I also like these guys quite a bit from what I've read. So the Stros have a solid top 10 that matchup well with most teams top 10. Ullola Gomez Fluery Gordon
I think the biggest issue is that Brown still thinks the top 4-5 position prospects will be very good. He views Whitcomb and Dezenzo as corner outfielders who have MLB level bats. He views Melton as the CF of the future. Cam Smith is going to need a place to play in 2026-2027 and that is a corner OF spot with Walker, Paredes, and Alvarez on the team. Luis Baez has a serious bat and may need a place to play by 2026-27. There are still doubts Matthews can stay in the infield and if Melton ( or Cole) doesn't claim CF he may. Obviously all of these guys, probably not even half, make it. But signing a corner OF to more than 2 years blocks 1 of the 2 spots. Brown and the Astros would love at least two of these guys to win starting spots. With Santander in the fold there is less opportunity for that. That's why I think they are better off trading for a guy with 1-2 years of control. Or giving Profarva 2 year deal. I still like Brandon Lowe in LF and insurance for Altuve. Then let the youngsters work and get some MLB experience in RF
I want to see an honest competition in Spring training for outfielders without any more off season signings. The competitors for right field being McCormick, Corona, and Smith*. My favorite is Smith. Initially he appears to be the least likely but I believe Brown will go to him either to begin the season or shortly thereafter. The competitors for center field being Meyers, Melton*, and Leon. Meyers defense and experience in center puts him over the top for me. The competitors for left field being Gonzalez*, Cole*, and Trammell. I like Cole but without seeing Gonzalez or Trammell play I can't pick a starter. The competitors for the bench players should include the best center fielders or left handers not already selected as starters. After all this there is plenty of time before the deadline to pick up someone to fill in.
That’s a fun outfield competition for a team that would be expecting to go 75-87. And bonus, you wouldn’t have to worry about deadline trades when you are out of competition by the deadline. Unfortunately, it’s not a competitive outfield for a team that wants to make the playoffs. This team is still missing at least one legit bat.
Look at how "deep" Cleveland and the Yankees were and tell me our offense isn't competitive. The holes all being in the outfield is insignificant.
Astros are projected to have the 3rd best offense in the AL, behind the Orioles and Yankees, just above the Rangers. Let’s see how they stack up by wOBA by position (Astros, Orioles, Yankees): C Diaz .333/Ruschman .336/Wells .317 1B Walker .339/Mountcastle .324/Goldschmidt .328 2B Altuve .333/Holliday .315/Chisholm .327 SS Pena .315/Henderson .374/Volpe .309 3B Paredes .342/Westburg .333/DLM .304 LF Trammell .299/O’Neill .323/Dominguez .324 CF Meyers .301/Mullins .313/Bellinger .325 RF McCormick .309/Cowser .328/Judge .407 DH Alvarez .406/O’Hearn .330/Stanton .331 Houston needs to add one OF bat that projects to post a >.320 wOBA in a full time role. They do that they’ll be on par with any offense in the AL.
The Yankees offense was worth 30 WAR in 2024. It helps when you have two guys who contribute 18+ between them.
I remember when the Mets though they had an all Star rotation with Jones, Pulsipher, Wilson and Isringhausen. Rangers, too with DVD, Danks, Volquez and Diamond. We can't be depending on an outfield of prospects I. Which none of them really are even considered elite prospects. I could see if we had Springer, Tucker and Melton as prospects, sure ..can probably depend on hitting on one or two. We need one more dependable guy to set the floor of how bad our outfield can be
I agree with this. I do want and expect plenty of OF starts given to rookies this year, but there has to be at least 1 more cog. Add a guy like Lowe, Santander, Profar, Mullins, one of the Arizona or Boston guys, etc. Then you have 7 positions set and half a dozen guys jigsaw puzzling through 2 positions instead of 3. You can't expect to win with an outfield rotation of Meyers, McCormick, Dubon, and half a dozen prospects who project to be below MLB average.
Even with the OF the way it is now, I would be fine if they traded away either Meyers or Chas. They are too similar offensively with weaknesses (hitting RHP and throwing) that are a terrible match for the Astros' needs. Find a guy who can play CF and hit RHP. Ideally he's a guy like Robert or McCarthy who plays most everyday and the remaining Jake or Chas is just insurance and starts vs a tough LHP occasionally, but it could also be a guy like Mullins who can't hit LHP. In that case a platoon is a solid option. Bring in another veteran corner guy like Heyward who can start 25-50% of the time and add some of the lost leadership thus team needs. Dezenzo, Leon, Whitcomb, Trammell, and any other guys in spring training compete for the remaining starts in LF and RF. Melton does his work in AAA and is hopefully ready sometime between June-August to step in at any of the 3 spots that is a weak link.
dude, Santander puts instant, proven mash in our lineup. He hit 44 bombs last year. They’ll never do it though. We don’t have a hitter like him in our list of prospects. Edit: his OPS was a bit weak for 44 bombs. On base % weak. Still a difference making bat.
You are preaching to the choir. Walker, Altuve, and Yordan combine for well over 1/4 of the CBT. Hader, McCullers, McCullers, and Javier combine for more than another 1/4. Pena, Paredes, McCormick, Meyers, Dubon, Framber, Bryan Abreu, and Garcia are into arbitration which adds up to an estimate of $43M Jose Abreu, Pressly, Montero, and Caratini is another $51M currently on the books. Based on all this, I just think Santander needed to he a FA next year for the Astros to be willing to bring him on. I don't see them adding that type of salary when Brown thinks he can fill the position cheaply. I think Brown is REALLY hoping the outfield can be at least average if he brings in a cheap veteran or two and that at least one of the young guys rises to a good starter to help payroll over the next few seasons.
b/c Crane wants to stay under CBT? I guess it happens only if Crane thinks his addition is "all in" for this season
