20 games at 3B in the minors, last played the position in 2018. Limpest of noodle arms. What could go wrong? Torres can play 3B about as well as Altuve could.
MLTR suggested this and if he's willing to play 3B and Bregs wants to move on I would bring him in. Where did you see he doesn't want to play 3B?
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...chisholm-jr-open-3b-gleyber-torres-balks-move This article had a quote where he made it seem like he would reluctantly play 3B if he had to. Another article had a quote which said Torres doesn't like play 3B and the reason he did in the minors was to make it to the MLB faster.
In: Christian Walker, Brandon Lowe, Gio Urshela, Luis Robert Jr., Yusei Kikuchi Out: $110M, Chas McCormick, Victor Caratini, Miguel Ullola, Luis Baez, Jacob Melton, Forrest Whitley, Ryan Pressly, Pedro Leon, Seth Martinez, Jose Urquidy, Bennett Sousa Roster: 2B Altuve LF Lowe DH Alvarez RF Tucker 1B Walker C Diaz CF Robert 3B Urshela SS Pena Bench: Dubon, Salazar, Singleton, Meyers Rotation: Framber, Kikuchi, Brown, Blanco, Garcia, Arrighetti Bullpen: Hader, Abreu, Ort, Scott, King, Dubin, Montero/McCullers IL: Javier Optioned: Cabbage, Corona, Dezenzo, Whitcomb, Gusto, France, Gordon, Murfee, Ortega, Contreras, Hernandez, Santos II
In an MLBTR article, I read that Stearns says the Mets need multiple SP this offseason. I would trade Framber to them for Brett Baty, Jett Williams (#52), and Carson Benge (#99). Last year Burnes return was : #63 ( at time of trade) and #97 ( final 2023 rank - could not find rank at time of trade) prospects and the 34th overall pick in the 2024 draft. The #52, #99, and a former prospect coming off 2 disappointing seasons to start his MLB career feels fair to me. (Save $17-18M) Astros flip Williams, Jacob Melton, Miguel Ullola, and A.J. Blubaugh (and maybe another lottery ticket type pitching prospect if needed) to Chicago for Luis Robert. ($15M in 2025) Astros use the money they save from trading Framber to sign Kikuchi. (3yrs- $18M AAV) Pressly and Meyers are traded for whatever prospect value they can bring back. (save $16M) Sign Carlos Santana to platoon at 1b w/ Singleton (1 yr/$7M) Trade Victor Caratini, Zach Cole, and Jose Fleury for to Tampa Bay for Brandon Lowe ( +4.5M in 2025) 3b= Baty and Dezenzo compete/platoon. Altuve - 2b Alvarez - DH Tucker - RF Robert - CF Lowe - LF Diaz - C Singleton/ Santana - 1b Baty/ Dezenzo - 3b Pena - SS Payroll goes up by about $11M SP: Brown, Kikuchi, Blanco, Garcia, Arrighetti, McCullers, Javier) France. Still far enough under 2nd CBT to spend $10M on another SP and save money for the trade deadline.
Torres was one of the names mentioned. Not sure what his actual cost will be… he has some upside and at the right cost I am fine with it. He had the reputation of being less than focused early in his career but not sure about now. The Astros can add one guy with the personality of Robert. I would like it but not sure what Sox are asking for now. I like Lowe as well. There aren’t a ton of guys out there but more than most fans think - that can do the job for the Astros. I expect the Astros to get creative and either a starting pitcher OR bat to come via trade and then them to sign another key piece.
They were going to move him there (Yankees) a few years ago and he talked them out of it. I am fine signing Torres at the right price but he isn’t a starting third baseman. He can spell other spots or start at other spots.
If Houston goes after Gleyber Torres it should be as a LF who can play IF in a pinch. I don’t really see him as viable as an everyday 3B.
One thing I am seeing consistently in all our hypothetical offseasons is that assuming Crane is willing to go to the 2nd threshold, there is plenty of reason to think Houston should have a stacked roster. They can’t afford anymore Abreu/Montero style whiffs on free agents but if they make the right moves they should field one of the 3-4 best teams in the AL.
I'm aware he's been in sugar land most of the year. I wasn't aware his ceiling was so high... Why waste money on Caratini if Salazar can hit big league pitching?
