The Astros were incredibly lucky last year when it comes to the health of the pitching staff In a typical year, having 7 SP is a must. It's rare to see a team with 7 LEGIT options at SP, but it isn't a big problem
If the Astros are just going to focus solely on their projected weaknesses (aka the areas they can make the largest improvement), they’d be focused on Nimmo, Contreras, and Abreu, hoping to come away with 2 of the 3.
I would offer Verlander 2 yrs 62 mil. If he walks, oh well. That money can be used elsewhere to improve the club.
If we don’t sign Verlander. Rotation is: 1. Framber 2. Javier 3. McCullers 4. Garcia 5. Eurquidy 6. Brown I still think we need to go with a 6 man rotation to save arm strength in postseason. 1. McCullers has been hurt every year as an Astro. Most he’s ever Pitched is 162 innngs. 2. Can Javier continue to excel as a starter with only 2 pitches? 3. Is Brown ready or will wildness always be a problem with him? He did look good this past year.
Is Crane willing to pay luxury tax? I'd prefer to keep JV AND get a bat, it's not like Crane is poor and can't afford it. Quit acting like a small market team, go for MLB's jugular
He'd laugh then walk. And Carlos Correa would call him and say, "See?" And he would become Nolan Ryan all over again
He has said he would. But he has also shown it has to be a good deal and won't waste money just to appease those hyper focussed on MORE rather than good.
He has said he will. I think the biggest issue is the 2nd year which has larger penalties. Maldy, Neris, Stanek, and Maton are the only projected FA after next year So whatever payroll there is in 2023 it will go up in 2024 just through arbitration raises without even adding any players.
If JV is moving on I’d rather him move to the Yankees division to knock them out and make them fight for a wild card
Yankees fans are desperate as hell. https://yanksgoyard.com/2022/11/16/yankees-jim-crane-astros-hope-jerry-jones-arms-race/
If he goes over the luxury tax there is no loss of draft picks for the first threshold, correct? But if he goes over the second threshold you lose a 2nd pick?
Good news this off season is all of the moves are 100 percent on Jim Crane. We will find out everything we need to know at the start of camp about his comfort level with payroll.
One lesson Crane might learn is the same lesson a lot of fans haven’t learned; having resources, and even having the willingness to overspend a bit, doesn’t necessarily mean moves will get made. Sometimes players aren’t just going to highest bidder and sometimes every team isn’t even given a chance to bid. A GM/owner can’t make things happen thru sheer force of will. It takes 2 (sometimes 3) to tango.
I get that money isn't everything, but all else being equal or unknown, I'd put my bets on the teams willing to spend the most at getting the better FAs.
