If they invest in a starter, it's gonna be 1/2-type not BOR. They're well aware of the BOR congestion they have.
I really hope they never give a pitcher (even a super elite-pitcher) more than a 3 year deal. Nolan was commenting on that the other day. Problem is, I doubt they'd be able to get a super-elite pitcher like that.
Agreed, short of offering a massive per year figure (e.g $100/3 years) they're not getting a top guy on a short contract.
I was one that was worried about his free swinging (not his defense) (edit I don't think I talked much Astros on this board at that time, though). I was not surprised by his MLB production. Like with all minor leaguers, I view their future production in probabilities. He had a decent probability for being very good, but also had the probability of washing out. Like with Springer, I was probably one for taking him up slowly as free swingers can be preyed on by more advanced pitching more easily than disciplined hitters. Granted, I thought at the time Astros probably took a little longer with Pence in AA than he needed if I recall correctly. I fully expect the Astros to work very hard on free swingers to get them to be more disciplined. It will usually be a lost cause though. I would view Springer as a probable future MVP candidate if he could develop plate discipline without sacrificing too much power. That doesn't mean I suspect Springer will be a bad player the way he is..he'll just be Carter with speed and defense which is still a very good player to great player.
Can you give a summary of what Nolan said? I've been traveling and this would be interesting information as the Astros front office really hasn't done much in free agency, yet.
In summary, he was being asked to shed some light about what his role could be in the front office (will he be recruiting free agents? Will he be involved in roster decision making, etc.?)... and while he was pretty noncommittal, he did mention that he shared some of his beliefs/views with the current front office that he had when he was running things with the Rangers, and one of the things they saw eye-to-eye with was not getting locked into long term deals with starting pitchers. He mentioned that he's yet to see a pitcher give you full value for the entire length of his contract (looking at pitchers who sign for 5+ years). He feels 3 is the ideal number.
Thanks! I've not heard the 3 as the ideal number before. It makes sense that teams would want to limit number of years while having a multi-year deal to have some stability in veterans.
So did Scott Feldman! Trend-setters!!! I agree with Nolan... long-term starting pitching contracts just don't work out. Still can't believe what Scherzer turned down.
Just imagine how mad people would be if Feldman signed for 5 years! Luckily, the Astros made his contract regressive so it won't hurt too much going forward.
That is likely a true statement But we better draft and develop a couple of aces if that is the stance we are gonna take...cause a true ACE ain't gonna take a short term contract as a free agent
Well, unfortunately, after three straight years of #1 picks, and while we have a large number of probably mlb arms coming . . .we don't have that guy that just has the look of a true ace in the system so.......
Nobody in MLB thought 2 ****s about Ben Zobrist as anything other than a utility infielder. But you know that. I'm shocked your new windmill to tilt at hasn't been JD Martinez. Zobrist and Pence and Springer are such old news.
And all those smart people (likely including yourself) were wrong... what is your point? That the team/organization is never wrong? That every move can/should be defended... even if it eventually blows up in their face? All teams miss out on great players that they give up on way too early... even the Astros have been the beneficiary of that more-so than others (Bagwell). Its actually odd experts would so quickly write off Ben's career prior to age 24... esp since his minor league numbers were actually better than Bagwells. Hate to break it to you, but its likely going to happen again... despite how smart everybody in here thinks they are (hopefully not starting with Cosart... don't really count JD since he did get a chance here, and some guys do have to get a change of scenery after failing to have some modicum of success... partly why I thought moving Appel up was the right move).