Spoiler https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/58...e-agents-2024-contract-team-predictions-soto/ 7. Alex Bregman, 3B Age: 30 B: R T: R HT: 6-0 WT: 190 2024 (Astros) 4.1 WAR Career: 39.6 WAR Agent: Boras Corporation 2024 salary: $20 million Alex Bregman would love to finish his career as an Astro, but will the organization do enough to keep him? Houston has a history in free agency of saying goodbye to its star players such as Carlos Correa and George Springer, who both departed when the Astros weren’t willing to commit to the long-term contracts they could land elsewhere. Bregman is a proven leader with elite skills in not chasing out of the strike zone. He has all the intangibles that winning organizations want. His market range is well-defined — somewhere between what the Giants gave Matt Chapman last month and Nolan Arenado’s contract with the Rockies/Cardinals. Astros general manager Dana Brown has said the team will make Bregman an offer, but will it be close to how the rest of the industry views him? Best team fits: Astros, Yankees, Nationals, Mariners, Tigers Salary comps: Matt Chapman (6 years, $151M); Nolan Arenado (8 years, $260M); Xander Bogaerts (11 years, $280M) Contract prediction: 7 years, $185.5 million 13. Christian Walker, 1B Age: 33 B: R T: R HT: 6-0 WT: 208 2024 (Diamondbacks): 2.6 Career: 15.1 WAR Agent: Martini Sports Management 2024 salary: $10.9 millionC Christian Walker is one of the best first basemen in the sport. Despite his years of production, he’s never made an All-Star team and I thought he was the biggest All-Star snub this summer. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner is in line to win his third after leading NL first basemen in outs above average. Despite missing more than a month with an oblique injury, he finished the season with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs in 130 games. It was the third year in a row he’s hit at least 25 bombs posted an OPS+ over 120. Several teams have early interest in Walker, with the Astros and Mariners being the best early team fits. Best team fits: Astros, Mariners, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Mets Salary comps: Paul Goldschmidt (5 years, $130M); Anthony Rizzo (2 years, $40M) Contract prediction: 3 years, $72 million 30. Yusei Kikuchi, LHP Age: 33 HT: 6-0 WT: 210 2024 (Blue Jays, Astros): 1.4 WAR Career: 4.1 Agent: Boras Corporation 2024 salary: $10 million Yusei Kikuchi was 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA over 22 starts with the Blue Jays, who dealt him to Houston at the trade deadline. The Astros quickly changed his pitch sequencing and usage and the results were astounding — he went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 3.07 FIP over 10 starts (60 innings). Kikuchi would be smart to re-sign with the Astros and the feeling should be mutual based on his results and the prospect package they traded to land him. Salary comps: Chris Bassitt (3 years, $63.3 million; Miles Mikolas (3 years $55.75M); Seth Lugo (3 years; $45M); Tyler Anderson (3 years; $39M); Nathan Eovaldi (2 years, $34M) Best team fits: Astros, Orioles, Tigers, Twins Contract prediction: 3 years, $42 million
I think the most realistic contract Bregman might sign with Houston is $150M/6yrs with a 7th year vesting player option at something like $35M that vests at like 400pa. That gets Houston a slight hometown discount, keeps Crane from giving out more than 6 guaranteed years, and gets Bregman very very close to what he could get on the open market. But that would need to happen sometime in the next 3 weeks.
Crane has been very vocal about contending every year as long as he's the owner. The way the season went, Crane and the organization must have learned 5 things, if they didn't already know. 1) Don't count on a player coming back from injury until he is already back 2) Pitching is expensive and fragile but necessary. 3) You are never out of any race in April, or May, or July. . . 4) Players get more expensive at the deadline. 5)Don't underestimate the capacity of the Mariners, Angels, or Rangers to suck/collapse. As it sits, this team is too close to the 1st CBT to avoid it. This roster has holes that require spending to some level. The difference in penalties between the 1st and 2nd CBT are reasonable. The real penalties kick in at 3rd CBT ( and 2nd+ season above, but again that can't be helped)
Number 5 is loser talk. Never wait for, or assume that, a team ahead of you will collapse. number 3 is loser talk too. You can definitely be out of a race in July. This goes back to expecting another team to collapse. It also discourages a sense of urgency in the 1st half of the season that may be hard to switch on later. It’s not ideal to have to go on a long 3 month stretch, as the hottest team in baseball, just to get to 88 wins (in a **** show division) while also cooling off down the stretch. sorry I must have forgot to quote
I actually feel the exact opposite. To me, those 2 are specifically about giving the team a reason to continue trying. So you are saying the team should just pack it in half way through the season because either they feel they are too far behind, or that the division rivals are too good to stumble and come back to them?
