Semien can play shortstop as well and he's having a nice year with the Jays. He'd be an interesting option to replace Correa. I would assume Crawford sticks with the Giants due to the year he's having, his ties to that org, and his age. Am I the only one who wouldn't be totally disgusted with Aledmys/Pena getting the bulk of SS starts in 2022? I'm guessing Leon spends another good chunk of the season in the minors next year rotating between SS and CF. Seems like his defense in center is already quite good while his ss defense is understandably very raw. Correa is my top choice by far but ten or more years is pretty steep if that's truly what he's after. And the options/resources to upgrade the team are far from nil if he ends up bolting.
I know the "Poopura" thing is somewhat tongue in cheek but I don't really see the comparison. We knew Purpura was in over his head (and desperately trying to please Drayton) once he vastly overpaid Carlos Lee and Woody Williams while trading several guys for the "ace" Jason Jennings (barf). It was also made evident when he was not able to get multiple draftees signed in '07. Click doesn't even really have much of a resume to look at for better or worse. The covid stuff greatly complicated his first season and his first real offseason was complicated by prior commitments/injuries. It seems like he has mainly chosen to try to keep the ship steering in a similar direction as Luhnow but the difference is Jeff was battle-hardened. Jeff had lived through multiple scenarios and had learned from some of the mistakes he had made prior to the Astros becoming a true powerhouse. The draft will be where he shows who he is but it will be somewhat tough to ding him if these first two drafts don't produce high quality players due to the lack of top picks and pool money. Hopefully the international market with Leon and others pays dividends relatively soon. Leon is highly talented and has already made pretty big strides at the plate for a guy who hadn't played in over two years and who is also learning a brand new position on the fly. If he can control the strike zone more and more while cutting down on the swing and miss as he gains more experience like Springer did then we will have a pretty good player on our hands. Also, this trade deadline and coming offseason will tell us a whole lot about James Click as well. Having rapid success on the international market, strengthening this team at the trade deadline, and nailing this offseason will all be critical to keeping this team a powerhouse for years to come. Please don't let us down, Mr. Click.
I like the creativity. I don't think Carlos will accept any team opt out clause if he wants to stay for his career. But I like the creativity to show Carlos we're serious and still balances our need for long term flexibility. In Years 7-10 if the salary cap goes up, that $25M is a drop in the bucket. Bregman and Altuve also account for $60M and come off the books after Year 3, so hopefully that gives us an opportunity to redo their contracts and keep them if they're still productive.
Los is 2nd among position players in WAR to Vlad Jr - 6th overall in the big leagues to go along with being the best defensive shortstop in the league. No need to convince yourself he's not worth the money or that you could do 'better' by allocating that across multiple positions. Pay the man Click.
If they were tight on money and had like 15-20 million in cap I think Houston fans would understand IF we parted ways. With only 110-115 million on the books sans Greinke/Verlander/Correa, it would be tough for us to accept why we weren't able to pay the man. Did I think he was worth 250 million before? Of course, I was always in the pay him his worth category and Astros fans not realizing the comp between him and Lindor were foolish. Now Carlitos is worth around 300 million or something similar to what Lindor got. Astros played lowball and now it'll get dicey in the offseason.
So...if I had to bet, I think Click/Crane will end up going beyond the Astros normal SOP (of not offering 6 years) and will offer Correa 7-8 years, high AAV, with opt outs along the way. We all know Crane will spend to keep stars here if it makes sense...he wants to win. But I do not see HOU offering 10 years. We all have our opinions on what’s best for the team, and a decade of ~30m annual guarantees is a lot. I hope Carlos returns...but it takes 2 to tango, and it just takes 1 team to offer 10 years and we’re likely sunk. It won’t be the end of the world if we lose Carlos to an insane offer elsewhere. We did just fine after losing Cole et al, and we’ll all cheer Correa upon his return if so. Lets see how the rest of this year shakes out and enjoy the team we have right now before we worry about the future. My guess is our final offer will be 7/245 with opt out after 4. That deal narrowly eclipses Lindor on AAV while reducing the years a tad, and I’m sure it will be staggered accordingly to what makes sense. And if another team beats that, then so be it. I wouldn’t even fault HOU for not offering that...I suppose we will all see in due time.
I’ve always maintained that it would make sense for both sides to have an opt out. Correa is young enough, and if the economics of baseball get to the point of continued escalating salaries, why would he want to be locked into a fixed rate at 8-10 years? 10 year deals are only somewhat tolerable if there’s an opt out… maybe they negotiate something on that level. I do think the way Click structured Odorizzi’s contract was quite inventive, so he’s not afraid to think outside the box.
What about a triggering opt in? Like if he plays a certain amount of games in year 6, year 8 is guaranteed, and so forth?
Tucker is a free agent in '26. Alvarez is a free agent in '26 as well. So are Framber, Javier, and Urquidy. Luis Garcia is a free agent in '27.
Who signs Correa? Dodgers, Blu Jays, Giants, Twins, Angels, Braves, Nationals, and Cubs will be looking at a new SS this winter. Yankees are in need of a SS Correa if he keeps it up will hit the record books. My guess is Giants or Cubs will get him at 10 years 340 million. (If he keeps up with the season he is having)
Blue Jays have Bichette.... an All-Star this year Braves have another year of Swanson Nats have another year of Trea Turner Cubs will be in rebuild mode most likely Dodgers are unlikely to sign the guy their fans hate the most in MLB Yankees have payroll problems and need to fill multiple positions Giants, Phillies, Angels, or Rangers would be my guess
All I know is that we need to pay Correa. He's a HOF talent when healthy and he's leading our team in too many categories to count, but not only that - he is the leader of the team. We aren't the same Astros without Correa in the locker room. We already lost Springer, our other vocal leader. We can't lose Correa too.
Correa going to skip the ASG… shunning the bright lights/national spotlight to spend time with his pregnant wife and go to the doctor appointments. Won’t read into that too deeply, but it does further counter the previous stereotypes/labels that a lot of people here were quick to put on him earlier in his career (“he’s all about NYC, fame, himself, looking good, etc.”)
Carlos banked on himself this year and its going to pay off in a big way for him. Looking more and more that when you glance at the highest paid guys in the game that it will be at minimum a 10 year deal for Los - Stros cant get cute and try to weasel a year or two off of the request. Just pay the man - stop acting like a Dollar General franchise and go and get it like the other big boys. Crane can afford it.
I think its premature to say whether Carlos's strategy will work to his benefit or not. There is plenty of season left for things to go very well for him or go completely wrong.
Some said we wouldn't be the same without Springer as well. While true, not the same doesn't mean worse necessarily. Not saying we would be better without him, but I think we do fine either way. Much depends on how we spend the money we save if Carlos leaves.
