Probably more than the Astros would care to spend. Ross is under control for this season and 2 more. So you are probably looking at more than what Cueto cost but less than Hamels. Kimbrel is basically locked up for years if you are willing to pick up options. He is without question the best closer in baseball but he makes a fair amount of money. Closers earning lots of money are not high on my wish list, but he is the best. So my guess is that he would cost a couple of prospects at the bottom of your top 10 list. Upton is the hardest to say, he is purely a rental and I am not sure what the market for bats are, because it really hasn't materialized yet. Overall I would guess one top 10 prospect and a lesser prospect. My guess to get all 3 of those guys? Appel /Velazquez/ Santana/ Paulino / Angel-Sierra/ Hader
I would do it. 2 pitchers with long term control and one rental bat (we have many bats once springer comes back). Bring back Kazmir and we will have rotation of Keuchel, kazmir, Ross, McCullers, Mchugh/Feldman for multiple years. Plus our farm system would still be very good.
I expect Ross to cost more to trade for than Hamels. Hamels likely production is not worth the difference in contract.
I have gone back and forth on this one. The fact that the Cubs and Astros both are being aggressive for Ross could spell that point out as well.
Would agree BUT Philly took back 32 million in a bad contract, and sent 10 million to Texas in the deal. So the real $$ Texas is paying on the contract, is closer to $12 million a year when you add it all up
Adding Kimbrel sounds good in theory, but I see it as a luxury we really can't afford. I mean, sure, we can afford it, because we have such a deep farm. BUT, outsourcing for closers by way of losing huge prospects doesn't seem like the smartest move. Maybe I'm wrong. Kimbrel is a top 3 closer in the game, granted, but is he really worth top end prospects?
Think of it this way. When it comes to having a lead in the 9th.. Game 7 of World Series... Would you prefer having Gregerson or Kimbrel? Easy answer. Kimbrel.
But who cares if Gregerson is capable of ultimately getting the job done? There are no style points in MLB. Is it worth getting a better closer to deliver the same result when it costs a resource of some capacity? So the real question is: When it comes to having a lead in the 9th.. Game 7 of World Series... Do you think Gregerson will get the save?
Not that simple, and if it was Kimbrell gives better odds It would also improve you in the 8th, and 7th and 6th Everyone backing up a spot has a big impact
Who cares? It's game 7 of the world series. You play whoever didn't start between Keuchel, Kazmir or McCullers.
what if game 7 of the world series, after the league makes us open the roof again, goes 17 innings? and keuchel, kazmir and mccullers have gone through a couple of innings.
You are paying about 10-12 million dollars a year for 70 innings a year of complete and total domination. Kimbrel has had the best start to a career in the history of relief pitching. He has finished in the top 10 in the Cy Young voting every year in the big leagues and he has a career era of 1.50.... Is it worth it? Well it depends on what you are willing to spend on your team.
Hitting costs: Ackley got the number 13 and 20 prospects of the Yankees, RAmon Flores and Jose Ramirez
Eating cash does not change the contract difference. It is just a different form of cost instead of prospects.
