No. I know nothing. Wasn't our meeting with him today? Then we see this "cardinals are the favorites" stuff.
There is no Tucker extension. Altuve and Bregman won’t be getting raises so you don’t need money for them. That leaves Urquidy, Javier and Framber as extension candidates. Signing Comtreras should not get in the way of that. Last year you spent 12M at catcher. If you signed Contreras and brought in Lee next year you’d be spending 20M at catcher. It’s just not a big deal or expensive contract man. I know Diaz has a bat that can play in MLB. Guess what though? 23 year olds in the minor leagues that are like “pass” on getting better at catcher with all the motivation in the world to do so don’t typically become fired up about it after they’ve had further success. Contreras at 60 games Lee at 80 and Diaz at 20 C and a bunch more st DH/LF if the bat is as good as they think seems like the win. Then Comtreras catches in the playoffs every day when it matters. This is the luxury you have when you win your division in a walk.
Is this facetious? He was great against both left and right hand pitchers. I loved it when the managers simply PH with left hand relievers just to watch bombs away. It's like nobody checked to see how Yordan hit lefties.
Just because you refuse to acknowledge good arguments doesn't mean there aren't any. Go ahead and disagree, but don't act like they do not exist.
Yanier Diaz is a gifted hitter with developing power, the bat is legitimate. The problem is that he knows his bat is legitimate and he doesn't really want to play catcher. His arm is fine, or at least was deemed as fine in the lower minors and he profiled as a full time future catcher. However.... as an example, Diaz threw out 33% of base stealers in AA.... they promoted him to AAA and told him that he needed to improve as a catcher.... he responded in AAA by not really even trying to throw guys out..... in 27 games as a catcher in AAA teams stole 32 bases against him,... how many base runners did he throw out? Try 2...... teams were successful running on him almost 95% of the time! He is an MLB bat, and he could be even a plus hitter but he is a long way away from being a starting catcher for the Astros and they know that - which is why they are going after Contreras. Korey Lee was supposed to be a great leader and defensive catcher. He threw out 27% of base runners in AAA, and in the big leagues he had four bases stolen on him and threw no one out. The Astros were not impressed when they called him up, and sent him back down. To his credit, when called down he started to hit with more authority. He finished with an impressive 25 homers.... but he had an incredible 127 strikeouts in only 400 at bats in AAA and had an OBP a little over 300.... those are not promising numbers for AAA. So, Lee does not project to be a very good hitter. Now, to stay a starter in the big leagues he can likely survive with a 680-690 OPS if he develops his other skills. Still, it is a lot to ask from someone that makes so little contact.
Not what you want to hear. Doesn't sounds like either is ready, or close to ready. Contreras makes more sense if that's where they are right now.
Who deserves more of a condescending pat on the head for their off-season moves? The Rangers or the Angels?
Agreed -- especially if we're looking in the next 2 years. If you look back at the recent World Series champions, it's almost always a vet at catcher - with the exceptions being pretty much the best catchers of the generation in Buster Posey and Salvy Lopez, plus Willson Contreras. Willson Contreras was the Cubs #1 overall propsect and a top ~50ish prospect when he was called up. 2022 - Maldonado 2021 - D'Arnaud (even with William Contreras in the wings) 2020 - Austin Barnes -- Will Smith was sort of an exception in the course of a season due to his elite bat, but he actually only caught 2 of the 6 World Series games, and was moved to DH for the rest 2019 - Gomes and Suzuki 2018 - Vazquez and Leon 2017 - Brian McCann! 2016 - Willson Contreras -- was a June call up after Miguel Montero and David Ross didn't hack it. Contreras was frequently subbed for Ross / Montero late in the World Series 2015 - Salvador Lopez (only 25 at the time - so he's the best exception. But he was also on his 3rd all star appearance and 3rd gold glove by this time. 2014 - Buster Posey - This was his 3rd World Series win, at age 27. His earlier ones would be the exception 2013 - David Ross was the primary catcher 2012 - Posey 2011 - Yadier Molina 2010 - Posey
I like it. I don't think it is quite a steal because the second year is a player option, so that only benefits the player. It is about 3.5 million less per season than what Abreu got. If Click were the GM, we likely would have ended up with Bell for like 2/35 instead of Abreu.
I don’t think they see Diaz as anything more than a backup catcher and future 1st baseman. Not stoked about Lee either. Contreras is the perfect fit to split time with Maldonado and DH some. Diaz or Lee will be the third catcher when Contreras is DH. A left handed hitting OF would be nice, but I’m not super worried about it. With Myers, McCormick, Leon, and Gilbert (next year) one will be our CF of the future. I’m betting on Gilbert or Leon cf in 2024 and Myers to left. Myers and McCormick will both make the team unless they a part of a blockbuster trade. Contreras makes us 7 deep and Myers and McCormick could potentially make us 9 deep. Tucker is the main guy that worries me down the line, because he should be a monster without the shift and is going to want outrageous money 3 years down the line.
