No doubt I expect package type trades later this year and especially next offseason. In the here and now, though, who do you dump off the 40-man to make room for Carmonandez? Pressley seems like the obvious choice, but he somehow has a guaranteed contract. What if they want Thatcher as a 2nd lefty? That's another spot...Hoes goes?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros manager A.J. Hinch he told Thatcher and Roberto Hernandez they had made the club. Hernandez will start 3rd, 4th or 5th game.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/582710822482370560">March 31, 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/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> add LHR Joe Thatcher to Opening Day roster. Had signed minor-league deal.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/582699917052932096">March 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Both made the team. I think Alex White gets cut, but very uncertain about player #2.
I sense that they'll give Singleton a lot of rope and give him as many opportunities to succeed as possible, with his potential and favorable contract. He's only 23. More likely that Carter or Gattis are traded, imo, than Singleton this year, unless Singleton falls off the wagon (hopefully not).
The contract is only favorable if Singleton's MLB career starts to take off... ala Altuve. Otherwise it becomes a little challenging if he's no longer in their future plans... my guess is the Astros would have to remain on the hook for most, if not all, the extension at the time of a future trade. I'm not saying to just dump him now... nobody's giving up on him... but he's about back to where he was prior to him signing and being called up. He's going to have to re-prove himself at AAA and somehow force his way on to this team. Also, there's no way Carter or Gattis are being dealt unless Singleton starts producing (and not just in the minors, but at the MLB level). Otherwise, if another team has a piece that the Astros covet, and they happen to be in need of a potential 1B, you see if a deal can be struck.
No word on what it means for Wojo, who couldn't have done much more to earn a spot. I wonder if Obie gets put in the DL to start since he hasn't logged many innings and Wojo gets his spot.
Obie could start the season in AAA rehabbing. That temporarily opens the door for Wojo. The bulpen has a similar situation. Fields may start on DL, followed by the a AAA rehab stint. Guessing that Will Harris benefits from that. The last two spots in the bullpen had an open competition in ST. Deduno and Thatcher appear to have won that competition. Will Harris was thought to have an inside track on one of those spots.
BTW, Valbuena has been hitting 3rd most of the spring and I think that is where he will be slotted. (Matty D, what a joke-hardly put up a fight) Possible line up below: Altuve Springer Valbuena Carter Gattis Castro Rasmus Lowrie Marisnick Castro has looked good this spring and I believe he will regain his All-Star form. There is a lot of upside in that lineup. Nobody can deny that.
I think that will be what the typical lineup will look like when Marisnick is in. I do think Singleton will be pretty much a regular, at least at the beginning of the year. I think we will see Singleton, Marisnick and Rasmus pretty much split two spots, although I could see Gattis getting a day off every couple of weeks at least also to keep him healthy, which would give all three of those guys a chance to play. I for one like Springer in the 2 hole. No, he isn't your typical 2 hole hitter, but I love the power he brings to that spot. Reminds me of when we had Carlos traitor Beltran in that spot
I'm not entirely sure I see what the purpose of Valbuena behind Springer is. Logic would dictate you would want guys on base ahead of Springer, and Valbuena's strength is that he walks. I'm sure they have a reason backed by some numbers, I just don't see it.
I think I read that it was just Hinch wanting to get Altuve on in front of Springer so that the threat of him running gets Springer more fastballs.
Don't forget Conger will be getting a fair number of games behind the plate... which frees up Castro to DH. And if Singleton can't hack it, I think the organization should explore moving Castro to first (provided he rebounds at the plate).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros will set 25-man lineup tomorrow</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/583076939059097601">April 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> moves: Fields, Obie and Peacock to start year on DL. Chapman, Hoes, Singleton to Fresno. Presley DFA</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/583251144945831936">April 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Grossman, Harris, Marisnick, Villar and Wojo made the club</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/583251199048204288">April 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Wojciechowski said he will pitch third game of season.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/583253601818132480">April 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>With Singleton in Triple-A, it's Carter likely getting most ABs at 1B. That opens up Gattis for more DH, and Rasmus-Marisnick-Springer OF.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/583260404220104705">April 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Don't know what is more surprising..Woj on team due t non-baseball reasons or Singleton sent down. As bad as he was last year and the acquisition of Gattis, I still thought the Astros would still throw Singleton out there.
Fields on DL, Harris makes the team. Obe on DL, Wojo makes the team (and Feldman is officially looking over his shoulder). Presley dfa-ed, Grossman makes the team. Singleton to AAA, Marisnick makes the team. I guess that Carter is your starting first baseman and Gattis is your DH. It will be interesting to see if Marisnick is your everyday CF or if Grossman is your everyday LF. Villar is probably the only real surprise in the bunch.
It was his job to lose, and he lost it. He was putrid the past couple of weeks, something like 2 for 28 with Ks in over half his ABs.
Villar was basically a guarantee once Dominguez went down, they weren't gonna keep only one backup infielder. Grossman making the team over Presley is my only surprise, not that he didn't deserve it, but I thought Presley's contract was gonna be a factor. Marisnick's spot was never in doubt. He's gonna be in CF on most days, but they will get Grossman some starts.
