I assume that the ranking includes a rookie 3B. The four worse positions in order: 3B: 27th 1B: 25th CF: 20th SS: 19th Am I reading this right?
He looked pretty good making a play in RF when he broke his leg making a great catch. He's already got the 2nd best arm in the OF. He can play an avg to slightly above avg LF, particularly in MMP.
He can hit much better than Heyward though and there's not that much difference in their defense IMHO.
Gamel has a career wRC+ of 96 and hadn't been above 99 since 2018 before 2024. He is a career AAAA player who has played 122 games in AAA and only 44 in MLB the past 2 years.
I think 2023 would have turned out very differently if we signed him the first time around like we should have.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-top-50-mlb-free-agents/ I think there’s gonna be good value in the SP market, just depends on picking the right guy. Crowdsourced contract estimates I think would be good values for Houston: Bregman $160M/6yr (I expect him to get more) Fried $125M/5yr (I expect him to get more) Flaherty $88M/4yr Kikuchi $54M/3yr Walker $54M/3yr Profar $45M/3yr Buehler $15M/1yr (I expect him to get more) Pivetta $45M/3yr Scherzer $18M/1yr Morton $14M/1yr Verlander $15M/1yr Heaney $25M/2yr Montas $26M/2yr Cobb $10M/1yr Santana $7M/1yr Jansen $16M/2yr Conforto $12M/1yr Turner $8M/1yr
The thing with being a FA is you can choose where you play (among teams that want you) Houston never plays in the deep end of the pool unless other teams are there too. I know money talks, but by all accounts there is bad blood between Eovaldi and the Astros. He won't choose here unless it's far and away his best offer.
You think Conforto gets that much? I've seen him in the 7-10 mil range. I would keep Bregs at that number, sign Walker and trade for Robert. I would accomplish this by trading Framber for a couple of top prospects. One pitcher and one position player.
One 40 man roster spot must still be cleared. Release or trade Hummel, Leon? I do not believe McCullers ever pitches for the Astros again. I would trade him for a dirty pair of socks if I could.
Only 27. Has had limited time in the majors but has been an average hitter against RHP. Might make a good platoon partner for Meyers or McCormick.
I think it’s actually several 40 man roster spots that need to be cleared… as everyone from the 60 day IL has to be reinstated here soon
