Yep. To address the post about Sale's K's and ESPN's coverage.. the fans who know Sale and know how much he's been covered are likely the fans who will show up because the Astros are good. In fact, they'll probably be ones to should up for Keuchel and McCullers, too. Incremental attendance of real significance will come from the people who don't know that Sale has been covered a lot on SportsCenter and Buster Olney's twitter account over the last 8-10 weeks.
I wonder what Samardzija does for people... more people probably know him from his ND WR days. He's the one I'm quietly rooting for them to get.
The only thing I will add to this is if Chris Sale is an Astro in a few days, I'd do a backflip. He's got filthy stuff.
Cueto+Aroldis would do that for me as well.... in fact, you could argue that on a winning team, Aroldis has a chance to bring more nightly excitement.
Now that would truly be an incredible haul. Both would need to be locked down to multi-year deals though. We're talking major prospects in play for that level of deal.
While true, you're again discounting the significance of an elite strikeout pitcher. They might draw even for the first few starts. But after Sale strikes out 10+ in consecutive games? He would be the talk of the town. "I gotta go see this new pitcher the Astros got. He struck out 11 last night!" There's no way they would draw even over the second half. That said, sign me up for Cueto/Chapman.
If they somehow pulled off Cueto/Chapman...I dunno...I'd wear Astros gear every day for the rest of the season. I work from home so I can pull this off...wife might get annoyed, but CUETO/CHAPMAN? baseballgasm
I'd love to get him as well, however if the White Sox continue to play well over the next 10-12 days I think they'll hold onto him.
Oh please oh please Keuchel makes an Astros pitch to Price http://www.houstonchronicle.com/spo...387599.php?t=b8c64ce9a9&cmpid=twitter-premium Spoiler CINCINNATI - Dallas Keuchel and the Detroit Tigers' David Price both throw a cutter, are lefthanded, and helped the American League win Tuesday's 86th All-Star Game. The similarities would seem to end there, because Price has five All-Star selections compared to Keuchel's one. Price was a No. 1 overall draft pick, while Keuchel was the 221st pick, in the ninth round. Nothing separates the two pitchers more than their throwing styles: Price is armed with a 95 mph fastball and struck out 271 batters a year ago, while Keuchel has a 91 mph sinker and thrives on ground balls. Yet somehow, they're both united by the same reverential title. "He's an ace," Price said of Keuchel after watching him throw two innings Tuesday. "He's going to be doing this for a long time. Greg Maddux - he didn't throw 95. Tom Glavine, guys like that. He knows how to pitch. Guys that throw 100 that don't know how to pitch, they don't last at this level. "I'm a huge fan of him, and I hope he continues the second half the way he's thrown the ball in the first half. He's been phenomenal. He's definitely the first half Cy Young (winner). He deserves it." Many players have trouble describing the All-Star Game beyond generalities and exclamations, because even for pro athletes who are used to the spotlight, the grandeur and historical significance can be overwhelming. Keuchel, a collected and even personality, found himself nervous before making his start. "Just when I was warming up in the bullpen, they called my name. I heard that," Keuchel said of his nerves. "Then we were walking back - the four greatest living players (Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Johnny Bench) were on the field as well. That was super special, and that's another honor for me. There's so many things about these last couple days that I will cherish for the rest of my life." Astros manager A.J. Hinch, who was on the American League staff, said the clubhouse interactions no one sees are the most poignant: temporary teammates ribbing Jose Altuve during a photo shoot, conversations between superstar players who are normally competitors, the relaxed air. Keuchel picked the brain of division rival Felix Hernandez of the Mariners while in Cincinnati. He also had high remarks for Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland, who shook Keuchel's hand as he walked into the dugout Tuesday when his outing was over. Keuchel also had some questions for the other lefthanded ace, Price. "What I'm looking at in certain counts and what spots I'm kind of figuring out," Price said. "They're great questions. He's a student of the game, and I love that type of stuff, and I respect it. "I love it, man. There's just no pride at these games. I mean, if you want to talk to somebody about something, what they do, I'm an open book, you know. I'm a fan of that guy. I'd love to sit down with him and pick his brain for a while as well." They did veer away from game plans briefly, discussing offseason plans. 'Open up that checkbook' Before it was known Price and Keuchel had talked, a reporter on Monday asked Price - a free agent this winter - if he had taken notice of the Astros' success and if that would change how free agents look at the team. "You knew it was coming. You had to have," Price said. "It's kind of similar to what happened in Tampa (where Price pitched from 2008-14). When you have that many high draft picks, you kind of develop the farm system the way they have, the way they've done it, they have to be better at some point. Right now … they're a very exciting team to watch. Everybody wants to be a part of a winner. If they're winning, you know, guys will want to come be a part of it." Who knew Keuchel was so opportunistic? Always unafraid to speak his mind, Keuchel is playing recruiter now. He wants Price in Houston. The Astros are expected to go after a pitcher this winter, and Price is a big fish in a market that has other attractive names. "Kind of pitched David Price for the Astros next year, so hopefully we can get a deal done soon," Keuchel said. Price's reaction? "Hey, open up that checkbook," Keuchel said laughing, before adding, "I'm a big fan of that as well. "So we'll see. It's a long ways away. But he's definitely one of those guys I admire and I would like to have on my team." Price took note of Keuchel's words. "He said something along those lines, yeah," Price said, smiling. Asked if he was considering the request, Price made the politically correct play. "I heard him," Price said. Maybe down the road, they'll be united by more than just their "lefty ace" designation. After all, Price named his dog Astro.
I could see us nabbing a player like Price in the FA market over a rental player this year. We have money to spend, and it makes sense to get a big fish while kuechel, mccullers, correa, springer, etc. are young and relatively inexpensive. IMO, because we are "ahead of schedule", I don't see us emptying the cupboard yet for deals like cueto/chapman and other big time names as has been tossed around on this thread. I think a more realistic trade would be something along the lines of Mike Leake, Andrew Cashner, maybe Ian Kennedy. I also think we may be bullish to add to our lineup with Jed returning, but if CC continues to struggle, that may force Luhnow's hand.
I think there's only one Astro that deserves to be referred to by the CC initials. The guy you're talking about should be known as Carter, or Cut Carter, or Kut Karter, or KK (with the last initials being appropriate given his league leading penchant for K'ing). Also, any deal should be made without the possibility of "emptying the cupboard" (even if they go after the big names). The whole point of over-stocking the cupboard is so that when you need to make a deal (i.e. - in a season where the league is wide open and you're within striking distance), you can do so without bottoming out. Even though things are set up well for the future, you can't count on things happening "as they're expected"... nor can you count on other teams not getting much better as well. They've got a really good shot of coming out of the AL THIS year... with the proper improvement/acquisitions.
Thanks for the link to this article. It's nice to be in the "buyers" seat again. Been a long time and it's fun. Can't wait to see what happens. Would love to go from being the overachieving "little train that could" this season to a seasonal contender again.
If only we could unload Feldman. Clearing that ~$10m would be a big help in signing a big time free agent like Price.
We only owe Feldman $8M next year in the last year of his deal. I doubt he'd be the reason we wouldn't get a guy like Price.
With the overall salary you are talking about for a guy like Price Feldman will have no effect at all on it
It wouldn't make any difference at all. It's not like Feldman is on the books for 5 more years or like the Astros are up against a $110M payroll going into the offseason
