Odd thing for Dana Brown to volunteer. Could be nothing more than gamesmanship but hopefully they feel good about Paredes playing 2B (or they expect to make a blockbuster trade involving Pena).
LOL I hope he doesn’t lie like this to his wife…. My favorite lies were Brown saying all season a couple years ago that the team was good enough to repeat… then the next Spring saying that he knew they were a pitcher short last season when asked a question not even about what he said. The others were saying the Astros were not spending any money- then a week later signing Hader and at the press conference saying they worked on it all Spring…. When Brown said Gilbert could start the season on the Astros as the centerfielder… then dealing him 4 months later and admitting that Gilbert was limited to the corner outfield. He also made a comment about no communication with Verlander.. then days later alludes to being in contact with Verlander before the deadline.
I have loved him since early in the minors - very underrated player, but he has some weird off the field issues.
Brown also publicly threw cold water on the idea of trading Paredes or playing him at 2B. He said they are not trading from their infield (although it can be assumed he was only talking about Walker, Altuve, Pena, Correa, and Paredes). How to get each “everyday” guy 130+ games: Walker: 130 1B Altuve: 100 2B, 20 LF, 10 DH Pena: 130 SS Correa: 100 3B, 30 SS Paredes: 60 3B, 30 1B, 40 DH Alvarez: 90 DH, 40 LF Meyers: 130 CF Diaz: 110 C, 20 DH Sanchez: 60 LF, 50 RF Smith: 110 RF Dubon/Urias/Matthews/Dezenzo/Whitcomb: 60 2B, 40 LF Salazar 50 C Cole/Trammell/Melton: 30 CF Everyone beyond those top 6 is probably being shopped. They need to find a way to get another established lefthanded bat in the lineup. Swapping out Dubon and Sanchez with a bonafide plus everyday LH hitter who can play both LF and 2B like Brandon Lowe or Brendan Donovan seems like the clear answer. Or simply replacing Diaz, Smith or Meyers with a LH bat would also work.
He was selective in his language around with Walker. From Rome's podcast paredes may not be ready for opening day. This could influence what happens with our infield. Do we put much stock in the comment about smith not being entrenched as everyday RF?
Yep, Paredes’ injury clouds the situation. If he’s at risk of missing significant time then it totally makes sense to hang on to everybody.
I am not disheartened by the idea of optioning Smith to start the season. Getting back that extra year of team control (which would be his age 28 season) is huge, so unless Smith is going to have a massive breakout this season it makes more sense to save his service time. That may be where the smoke around Houston being interested in somebody like Yaz is coming from. Bring in a low risk lefty bat to give Smith some time in AAA.
Makes sense, I could see him benefitting from it. Just hope it's not to promote a AAA guy who would not be a huge upgrade over smith. It could also serve as motivation for smith. I thought he'd stay up just for his glove but he does need everyday at bats. The question would be if yaz is an upgrade over Sanchez. How much would the drop off be from Sanchez to a 1 million AAA guy.
By the projections, Sanchez is a better player than Yaz. Over roughly a full season, Sanchez projects to be a 109 wRC+ hitter worth just under 2 fwar, while Yaz projects for 102 wRC+ worth about 1.3 fwar. So I really don’t understand the interest in Yaz unless they plan to keep them both. Either guy’s value gets a boost if they take over CF in the event of a Meyers trade. But those Sánchez-Yaz-Alvarez outfield defenses would be brutal. But the “everyday” lineup would be pretty deep: SS Pena DH Paredes LF Alvarez 3B Correa 2B Altuve 1B Walker CF Yaz C Diaz RF Sanchez
These are my thoughts. I wasn't told why they have an interest in Yaz. I can say that I suspect part of it is because of the glove. While Yaz isn't a gold glover, he makes the plays he should and he is still playable on occasion in CF. I know that the Astros were not happy with Sanchez' glove or his approach at the plater. Sanchez clearly has the higher offensive ceiling, but he also is more of a gamble. Targeting someone like Yaz could mean the Astros move Meyers or they move Sanchez or that they plan on moving at least one of their young outfielders. My opinion is that we can see how the Astros, especially under Brown, have operated in the past to get an idea of what the Astros plan for this Winter will be. The Astros I believe will be very flexible, consider a lot of options and then what ever "good deal" emerges from those options will dictate how the rest of the Winter goes. Every scenario I have heard from someone with the Astros has involved getting another starter (probably in trade) and then ideally getting another starter (ideally in free agency). So, adding two quality starters with one of them being a Valdez replacement and the other one being a starter with recent diminished value that can bounce back. The other need mentioned is a left-handed bat that can play the outfield and ideally could play second some as well.
To me, Brown’s comments are probably reflective of the feedback he’s gotten from other teams in early discussion this week: no interest in taking on much of Walker’s contract, no overwhelming offers on Paredes or Pena, but viable interest in Meyers and/or Sanchez, so he expects to remake the outfield. I also guess there are legit questions about Paredes’ health.
The Paredes situation is interesting because I have been told several times that he would be healthy by opening day.
Is it still the hammy? if he was ok enough to fake it in the last 2 weeks of the season then he should be 100% by ST.
Any interested in LHP Kris Bubic? Multiple teams already calling the Royals regarding him. Royals would consider trading him. Is he injury prone? What would it take to acquire him?
