As the offseason has gone on, Walker’s contract has looked better to me. For my part I’d easily rather have Walker at $60M/3yrs than Bregman at $200M/7yrs (likely what it would have taken to sign Bregman at the time they signed Walker) or even $180M/6yrs.
Do you think we'd have gone beyond 6 / 156 w/o Walker? I don't think we would have honestly. Now, granted, Bregman is still out there... we'll see man.
I doubt the Astros trade Tucker if Bregman had resigned earlier. The best offseason decision for the Astros long term was Bregman and Boras shitty all over themselves, because it forced Crane to finally listen to his baseball people and stop focusing on the next single season.
Glad they did trade Tuck, we weren't giving him what he wanted, and would have gotten no return when he left. Smart thing to do.
I'm glad, too. Hate to see him leave, but at least we got a good return for him. If we traded him later in the year, probably for peanuts.
My guess would be no - unless moving Chas brings them back a reliever they really like. I think at this point they have to keep at least one, if not both --- the Astros signing Polanco or Bregman is the best thing to happen to Meyers, because of his range in CF helping shade the LFer
Caratini and Montero traded get the Astros under the tax if they sign Bregman. We just paid 5.5M for the cubs 30th ranked prospect- a guy like blubagh traded with Montero should get a deal done. All you have to do is find 11M worth of prospects that someone wants and they will take Montero off your hands and probably try to rehabilitate him and get lucky and flip him again at the deadline.
Just dropped our first pod of the new year- check it out Episode 89 of breathing orange fire. We talk money, Presley, Bregman, why the OF is a lot better than you think (maybe) and then some silliness at the end. Listen, rate, share, enjoy.
I would think Houston could re-order the $156M/6yr offer to get Bregman to accept. Frontload it such that it’s $40M/yr for the first 3 yrs and $15M/yr for the last 3 years and give him an opt out after year 3. That guarantees him a raise for 3 more seasons, it guarantees him a long contract, and gives him chance to earn a lot more if he thinks he will outperform his contract. For Houston it’s the same commitment they were already willing to make with the compromise that there’s slightly increased downside in the 2nd half of it, but it would only be $45M/3yrs at that point and unlikely to be a major hinderance.
I like the idea...just don't think Boras would go for it. It gives Bregman what he wants in the first part with the security that he has something in the back end (if he continues to decline) or an out (if he doesn't). Almost the opposite of what the Dodgers are doing with all of the deferred money.
I agree that there are ways the Astros can do it - and remain competitive. I just don't know that Brown is willing to trade the prospects necessary to make it happen. Some of these low-level teams act like taking on $11,000,000 for Montero is going to crush them financially. We will have to wait and see, but I agree with you that a decent prospect would find a taker for Montero.
They are like the 2015 Astros... Good before anyone expected! Enjoy the journey. Don't expect a championship this year, but get to know all the young stars. They will be contenders for years to come and are fun to watch now.
I just picture Boras answering his phone with the dust of powdered white donuts all over his hands and face - and as he answers a slight puff of powdered sugar escapes his mouth. “Mmmmm . . . Hello?”
He seemed to pitch pretty well last night in a leverage spot after giving up a game tying homer the game before.
STOP. Just stop with the idea of trading the best #2 catcher in baseball. And stop with the idea of trading the best pitching prospect. Crane’s already said he doesn’t mind paying the tax and would happily do so to retain Bregman.
Thanks for the information. It’s a reasonable number considering his track record and poor 2024 season.
Crane absolutely does not want to pay the tax. Despite what he says publicly, the teams actions and his mouthpieces are saying this loud and clear. Now, I think he will pay the tax for Bregman, and other than trading Framber or finding a taker for Montero (or Javier) there is no realistic way to get under the threshold if that happens. Also, if they are over, then they might as well spend into the 2nd tier, as the penalties aren't bad until the 3rd. However there is ZERO percent chance they go over in both 2025 and 2026. Either they let Bregman go, reset and look for impact players next year, or they get Bregman but don't do much next offseason.
