Let JV walk and sign Brantley/abreu/Vasquez and extend tucker. Altuve Pena Alvarez Breg Brantley Tucker Abreu Vasquez Chaz Framber/javier/lance/Urquidy (or brown depending on the season) will get it done in the playoffs. Bullpen still top 3 as is.
I still think they really go for it and retain Verlander. We all credit the bullpen for what they did, but just remember that the Astros had a 6 man starting rotation that constantly went 5-6 IP of consistent quality starts. Bullpen was fresh the whole year. Its a huge advantage in October when your pen never really felt that stress all year. Abreu is at the top of the wish list to platoon with Yuli at 1B while manning most of your DH responsibilities. Abreu is coming up on the end of his career, one would assume he will want a winning situation. Honestly, The decision will be between Brantley and Gurriel this offseason. Personally, I would rather keep Yuli. You have already proven you don't need Uncle Mike. Yuli next year with no shift sure seems like the correct decision based on the Astros brass.
I would have Vasquez at the top of my priority list, but unless Maldanado is done or willing to accept a backup role, Vasquez won’t come back to be a backup Would like to keep Montero as long as he doesn’t get a big offer to close somewhere If we can get Verlander for 2 years I’m all in, anything longer I would let him go and use that money on a big bat
I think we're gonna resign Verlander, and I don't think I'm gonna be thrilled about the number. 3/100, 2/75 with an option or thereabout is the most I would pay to a pitcher in his 40's who hasn't looked himself in October, and even that would make me uncomfortable. Regardless of what happens with Verlander, it's highly unlikely we can repeat our cartoonishly dominant pitching. This lineup needs to be lengthened, I would like us to sign one of the first baseman and bring back Brantley as a part timer. I think bringing Yuli back is much more about sentiment than the best option. Even losing Montero the bullpen has options with the ascension of Abreu, no need to invest anything substantial there.
Doubt Vasquez resigns unless Maldy is done and i don't think Maldy is done. Vasquez as already said he wants a full-time role. You pay him enough, sure. But it'd be nuts to pay him Elite SS money then waste all that defensive value in LF. Zero chance of this next. Beyond the whole "astros already have 6 starters excluding JV" thing, Whitley doesn't have the stamina to make it through a month of starts much less 162 games + a post-season. His best shot right now is to just pitch out of the pen and build innings so that maybe in 2-3 years he could get to 150IP. (and when healthy he's also really sucked).
Our staff for 2023 if we resign/sign nobody: Valdez McCullers Javier Garcia Urquidy Bullpen: Brown, Mushinski, Martinez, Maton, Abreu, Stanek, Neris, Pressly Others in the mix: Dubin, James, Blanco, Whitley, Paredes We could add zero pitchers, including letting JV walk, and still have the best pitching staff in the AL.
Who will the Astros show interest to in this list besides JV? Would you prefer Abreu over Rizzo if they don't sign JV? https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2023-top-50-free-agents/
While I would not look forward to Whitley in the rotation and do think the pen is the best place for him long term, SPs get hurt. The Astros don't have a lot of options if multiple guys are down at once. I'd have Whitley in the rotation as above a zero percent chance at some point next season.
After seeing the whining about Machete's HBP in a game that Realmuto couldn't move a toe to avoid a curveball that took days to hit him, imagine the gnashing of teeth if the Astros had a guy that actually tried to get HBP often like Rizzo. Caveat: I think Rizzo would be a great option.
I'd bring Brantley back at 2/28. Sign Rizzo to 3/55. Sign Christian Vazquez to 3/35. Let JV walk and sign no pitchers. Lineup: 1. Altuve 2B 2. Pena SS 3. Alvarez LF 4. Bregman 3B 5. Tucker RF 6. Rizzo 1B 7. Vazquez C 8. Brantley DH 9. Meyers CF Bench: McCormick, Hensley, Maldonado, Dubon
Rizzo will benefit some from the shift, and still plays a solid 1B. I think he will be the best option for next season solely based on production. Abreu is (from what I can tell) a well respected Cuban, and could make an Ideal clubhouse replacement for Yuli on top of his bat. I think Josh Bell provides the most upside based on the contract projections I've seen. He just turned 30, if you could get him for 4/55 he would basically become a relatively cost friendly part of the core even if he may not provide the thunder one would hope for. I would be fine with any of them.