I'm sorry... at this point in the rebuild, I'm looking more for actual results and active MLB-roster improving moves to impress me more than just comments from the free agent that just rejected the team. Hell, perhaps them going after these guys is merely lip-service on THEIR part, since the "smart" thing to do would not be spending big money on free agent closers (but that's just my "contrarian" POV that apparently is not allowed). Boras has questioned the Astros draft strategies (and the entire draft process in general). Casey Close is not just some "other" agent, but has likely become just as powerful as Boras (and he's not as slimy, by all accounts). He's an enemy I wish they hadn't made. I never brought up agent-relations till this free agency (as the only agent to go on record just did so after the draft)... so not sure what drum you're referring to other than a viewpoint that's not homerrific and says the front office can do no wrong. I'd rather prefer to root and evaluate my teams without my head in the sand. Back on topic... I agree with the poster above in that the Astros are going to be making some heavy moves at the winter meetings... but I expect it to come in the form of trades (everybody's favorite "prospects" other than Correa and Appel are going to be made available), rather than big money free agent signings.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: Astros’ Marc Krauss has been claimed off waivers by the Angels.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/542031502469369857">December 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Third baseman Jed Lowrie? Source says he’s not only talking to teams with interest in him as SS. 3B and 2B on table <a href="http://t.co/6NjHJ7uSDs">http://t.co/6NjHJ7uSDs</a></p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/542008501665402880">December 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yeesh. I've always liked Krauss as a guy with good hitting tools who's starting to put them together. Already bracing myself to see Krauss hit .250/.310/.360--a totally respectable line--and us wishing we had him back.
Maybe I am just a pessimist about him... but I have no idea how we held on to him this long. Stuck me as a AAAA guy and I wish him the best. JD Martinez is a guy that I wanted to hold on to somehow, and it pains me to see him do well because I think he flashed potential worth holding on to in the long run. Krauss is someone that can go be an every day player for someone else and I will wish him well.
Ladies and gentlemen, I didn't know we had the real Tim Purpura on Clutchfans. Welcome sir! Just kidding my man, it is all in jest, I assure you. I am surprised that even one person is questioning this move, including Kruass' family members.
I'm prepared to watch him pull a JB Shuck. Look like a valuable player next year and making us wish we still had him, then watch him follow it up with a terrible season.
Perfectly acceptable. Most of us would agree with you. But in your obvious frustration, you've developed a very clear narrative you seem incapable of deviating from: namely, that the Astros have destroyed their brand and are pariahs incapable of drawing legitimate (and ultimately fully realized) interest from FAs, despite there being little evidence to confirm while some pretty significant evidence that suggests otherwise. But your head IS in the sand; you're tsk, tsk'ing any dissenting viewpoint, including an informed one from Andrew Miller ("lip service"). You're even having to group me with the "In Luhnow We Trust" gang to try and defend yourself when I don't believe I've said anything of consequence - either way - to be slotted as such. I just found it silly that after a FA said some really nice, affirming things about the Astros' FO - things that can, if one would allow, potentially shift the perspective- you seemed to speed over it to get back to banging your drum about brand damage and reputation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>How hot were the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/astros?src=hash">#astros</a> to sign Andrew Miller? They offered him a 4-yr deal with 5th year option before he signed w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yankees?src=hash">#yankees</a>.</p>— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) <a href="https://twitter.com/jcrasnick/status/542044019660845056">December 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That's fine. You're entitled to your opinion that Miller's press released statement is the god's-honest truth about how the astros are perceived by all. To me, it just read like the standard stuff anybody would say about a team that just tried their ass off to sign them (attempted to overpay, IMO). I'm also not sure why you care that I find fault with the damaged brand/image. Despite how I feel, I'm still here. I'm also not accusing the team for a lack of trying... I'm glad they're making the effort, but it's pretty short sighted to believe that all the other shennanigans they've tossed around would have zero repercussions in this courting process.
Not the biggest fan of this, but we offered Headley 4 for 65M http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/12/8/7355375/chase-headley-rumors-astros-offered-headley-4-65m-yankees-moving-to
OK...so they waived Krauss. Probably no big deal, but why wasn't he waived prior to setting the 40 man roster for the draft? Are they clearing a roster space for an upcoming move before Friday's draft?
Over the last 5 years: Headley's rWAR = 20.2 & fWAR = 21.90 Hanley Ramirez's rWAR = 13.3 & fWAR = 16.50 Ramirez got 4 years for $88M plus another $22M in a 5th year vesting option if he gets 1,050 PAs across the last 2 years. And Headley is the slightly younger of the 2 (5 months)
Does the lack of chatter on the SS front mean we are most likely moving forward with Marwin and Villar? If so, I am for it. Correa should be here for sure by summer 2016 and I would hate to spend band aid money on a SS in the mean time. As for Headley, I feel like they would be buying low due to potential. If he lives up to his 2012 self, it's a steal. If he doesn't, he should still put up satisfactory every day numbers which adds wins to what would be Matt Dominguez's spot.
Basically, each fWAR has been going for 8-10 million this off season. Even assuming a 0.5 reduction in fWAR each season, he would be worth about 72 million a year going by even the 8 million/fWAR number.
Petco Park in San Diego is basically the anti-Coors field. You have to adjust for the park. Over his career Headley has a .799 OPS on the road, with a .285/.349/.440 slash, which for a 3rd baseman would be spectacular numbers. He's also a solid glove man. I think this is a really good deal.
