Spotrac has Astros at $135 payroll before FA with current roster with arbitration raises. I'd guess they'll target around $150M payroll opening day. Trade Fiers and you have about ~$20M for free agency. Spend most on a reliever maybe the rest on a DH/Utility player.
This money should be spent on re-signing Altuve/Springer/Correa to extensions. Give me a trade for Britton and signing McGee in FA. Imagine have 2 quality LH's in the bullpen. I could see Fiers/Sipp/Harris traded. Maybe McHugh and a young lower level prospect for Britton.
Thanks. Here's to hoping they develop a better everyday product for the World champs... god knows they're going to be raising advertising rates based on the success.
I think you may even be low on your projections. The number of yahoo's running around Dallas with astros gear (obviously new) is cra cra. Am in Florida and seeing it here too. This team is extremely likeable. It's not just an htown thing. I think the dollars are even bigger.
The ownership group is happy financially. I can't remember if it was this year or last year they voted to give Crane like a million dollar salary. He wasn't taking anything before that.. It was around when the evaluation for the Astros came in at 1.2 billion so the owners had doubled their money.
Don't you dare use the term ownership! I'm triggered. The poor players are all owned by ruthless evil men and have no personal rights.
My hope (but total guess) is that Houston will have enough money to acquire one good reliever (like Jake McGee), one 2nd tier lefty bat (like Curtis Granderson), and make a run at extending one core player (Altuve, Correa, Bregman, Springer, or Keuchel).
Any attempt by my brain to imagine a lefty pitching to a lefty is temporaily blocked. McCullers and Morton destroying Bellinger with back foot breaking balls is still etched in my brain.
Any interest in Mike Minor? He had a really good year. He will probably be looking for 3/30M. They obviously liked Liriano enough to acquire him. I have no idea what his market value is now or if the Astros would still be interested in making him an offer. Maybe a 1 year deal.
The wildcard in all of this will be how they plan to address Altuve, Springer and Correa. If Lunhow and the front office ultimately want to wait until closer to their free agency periods, then I could see them spending some big money on relievers, especially if it's on shorter term (2-3 years) contracts. However, if they plan to start locking those guys down (which I kinda wish they would), then there many not be as much money to spend as it seems.
Contract Extension for Altuve should be priority #1 before he hits FA after 2019.. lock him down now before he hits the market.
A Granderson would have to come very cheap ($5M?). He struggled so badly in LA and will be 37. Fluke small sample or beginning of the end? Nori Aoki is a free agent... I wish I could trust in Jake and/or Fisher so that LF didn't look so questionable Yes, but not on that kind of deal. I'd like to go to like a 2/$15M or something along those lines since he was hurt for the previous 2 seasons and isn't completely dominating hitters (though he has LHB).
Fans need to remember that a financial apocalypse is looming; they are not going to deviate from their strategy of spending money *efficiently.* I'm sure if one of Altuve, Correa or Springer wants to talk extension, they'll listen. But the idea they're going to take this windfall of cash and SPEND! - yeah, probably not. I mean, they'll spend... they're just not going to SPEND!
Well, for all the grief he took... Liriano did retire Bellinger twice, including game 7 with 2 on and 1 out. A giant out in the clincher.
I've never heard of any team owner getting a salary. Not saying they don't, just saying I've never heard.
I would not be opposed to bringing back Liriano if he accepts he is just a loogy that he will get some longer outings in blow outs.
Not ragging on Liriano or anything lol, but with some of the pitches Bellinger was swinging at. I think Clippard could've gotten em
