One scenario I think is becoming quite likely is that teams willing to take a financial loss to win will have a big advantage next season. We’ve seen several teams (including the Rangers) indicate they expect to trim payroll way back next season because of the loss in revenue this season. So not only will there be fewer bidders for free agents, you may see teams wanting to ship out bad contracts and even be willing to attach prospects to them. If Crane were willing to invest, one way he could both win next season and rebuild their farm system would be to spend big and acquire a few top prospects attached to bad contracts.
With all the talent our death star was able to find and send in trades, I just don't see how the Indians didn't call the stros to get in on the action. Abraham Toro could be the next Teoscar or any of the hot guys from the Former Astros Tracking thread. Clevinger Verlander Greinke LMc Valdez. Time for some coffee.
Verlander, Urquidy, Osuna, Peacock, Pruitt, James, and Devo are still on the IL and Abreu can't find the strike zone.
None of that changes the fact that if Biagini never pitched another inning for Houston, he wouldn't be missed.
Not by fans. Astros would have to pay Biagini and someone else to pitch just as bad (if not worse) if they cut him. Not much money, but if every time they cut a reliever that sucked to pay another reliever that sucked...it would add up to a lot of money eventually as an endless cycle of paying relievers that suck that have been cut.
So... the only reason you'd keep him is the Astros would have to eat about $180,000 in remaining salary? This is a guy that couldn't complete one inning in an 8-4 game he turned into a 12-4 game. This is a guy that couldn't get an out in the 9th inning with the Astros ahead 13-4. He's expendable.
Not just $180,000. If the Astros cut him, they have to sign someone else who will likely suck as bad or worse who they would have to cut and pay let's say $180,000 for another guy they cut. Then, they would cut the replacement for the replacement...and it is an endless loop likely leading to someone even worse than Biagini pitching. And it just isn't relief pitching. The Astros could send down Toro (I still think he'll turn it around at some point), Straw (ditto), Stubbs, and Mayfield as well and sign crappy veterans for $180,000 each. These guys probably would suck just as bad and not help the Astros win any more games, but would cost the Astros money. The Astros aren't going to waste $180,000 by cutting an expendable player unless they have a replacement that can help them win. The Astros pinch $180,000 dollars all the time, and it doesn't take long before they have enough to afford a decent reliever in the offseason.
An equivalent return to what Cleveland got from San Diego would have been Toro, Abreu, Nova, Lee, and Hunter Brown. That’s a huge chunk of Houston’s young talent.
The Adam Conley with a 2019 negative WAR? The guy who was 2-11 last season with a 6.53 ERA and a WHIP over 1.4? The guy who has yet to pitch an inning in 2020? The guy who makes 50% more than Biagini? Or is it a different Adam Conley?
This offseason im letting the entire Fa class we have walk. I would sign Nick Castellanos to play LF. Period give him a 5yr deal and lock up his bat. This would make Tucker our everyday RF PERIOD. This would mean our CF would be wide open. I would offer Springer a chance to stay but I'm not going crazy to do so. 25m max and 3 yrs only if he doesn't bit. Jackie Bradley jr would be the next best bet. Or trade for one. If you try and trade for one Drew Waters and Alex Kiriloff for Lance McCullers would be a good spot to look towards. I woukd trade for Josh Bell lock him up for 5 yrs. This leaves alittle finagling with or SPs and bullpen. I woild make a pitch to James McCann to pair with Machete. The rest of the INF would be fine. Bring in Robbie Ray. ANDREW CHAFFIN AND Sean Doolittle or Brad Hand. Thats adding 6 players only. And shoring up our OF and Bull Pen. Js alot of money will be moved off the books in a few years so its either we resign Verlander and Grienke or trade them later and gain more Prospects. We are almost out of the Draft picks hit.
Conley would be better then Biagini. Conley would also get a chance to learn alittle from Strom and see if he could be turned around.
Biagini is expendable. Conley is the type of guy readily available that the Astros would have to sign to replace him. Or the Astros could just keep Biagini for a couple more weeks.
Or they could go with a 13 man staff instead of 14. My whole point was that the Astros would not miss Joe Biagini one bit if he doesn't pitch another inning this season.