or better OPS. 44 players played at least 40 games at 3b last year, so it's necessary to reduce that before we get started. Chapman, McMahon, Devers, J Ortiz, Paredes, Ramirez, M.Garcia, Riley, Vientos, Machado, Smith, Miranda, Morel, Westburg, and Jung will either not be available or not cost effective to obtain. That leaves 29. Rojas, Urshella, Hayes, Clement, Urias, Rivera, K.Hernandez, O.Cabrera, Español, Triolos, Lipscomb, Senzel, Toro, Sosa, Kiner-Falefa, and Rengifo don't supply middle of the order run production. That leaves 13. N.Marte= Still huge potential = too expensive. Muncy = $12M for 2025 so unlikely to be traded. Rendon= owed $38M 25 and 26 TERRIBLE! Lewis= still very affordable for Twins ($2M est.) Vierling= better suited OF and valuable to Det. Chisholm = Just a dick w/ Yankee stank on him. That leaves 7 + I'm going to add Moncada who was hurt but talent level fits the need and will be a FA. Moncada= Talented Cuban will be 30 and looking to rebound from a lost season. 25 hr/80rbi talent w/ solid defense. .757 OPS in only 45 PAs in 2024 is also career number. ZIPS projects .726 in 2025. Spotrac market value is 1yr /$1.5M. Suarez= Dependible but K prone veteran will be 33 in 2025. Arizona holds a $15M club option they could decline,or possibly pick up and trade. .788 OPS in 2024 w/ his 5th 30 hr and 3rd 100 rbi season. ZIPS projects .702 in 2025. Spotrac market value is 2yrs/$25M. Arenado= will be 34 and coming off worst full (non-COVID) season of career. Owed $21.3 AAV for 3 more seasons and full no trade rights. Cards are looking to rebuild. 10 time gold glove winner w/ 7 30hr and 7 100 rbi seasons on resume. .719 OPS in 2024 and .857 for career. ZIPS projects .760 for 2025. Bregman= We know all about Alex. Had .768 OPS in 2024 and .848 career. ZIPS projects .803 in 2025. Matt Chapman's 6yr/$150M contract is his floor, eventhough Spotrac has his market value at 4/$120M. Bohm= entering his age 28 season and coming off first All Star season, he won't he cheap. 2 years of arb left w/ $7.5M est. for 2025. He got off to huge start in 2024 but regressed to .779 OPS due to .681 second half. ZIPS projects .733 for 2025. Phillies may be looking to move on from his iffy glove and only slightly better than average production. Burger= Entering his age 29 season and still 4 years if control left. Estimated to make $2.3M in first year if arb as a super 2. Is a butcher at 3b but can flat out hit. .760 OPS in 2024. ZIPS projects. 789 which is his career number. Candelario= Entering age 31 season w/ 2 yrs/$30M left on his deal. Reds are totally in flux and may want to move him due to a down year and glut of young infielders. .707 OPS in 2024 but has .735 career mark and a ZIPS projection of .802 for 2025. Baty= 25 and former top prospect (#21 overall in 2023) has had 2 seasons going back and forth between AAA and MLB. With Vientos winning the 3b job and Baty left off the playoff roster, there are rumors all over that he will be traded this off season. He still has 4 Years of control, including 1 pre-arb. His .633 OPS in 2024 was 18% below MLB average, but an improvement over .598 in 2023 which was 34% below. ZIPS projects him for .724 and he looks to be on the upswing. Bregman is my hope, and if the Astros fill 1b for under $8M they can afford him. But if not. . . My opinion, in order based on production, fit, and cost. 1) Baty 2) Moncada 3) Suarez 4) Arenado 5) Candelario 6) Burger 7) Bohm
Elon Musk pays well and expects hard work - no problem with that, Ethical? Yeah I don't agree with him being ethical - but lots of business people are unethical. Tilman Fertitta pays **** and treats his employees like **** - part of that is the industry he is in. He does love Houston, and that is night.
Trying to figure out why he isn't treated like one of the three best pitchers in baseball history -- and yes I am serious.
All this nonsense talk about the Astros addressing catcher in 2025 needs to stop. They have big holes at 1st, 3rd, LF and CF........ those are the priorities, not catcher.
