Raise your hand if you would pay for Bryce at 33 mil a year if it meant that would be our last real move of 2019?
As much as I would like to have Harper....33 mil/year would cripple us for the future. He doesn't deserve a penny more than Altuve.
A FA signing is a bit different that a hometown extension. Altuve would never had gone so cheap if he had reached FA. There’s security in getting the big $ early. Ask Keuchel—he probably could have gotten more $ as an extension after his WS ring. If we gave Bryce the mega contract we would definitely have to get creative with future deals. I’m not sure it would cripple us, however.
https://sportsnaut.com/2018/12/report-manny-machado-expected-to-sign-with-yankees/ Man I hate to say this but that Yankee line up is stacked. Judge, Stanton, Machado, Andujar, Torres....
I’d rather trade for Greinke for a few mid level prospects and some cash from the D Backs — I think that is the kind of short term (large ) contract the Astros should be able to absorb vs a long term potentially crippling one like Harper is expected to get.
If u sign Harper, u almost have to trade Tucker. Could get a good return for him. Signing Bryce opens other doors.
EE has been in steady decline. Martinez is the better get out of these 2. DH a priority in our FO eyes, it seems.
Am I the only one who would love to have Keuchel back? 4 years max, but I know he wants 5 or 6 so probably not a chance.
With the new luxury tax essentially serving as a salary cap, no team (not even major market teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies, etc.) can take on a $30M+ annual contract without it having a very significant impact on their payroll flexibility. That said, Houston has exactly ONE guaranteed contract on the books past 2020 (Altuve). Signing Harper would certainly narrow their margin for error, and limit their capability of extending some of their other players. But it’s not outside the realm of possibility for Houston to make a competitive offer to Harper, and if they signed him, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad idea.
I’d like Keuchel back for up to $70M/4yrs. I’d even give him a $20M 5th year vesting option if he pitches at least 150 innings in 2022. But surely some team desperate to make some headlines will give him more than that.
Encarnacion is also owed 26.67 million if his 20 million dollar option for 2020 isn't picked up. I think the Indians sent the Mariners 5 million in the deal. The Mariners would have to eat a pile of cash to make that palatable considering what Cruz just signed for. Martinez would be my preference as well. He is pre-arb this year and 4 years of team control left. His price would be higher in terms of prospects but would still leave salary space to add the pitching we need. He's 29 so not sure there is a ton of upside at this point. I'm surprised he only hit 17 HRs.
I really can't see passing on a cheaper deal for Cruz and going after Encarnacion. Martinez makes a lot more sense.
Agreed on Martinez (as stated above). What I don’t know is true is the “passing on a cheaper deal for Cruz” bit. As stated previously, he might have just passed on us.
Yeah. He probably passed on Houston because his wife likes the cold. I mean, Houston DID make a competitive offer, so there MUST be some reason other than money why Cruz rejected Houston and chose Minnesota. It’s only logical!
