SPRING TRAINING BATTLES UT - Am I the only one consistently disappointed with Aledmys Diaz' production as our Marwin replacement? In reality, he probably is a lock to return to his utility role next season, but I wouldn't mind at all if we did a little bargain shopping right before camp opens to add another cheap vet as competition and insurance at the back end of the roster (Return of Marwin ?!?!) IF - As mentioned above, I feel this team could really use 1 more versatile vet on the end of the bench that can play up the middle I like Toro's switch-hitting ability as a pinch hitter, and think he has a future as an MLB player, but would like him to use the Spring to show he can handle more positions than just the corners OF - Again, this is probably more of a luxury, but I wouldn't mind digging thru the FA scrap heap to see if there is a vet option to compete with Straw for the 4th OF job Straw is a fine defender and blazing fast, so going cheap here is not a disaster, but there could be a lot of bargains this winter (Return of Jake ?!?!) S5 - I see no need to look outside for help filling out the rotation with all the young arms already here to compete for the last starting gig Ideally, Forest Whitley does in 21 what Kyle Tucker did in 20 ... finally fulfill his vast potential as a ML regular with star upside Since he hasn't pitched in over 2 years, that is probably wishful thinking If he stumbles again, there is an army of young, talented arms behind him waiting to take this spot Javier, James, Garcia, Abreu and Armenteros are waiting in the wings with ML experience and plenty of arm talent This may be the most intense battle of spring camp R3 - Scratch that previous statement ... THIS will be the most hotly contested spring battle for a roster spot Take the 6 I mentioned as rotation candidates, then add in Raley, Scrubb, Pruitt, Bailey, Bielak, Perez ... Regardless of who makes the opening day roster, the Sugarland Skeeters are going to have a fierce staff in AAA next year As the 2020 season proved, you can never have enough quality arms, and the Astros could have at least 10 of them with ML experience waiting for a callup
MY PROJECTED Astros Opening Day 2021 25-man Roster Total Payroll: <$179.8M> ($146.8M if assuming Verlander covered by insurance) HITTERS (13) <$90.2M> Lineup 2B Altuve - 29 LF Brantley (L) - 14 3B Bregman - 12.7 DH Yordan (L) - 0.5 SS Correa - 9 Arb3 RF Tucker (L) - 0.5 1B Yuli - 6.5 CF JBJ (L) - 8 C Maldonado - 3.5 Bench UT Aledmys - 3 Arb2 C2 Wieters (S) - 2 IF Toro (S) - 0.5 OF Straw - 0.5 PITCHERS (12) <$89.6M> Rotation S1 Greinke - 24.7 S2 Framber (L) - 0.5 S3 Urquidy - 0.5 S4 LMJ - 5.6 Arb4 S5 Whitley - 0.5 SINJ Verlander - 33 Bullpen R9 Hand (L) 8.5 R8 Pressly 8.8 R7 Smith - 4 R6 Javier 0.5 R5 Paredes 0.5 R4 Taylor (L) - 0.5 R3 Raley (L) - 2
You have to add 15-16 million to payroll for benefits provided to players. They are included in luxury tax calculations. Also a couple 2-3 million for players on the 40 man that move up and down during the season.
Why is Javier listed as a reliever for the regular season? I'm looking forward to what Javier can do as a starter once his arm is stretched out in Spring Training.
Yeah I think final rotation spot is wide open w at least 5 legit candidates that can swing from spot starter to long relief depending on off days, etc I went with Whitley as my personal preference bc he's the only 1 of that group I don't see coming out of the pen ... he's in a rotation either here or AAA Plus I actually think Javier could become our closer down the line so wouldn't mind seeing that transition starting already As a starter, his 'stuff' isn't really A+ as he seems to pace himself, but I would like to see what his A+ version looks like coming out of the pen firing without any reservation Either way he has the demeanor of a guy with a long, bright future as a ML pitcher
Not bad. Only comment I have is I will be very very surprised if Houston fills all their holes via free agents. I fully expect Click to make 2-3 trades to address the OF and pitching depth. Although it would be great, I would be really surprised if Whitley was on the opening day roster.
Yeah I was thinking about that once I realized the sudden glut of young, cheap, talented arms we developed rapidly out of desperation last year If looking to improve via trade, that is definitely the strength from which this team should deal Honestly I have no idea who's on the block to even consider for hypothetical matches on a swap As for Forest ... starting to wonder if this isn't Appel 2.0 ... he stalled out for 3 years in high minors and never made any Opening Day in the majors That would make Luhnow 0-for-3 on 1st Rd starters including 2 #1 overall ... that's not going on the resume
I believe there will be a significant trade happening. We have alot of young Pitchers. And we have another SP who needs to be in the BP. Cough MCCULLERS Cough. I would honestly trade MCCULLERS. Js
Agreed Certainly have zero interest in extending him long term next offseason as he plays into his 30s Get anything you can now before something else on him pops / snaps / breaks / falls off He's no better than our #4 now anyway, and could easily be overtaken for that role this year by one of the young guys
I don't see them trading McCullers. He's only going to be making about 6 million and replacing him in the rotation with someone better would cost more money or require trading assets.
But has apparently said he will not go to the BP and wants SP money. Hmm not good enough to be a SP. Best thing to do is... get wtF you can in a trade to better this team. Guess what. Call the Reds and see what you can do To nab Nick Senzel. Start with McCullers. And see where to go from there
And who exactly are you sending as the keystone in the trade for Senzel? One year of McCullers is not the big piece in a trade for Senzel with 5 years of team control left. My bet, even though I don't love it, McCullers will be in the rotation for the Astros in 2021. The Astros need 2 starting outfielders, a backup catcher, and a solid reliever in the pen. Trading McCullers away and creating another hole is unlikely. Expect the Astros to be well below the luxury tax in payroll as well.
Rule 5 protection deadline is at 5 pm today. I consider it likely that we will see at least 1 trade from Houston. They only have 3 open 40 man spots and at least 4 prospects who should be protected (Whitley, Solis, Ivey, and Nova). Here is the group of prospects I think are most “tradeable”: Forrest Whitley Cristian Javier Bryan Abreu Luis Garcia Cionel Perez Frances Martes Brandon Bielak Tyler Ivey Given the large group of what should be affordable backup catchers, starting pitchers, and relievers in free agency, I think Click could use that group to address 3 of the remaining needs he has (CF, LF, draft picks/high ceiling position player prospects).
Javier was the best starter (40 pitch minimum) in the first in 2020. In the 1st, Javier was more dominant than the best closer in 2020. He doesn't pace himself well. He uses up his heat in 1st 2-3 innings and then becomes average for another 2-3 innings. With maybe an inning or 2 of him throwing junk if he loses it early and Astros had a comfortable lead. He may be the most extreme example of someone that doesn't pace himself as a starter. It will be very hard for Javier to get 4-6 innings of average to dominant stuff every 5 days in relief and still have something in the tank to be a dominant releiver in the postseason.
Per Kaplan, Ivey wasn't at instructs this year so I doubt he's on the 40-man (https://theathletic.com/2154818/202...tros-prospects-who-require-rule-5-protection/) despite prior to this year thinking he was thought of very well. Kaplan expects Whitley, Solis, Nova, and Rivera with Ivey and Solomon as other options.
Armenteros was a nice depth arm that would likely have been used at some point next year if he passed through waivers. Mayfield. He was not a nice depth IF, but he probably would have been used at some point next year if he passed through waivers.
Armenteros was shutdown last season with elbow and shoulder problems. I am not surprised they let him go.
