I do not see it happening without a trade. 1) They added too many back end rotation options to need him or even have a place for him on the roster. 2) There is no longer money under the CBT to fit him. Now Jim Crane can choose to sign him which may happen, but he no longer fits on this team. If Crane were to bring him back, I would expect Arrighetti or Blubaugh (maybe both) traded to open innings and a roster spot for him, hopefully bringing back a guy like Nootbar or another good lefty OF. Wallner? I would then expect Walker or Sanchez traded in a salary dump move to get back under the CBT, depending on how much JV signed for. Goldschmidt made $12.5M last year and just signed for $4M so maybe JV signs a tiny deal just to come back
Duct tape Arrighetti to Walker in a salary dump trade, opens up innings and salary. Adding JV but we lose our sixth (or better) best bat in an offense that isnt a juggernaut. That is a net downgrade, infield “logjam” not withstanding. I’m against owing a top 6 bat unless we get an equivalent impact bat back into the lineup. Last years injury riddled lineups with auto outs from 6-9 or sometimes 5-9 was a damn hard watch.
Crane is waiting for someone to sign him so he can force Brown to trade Neyens and Alvarez for him at the deadline to save a few million
I had hoped this would happen for about ten years. But I don't know if the rumors are just old wishes like mine or something substantial. I imagined him reaching 300 wins with the Astros after a modification of his pitching style. He always seemed to be a pitcher as well as a thrower.
