13 batters. That's 2 extra. Clearly 1 of Presley/Grossman will be gone. The other seems like it'll come down to Dominguez, the other of Presley/Grossman, or Carter/Singleton if a good offer comes in for one of them. Interesting options. I like the flexibility that these deals have brought
To further break that down: 12 pitchers: 5 starters 7 relievers 13 batters: 8 starting position players 1 DH 1 backup catcher 1 backup middle IF 1 backup corner IF 1 backup OF We can probably pencil in the following: 5 starters: 1. Dallas Keuchel 2. Collin McHugh 3. Scott Feldman 4. Brett Oberholtzer 5. Jake Buchanan or Luis Cruz or Samuel Deduno or Brad Peacock (recovering from an injury) or Dan Straily or Alex White or Asher Wojciechowski or some NRI or someone not on the 40 man (like Mark Appel) 7 relievers: 1. Luke Gregerson 2. Chad Qualls 3. Pat Neshek 4. Tony Sipp 5. Josh Fields 6. Will Harris or Kevin Chapman 7. long reliever/spot starter from #5 starter list 13 position players: C. Jason Castro 1B. Chris Carter 2B. Jose Altuve 3B. Luis Valbuena SS. Jed Lowrie LF. Colby Rasmus CF. Jake Marisnick RF. George Springer DH. Evan Gattis backup C. Hank Conger backup middle IF. Marwin Gonzalez or Ronald Torreyes or Jonathan Villar backup corner IF. Matt Dominguez or Jon Singleton backup OF. Robbie Grossman or Alex Presley We can quibble about the above (esp benching Singleton). But however we re-shuffle the lineup, Jonathan Villar, Matt Dominguez, and Robbie Grossman are on the outside looking wrt a spot of the 25 man roster. Another thing to note is that someone will get hurt during ST so the 25 man roster will really be a 26/27 man roster with the tougher decisions being delayed.
I'm not sure I understand this. If Marisnick is otherworldly in CF as some posters claim why wouldn't he be considered for the CF position while having Rasmus in LF. I know Rasmus has been a good CF in the past but you have to assume he has lost a step and Marisnick is the better CF at this point much less Springer. I am sure Springer is the best RF we have but I have to question them if they are putting Rasmus as CF over Marisnick. Did they promise him the CF position? Defensive gurus please explain.
Forgot to add the outfield should be amazing on defense assuming they do run Marisnick/Rasmus/Springer out there. 3 above average to great outfielders in a somewhat small ball park. If Rasmus is the CF maybe they put him in a position to make plays in the bigger parts of the field while Springer and Marisnick clean up everything else? I assume LF at Minute Maid is a little more tricky than people think so maybe it will be better for us to have a plus fielder there for once?
Astros gave Fowler the Veteran/Star treatment just a few days ago. Rasmus has an issue with balls hit over his head, but is excellent at balls in gaps or in front of him. Putting him in center in MMP would not be wise. Putting him in LF in MMP practically removes his problem as the balls over his head are going to be off the wall or over it.
Rasmus and Springer are starting. From what I can tell, Rasmus has been guaranteed a starting position, but the Astros never said publicly (from what I've read) it will be center. I suspect if Marisnick starts, it will be in center. If he doesn't start, I expect the Astros go with a better hitter playing LF.
Yeah.... he's pretty much getting the Fowler treatment. Not a big enough bat to warrant a corner OF spot, but not terrible enough in CF to mandate that he can't play it... and because he's a veteran, he gets more leeway in his choices. The Astros still likely had to give more money to him to make him want to come here, but part of his salary is also due to what position he plays (much like how Fowler won't switch positions now, this close to free agency). Marisnick is good enough that if he makes the most of his spot starts/injury replacement opportunities, he'll Wally Pipp whoever was playing in front of him. Hopefully they get some decent platoon/rotation consistency going.... and Marisnick is the first defensive replacement in every game he's not starting. Additionally, if Rasmus produces well (but the Astros aren't close to contending) they can flip him for prospects at the deadline and plug Marisnick in for the second half.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: Astros and Rangers have agreed on trade for Carlos Corporan. Player(s) being informed.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/557925368787521536">January 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rangers?src=hash">#Rangers</a> are sending RHP Akeem Bostick to the Astros for Carlos Corporan.</p>— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffWilson_FWST/status/557943535865839616">January 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
No Worries, Good breakdown of the roster. I suspect either Gattis or Singleton are at first most of the time. I do think Singleton needs to show he can hit. If he doesn't, Carter and Gattis will do just fine. If he does, that is going to be a nice problem to have.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Question I've been thinking about: how much more on top of package Astros gave up for Gattis would be needed to land Strasburg?</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/557969964670271488">January 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I read that as a hypothetical in do the Astros have the organizational depth to make such a trade after acquiring Gattis?
I don't understand why a team signs a 30 yr old to a $30MM/yr contract only to trade the very popular and much cheaper and younger guy that already does exactly what the new guy will do. What was the point? You get some prospects out of it, but you also spend an extra $40MM or so over the next two years for the exact same production, while also getting locked into a 7 yr deal with a guy on the wrong side of 30.
