The A’s want Garcia and Hunter in a deal for Murphy and others. The Astros cannot afford to lose that much pitching. I’m sure they will keep talking but I don’t see anyway Hunter Brown and another top young player like Abreu isn’t included.
The goal is another world series, they currently have an aging black hole at catcher and they desperately need an upgrade. The best and easiest to obtain option is Contreras, IMO giving him a little bit more is worth it if it leads to another world series.
That's an easy pass then. Also want to go on record that I do not like the Willson Contreras fit for our roster at all. I am thinking the front office's train of thought is that with the automatic strike zone, the defense of a catcher is not as valuable. But I don't think it's Maldy's defense that is the most valuable thing (although he plays great defense). It's his commitment to the mental side of the game, and his preparation of knowing how his pitcher's strengths (or weaknesses) align with the hitter's strengths (or weaknesses). Why sacrifice so much defensive and pitching value from a guy like Maldy or to a lesser extent Vazquez, for a slightly better offensive player in Contreras? Just doesn't make sense to me, and that's before considering the years and money that's being reported.
I'll admit, slightly better is minimizing the offensive difference between Maldy and Contreras. I agree with you there. I still don't feel the offensive upgrade is worth the value lost on the defensive end and with the pitchers.
A 5 year deal with Contreras would mark the end of our dynasty before it really has begun. A deal for a free agent is by definition an overpay. It is an indicator that a mistake was made and you were backed into a corner to correct it. To be backed into two such corners in one off-season is a position of desperation. The Astros have just dominated the league to win a world series. There is no reason to behave as if we are in need of the most expensive and destructive type of rebuild. The difference between moving forward confidently with Maldy and Lee or swinging wildly with Contreras is the long term cost of bad decision making goes far beyond the cost tn dollars today. Another season with our championship catcher while our best catching prospect in years spends a season under his tutelage in preparation for a long career with the team is how this team works. Bringing in a free agent wastes the opportunity for our next catcher to go through a season learning from the smartest catcher in the league. It makes a back up of him for the next several years, probably permanently. There will not be enough time to prepare another prospect to step into the starting role and we will be forced to go back to the free agent market again when Contreras must inevitably be replaced in 2 or 3 years.
I just fail to understand why we just don't sign Vazquez and make him our everyday catcher. So much cheaper. So much safer a decision. The dude is a gamer. You want that guy on your team. And he fit with the team and the clubhouse. Maldy is like Yuli, he's pretty much done. Let's move on.
Every time I see some trade around here it starts with like our 5th best prospect. Trading for controllable good talent is expensive AF, particularly now that free agent deals are going haywire. Far better to just spend on mid market free agents or trust your own farm, I don't even think it's debatable right now.
Taillon signed for 4/$68M with the Cubs. He is an average pitcher - this market is insane. Right now I’m hoping for Beni and maybe a trade for a catcher. I bet Abreu could’ve gotten more if he waited a few days - we got lucky with him. Bellinger got $17.5M for chrissake!
What was so terrible about Game 4 of the WS? The man can handle the pitching staff. There’s nothing else you need out of a catcher. Astros already got the best lineup in baseball and no one’s touching it this offseason. Don’t need an all-star at every position.
