It seems like they’ve wanted him for years. Surely they see something in him that they can improve to make him an ace
Cam Smith T-10th in AL ROY with a lone 4th place vote from Manolo Hernández-Douen (beisbolporgotas). Nick Kurtz unanimous winner. https://bbwaa.com/25-al-roy/ Spoiler Alyson Footer & Jesus Ortiz represent the Houston vote.
Trade Walker. Play Paredes at 1B. 3B- correa 2B-Urias Ss- pena 1B- paredes Lf- yordan Cf- jake RF- cam C- Diaz DH- altuve Hopefully we get a better option at RF or CF for Walker
The Astros have interest in Mike Yastrzemski. Yes, the Astros are shopping Walker to see what they can do - can they move him or is it a lost cause. They want the money to use at different positions. As for Dylan Cease- Crane likes him and that means a lot. Miller thinks he can fix him. Astros tried to trade for him at the deadline twice now. A couple years ago I said entering off season Crane wanted Hader and they got him… no guarantees but the situation is similar in some regards and Crane has wanted Verlander, Greinke, Hader and got all of them. Signing Cease would allow the Astros to attack their other needs with the prospects saved in not trading for an Alcantara. I’ve mostly heard Rasmussen and possibly Lowe to the Astros.
I’ve thought Yaz made sense for the Astros for a couple of years but now I don’t see how he’s much different than Jesus Sanchez. League average LH bat who is stretched in CF. Cease would be all about the price, how much more it means Crane would stretch, and how much Miller can improve him. Big risk but also big reward. Cease, Rasmussen, and Brown could be a 3 headed monster dominant rotation similar to when the Astros had Cole and Verlander at their peak.
Astros getting all 4 of the players Nook just mentioned (plus Caratini) would make for a pretty kickass roster: SS Pena 1B Paredes DH Alvarez 3B Correa 2B Lowe LF Altuve RF Yaz CF Smith C Diaz Bench: Dubon, Caratini, Dezenzo, Trammell SP: Brown, Cease, Rasmussen, Javier, Arrighetti, Pearson RP: Hader, Abreu, Sousa, King, Okert, McCullers, Ort Not sure how realistic that is but that roster would be on par with the glory years.
Like Sanchez, but at a FA price. Mike Yastrzemski is heading into his 35 year old season. Position: Rightfielder Bats: Left • Throws: Left last season: 2.8 WAR, 0.735 OPS, 109 OPS+ Guessing that Yaz is looking for a 3 year deal at $20M per. Sanchez is cost controlled for two more seasons. Sanchez is also in his peak performance years.
$20M/3yrs for Yaz would be a really bad deal. He’s coming off of a good season but at 35 and with his overall track record he should be limited to 2 years. I am not even sure I prefer him to Sanchez but anything more than like $18M/2yrs would be a bad deal for Houston imho.
There’s an awful lot of smoke around Cease to the Astros but yeah it sure seems like Cease’s contract is going to be beyond anything the Astros have given out in free agency.
Like I said previously, after seeing so many of our pitchers go down with TJ, I just don't see Crane giving any SP a contract longer then three years.
I suspect that the Astros interest in Yaz is in part fueled with the idea that they can get him at a good deal. We have seen the Astros target guys like this before thinking they can get a bargain. The pursuit of Cease would be fueled by Miller's view on his ability to fix him - but also Crane's desire to have him, which could mean opening up the pocketbook some. So, the Cease possibility cannot be completely dismissed. With Murphy gone, I think that Diaz being dealt only has increased. He knew Diaz well and worked with him. Plus if the Rays still have interest in Diaz, the Rays have players the Astros covet.
Meyers, Diaz and a good prospect for Lowe and Rasmussen seems to make some sense of both sides. Diaz and Meyers are the kinds of players the Rays like (and have turned into stars in the past).
Depends on money, but if the Astros are able to make the moves that they want - they won't be able to afford Caratini.
Seems like a lot to give up for 1 year of Lowe and 2 years of Rasmussen, who’s never pitched more than 150 innings.
Losing a draft pick is painful after losing picks for Hader & Walker plus the scandal penalties and then trades. Still, we've managed to stay solid, but dang.
