Peña may now be in the same boat as Kyle Tucker — where he will be too expensive for the Astros to resign. I think it’s a shame cause I hate to see home-grown players leave. Though I’m never mad at any player for trying to maximize their earnings. As unpopular as it would be, perhaps the Astros look to trade Peña for a kings’ ransom as he has two years left. The Astros could potentially get a great package of prospects and young players. ‘I’m sure I’ll get **** for even typing such a proposal, but I’d like to see the Astros be smart about the next steps they take with Peña and not let him walk for nothing. I hope that Peña resigns and stays an Astro (and hits a home run as I type this) for the remainder of his career.
I don’t think Pena will get a monster contract like Tucker’s. He’s been great and I want the Astros to re-sign him, but Tucker numbers are reserved for big time power hitters. I would think somewhere a bit North of Correa’s contract might be reasonable.
I don’t think Pena will get a monster contract like Tucker’s. He’s been great and I want the Astros to re-sign him, but Tucker numbers are reserved for big time power hitters. Maybe somewhere a bit north of Correa’s contract.
Pena will not get $300M, which is in play for Tucker. But Pena will probably get at least as much as Willy Adames and Dansby Swanson got. $230M/8yrs is probably what I would set the over under at. I just don’t see any way it makes sense for Houston to extend him at this point. Pena is not going to give up $50M+ to stay in Houston or secure the payday sooner. Extensions I would offer current Astros players this offseason: Dubon: $14M/2yrs (buys out 1 FA season) B Abreu: $32M/4yrs (buys out 3 FA seasons) Paredes: $74M/5yrs (buys out 3 FA seasons) Smith: $90M/7yrs (buys out 3 FA seasons)
I don’t think extending Pena is beyond the realm of possibility. We still have him for 2 more years. They should at least try for 6 years 200 or something. Frankly, I’d rather trade Alvarez than Pena, although unless Alvarez comes back mashing he might not get as big of a return.
That may be true but certainly doesn’t make sense to trade him. I also don’t know that it’s a given he gets 8/230 or something like that, Asinine. He can single handedly turn playoff series. Yes, injuries are a concern. You live with that.
I don't see why Abreu would settle for $8M AAV with 1 year until free agency. With the money being thrown around for closers lately, he could be cashing in on a $80-100M deal next year if he maintains his current production. I'd love to keep him around but I think we would have to offer him more per year than what we have been paying Pressly ($14M)
I think there’s a small chance they can get an extension done with Pena in the off-season. He’s got to play 2 more years at a similar level to what he is doing now to secure a huge contract in free agency. If he can’t sustain his current hitting, a lot of his value goes down as he ages and declines as a defensive player.
I personally don't understand why every single potential FA on the Astros needs to be traded and not signed. I get the JV/Tucker/Cole/Bregman situations, but Pena is one I would do my best to keep. What GG-level, top-of-the-order-hitting, SS is waiting in the wings to take over for him?
It’s all about value. If Pena were willing to sign a contract that represents a good value to the Astros, I’m all for it. But I don’t think he’s worth $200M+, having never hit more than 22 HR in a season and having a career 5% walk rate, especially considering the contract will be for his 30s. The Astros already control Pena for his best years and whichever team pays him after that will be counting on him putting up the bulk of his value in the first 2-3 seasons of the contract, knowing he will be underwater in the last 4-5 seasons of it as he plays out his mid 30s; there’s just a ton of risk in that idea.
The league is catching on to those long contracts and won't be handing them out like candy on Halloween anymore. With that said, he still may be more expensive than what the Astros wish to offer. That's a problem they will likely address when his contract is up (as they do with all of their home grown players). Tucker was the only exception because they knew he was gone. It will all depend on the contract negotiations leading up to that final season and if the two sides feel they are close enough to make something happen or not.
True. It all comes down to what you can get for Alvarez. I think he is injury plagued the rest of his career and I think Pena has solved it and will play offense at high level for 6 more years at least. He is a highly skilled player that looks to be pretty solid physically. I love Alvarez, but he just can’t stay on the field.
So Pena's not a FA for 2 more years, he's 27 years old...I'm not opposed to your way of thinking at all Is there anyone in the MiLB system that can soon-ish play SS at a MLB level? Maybe one of the multiple next year's draft picks will fill that spot, but then they'll take 2-5 years to play up
The nearest is Powel in A ball. He is too young & too far away to be certain about but he is the next up with the potential to be an MLB short stop at the level we are talking about.
There are no SS prospects currently in the system who should be expected to replace Pena; Matthews was the only hope there and the Astros clearly don’t have faith in him defensively at SS. However, there is a small chance that Caden Powell or Jeron Williams become viable over the next 2-3 years. Houston should have some payroll flexibility by then too so they could go out and get a lesser player who is more affordable. There is a WHOLE lot that will change between now and then.
