You’re the one that set ridiculous parameters with no sample to choose from. If you can’t grasp the concept of a theoretical Ohtani that doesn’t hit or is a global superstar, that’s on you. You wanted a comp and I gave one to you. If you wanted to narrow the field further to make sure no one could argue your point, you could have just added “pitchers named Javier who played for the Astros”.
Lmfao. Show me an actual free agent in MLB history who validates your idea that teams are willing to give $40M+ to a pitcher coming off 2 lost seasons.
James Click would be the best thing to happen to that organization since the Ubaldo Jimenez, Troy Tulowitzki WS run.
Astros have any interest in Bregman or Tucker? I doubt they would throw around the kind of money and years Tucker wants, but I could see a Breggy reunion.
Your Ohtani comp is ridiculous even leaving out the hitting profile. Ohtani has pitched to a 3.00 ERA / 1.078 WHIP in his career and pitched well in every season he's seen 2+ innings. Health permitting, he's as consistent as it comes as a pitcher. Javier had one single season close to what Ohtani puts up as a pitcher consistently. That was 2022. Loved 2022 Javier. Unfortunately, 2023 happened. And 2024. And 2025. He's not that dude. Not even close. You fetishize age and "stuff" but he's not that young and the stuff isn't that good. Forrest Whitley is slightly younger and out of the league. Javier's a low velocity guy, and the "invisiball" thing is not enough. His strike out numbers are low, his WHIP is high, and he's regressed a lot since his career year. He's probably a #4 starter on a contender. There's no universe where a free agent Javier is worth $20m+ a season. None. He's a project. Every team has young, cost controlled, "stuff" guys in their farm system that have as much chance as Javier of being a productive starter next season, at a tiny fraction of the cost.
