If Astros only add Giles to last year's bully, we're set. That one addition will cause an entire chain reaction. We're better every inning. Real DH, next
They really need Sipp and another lefty. Gregerson and Neshek are fine for set up men. I think they are exploring lots of options. Harris & Fields are capable from the right side situation relievers. Astros bullpen just had to be overworked. Can't explain how it went from fourth best in MLB on Sep.1st to the worst in baseball the rest of the way. Giles is on the mound in the eighth inning of Game 4 who knows how far the Astros go with no KC in the way.
If the Astros are interested in Kazmir, it has to be at reduced start count. I can't imagine they think he can go 32. A guy that can post and ERA in the 2's commands 30 million now. A guy that can post an ERA in the 2's, but only for 20 starts, should still be worth 15 million.
I think that would be the plan. Maybe skip Kazmir every 3rd cycle and go with Feldman as the spot starter. I'd go as far as 3/$48MM for him. Re-sign Sipp for $6MM per and all of a sudden you are at around a $90MM payroll.
With arbitration and minimum contracts, that's probably closer to $100 MM payroll, but I think that would be a good team to roll with.
Good point. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Foltynewicz, Ruiz, Thurman, Mengden, Nottingham, Phillips, Santana, Hader, Houser, Fisher, Velasquez, Eshelman</p>— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosFuture/status/674958108246937600">December 10, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> It is crazy to me that Luhnow has traded this many quality prospects and the Astros still have a top 5 system. A testament to the depth that they built up during the years of doom.
So is this offseason no longer the "disaster" that some folks were saying pre-trade yesterday? I love the trade for Giles. If we somehow manage to pull a deal for Frazier from Cincy, I might lose my mind. Not sure if we're even in the hunt but I'm sure we're at least kicking the tires.
Man, I'm really going to miss Hader and VV. VV showed flashes of a plus curve at times, but it just wasn't very consistent. Didn't use the changeup as much as I thought given all scouting reports said it was plus. Hader...seeing him pop a 98mph fastball at the AFL all star game was pretty eye opening, given that most reports had him sitting 91-94mph. Perhaps because of the relief aspect he dialed it up, but 98mph from a lefty at an angle with improving command? Impressive. I'm not sure if Phillips will turn out to be as good as we all thought he'd be. Houser is the sleeper. Straight up dominated after the trade and made it to the majors last year surprisingly. Crazy.
If the offseason was a disaster yesterday, it still is today. Giles will help the Astros win some games without affecting payroll, but he doesn't matter that much unless the Astros are viewed as having a very good team already and he helps separate the Astros from the AL West pack even more. I tend to think the Astros had a pretty good team yesterday so I'm excited about move.
- A full year of an older Correa - Hopefully a full year of an older Springer. - Healthy Gomez returning to his 2012-2014 form (.819 OPS) - Back of the bullpen looking to be lockdown with Giles on board and Sipp back - AJ Reed/ Tyler White at 1B, who at worst will likely be much better than Carter was for most of last year. Team could be special
Indeed they could. 1B would be the only real unknown... and how they handle the semi-regular playing time of Valbuena/Marwin.
Im most excited about the first base situation. Clearly, lots of question marks, but not sure if things could get worse than what we had last season. I want Springer to be healthy for the entire year...another couple month absence would really make me question his long term potential for this club. For the first time in a reaaaalllly long time, it's December and Im ready for baseball to start.
Yovani Gallardo reportedly looking for a 4 year deal. I would sign Gallardo to 4/$75 mil over Kazmir at 3/$50 million.
I think I'm most excited to see how McCullers builds on what he did last year. If he progresses like I hope, we have the potential to have the best 1-2 punch in all of baseball.
