You said in your initial post regarding Whitley that "Next Spring training is his last shot to make this club before with out a shadow of a doubt needs to make the team or becomes trade fodder." He's 22. Dallas Keuchel didn't debut in the big leagues until age 24 and wasn't good for 2 years after that. What makes this spring training so important? Especially considering there wasn't a minor league season. To me that gives him even more time. Also, he currently has nearly zero trade value. Why? Because the last we heard about him from the Astros is that he had arm discomfort in spring training, during summer camp, and at the alternative site. He clearly has some maturity issues to go along with his arm problem. If he doesn't develop into a MLB pitcher until age 24-25 so be it. No reason to dump him for next to nothing because you think this spring training is some kind of artificial deadline on his development. When he is on he is elite. He went to the Arizona fall league 2 times and has been very good against some of the best prospects. His upside currently is more exciting than his trade value. I know we can expect a Whitley for Mike Trout trade proposal from you in the near future. It might actually be less ridiculous than some of your other proposals. Heck, earlier today you suggested McCullers and Bielak for one of the top prospects in baseball. A lot of people stopped even replying to your trade proposals because they are so ridiculous.
You obviously you didn't see what was asked for lynn at his age. Waters and more... Hmm. 33yr old with 1more year before FA Or a 26yr old with one more yr of control and a Florida native. So close to home.... hmm But when you add Bielak you add a guy who is up and comming has lots of control left. Then a PTBNL basically who ever fits here. Waters is blocked. Acuna, Pache and possibly Ozuna if he resigns which they have already said he would and Ender. Where would Waters play? You see they Need Pitching SP at that. Perfect spot
Your modus operandi when a player starts sucking on the Astros or does something you don't like is to throw him into a wild trade scenario where the Astros clearly get over on the other team or say he must be cut or not resigned. Two guys with 5 plus ERAs are not getting you a top 25 prospect. Especially when McCullers has only 1 year of control left and Bielak is not a highly rated prospect. Are you seriously comparing Lance Lynn who is probably top 5 in Cy Young voting again this year to Lance McCullers? Get a grip on reality. Lance Lynn is currently one of the best starters in the AL AND on a very team friendly contract next year. McCullers was still in our rotation because of our injuries and disaster performances from other pitchers. His age means nothing when he's hot garbage on the mound.... and by the way, the Rangers didn't get that stupid ask they wanted for Lynn so McCullers wouldn't get Waters either. I can't wait for when the Astros have to resign Reddick in the offseason and you throw a fit. Maybe he will lead another protest next year just for you...
I've never liked Reddick ever. McCullers aswell since he said he wants to be a SP and wants SP money. Basically saying no way i wanna be a Bull Pen guy. I dont like Yuli cuz of age I dont wanna be stuck in a contract that is really bad once his body starts to slow down. Never been a fan of Springer. Just something about his style that scares me if we lock him up after the age of 30. Brantley is iffy but he is producing i wouldnt want a 5 yr deal with him but 3yrs wouldn't be bad. But still iffy. Thats about it. I didn't like Biagini would took a chance on Sanchez again even if he had to ride the year out for surgery. And I hate Devenski even before the Circle of death pitch Yea wright the meatball of God more like it
Well, I'm not offering any earth-shattering information here, but the main issue this year has been pitching. I did a little research: 1) 19 times this year we have allowed the opponent to score in their last at bat, for a total of 41 runs. 2) Our record in those games is 3-16. 3) On 12 of those occasions the runs scored in the last at bat included the winning run (and sometimes extra runs as well). Our lack of pitching depth and performance is the single-biggest reason for our woeful W/L record this year.
I am bummed because I liked Devenski’s mentality and he was really really good for awhile. I was hopeful he’d be able to find it again. But that’s another couple million saved on next years payroll. And the group of young guys who have stepped up makes that loss easier to swallow.
He lost his fastball velocity, which is what made his changeup play. He could still have a pen job as a LHB specialist...but those don't exist anymore.
So it looks like Pruitt, Devenski, Biagini, and Osuna will all be non-tendered this offseason. Locks for next year’s bullpen appear to be Pressly, Smith, Taylor, Paredes, and James. Scrubb, Garcia, and Perez have all made fairly strong cases to be given an opportunity next season. That’s 8 guys. When you factor in that there are 6 SP who look like they belong (Verlander, Greinke, McCullers, Valdez, Urquidy, Javier) and a dozen or more other high ceiling arms in the upper levels of the farm, the play for Click looks to be to consolidate some of the young arms into an elite veteran under team control for a few seasons (Marquez and Hader come to mind).
Pruitt? We traded for him, he's pre-arb, and never even played for us? I imagine they keep him around next year just to see. I was really excited about him, I hope he'll be back and healthy. He had an elbow surgery but it was not TJS, expected to recover around February.
Also Click knows him well from the TB days. If Click liked him he'll be kept around. Also is it guaranteed Smith will be back? Coronavirus doesn't seem like it's getting any better so perhaps he opts out again. Then again Spring is long ways to go, hopefully by then, things are better.
Ah, I must’ve gotten confused, I thought I recalled seeing his injury described as one that would keep him out for at least the beginning of next season. If he is expected to be back to 100% by February then I agree he will probably be in the mix.
My expectation is that by April of next year the pandemic may not be over but the restrictions and risk will be minimal. Plus Smith is near the end of his career so I would think he would have some fairly strong motivation to collect that $4M. Looking at it again, James may not be a lock, and Pruitt is likely to be in the mix. So the projection for next year’s opening day staff as it stands would be: SP: Verlander, Greinke, McCullers, Urquidy, Valdez, Javier RP: Pruitt, James, Paredes, Taylor, Smith, Pressly, TBD (with the TBD being a young arm - Bielak, Perez, Garcia, etc. - that wins a spring competition, or a proven late inning arm acquired via trade)
