I also feel he got along with everyone and seem to have some fire... If he's willing for a 2 year deal with a 3rd year option. Again, he maybe looking for something more...
I wonder if they are considering Masataka Yoshida? He is 1 year older than Suzuki who got 5yr/$85M from Cubs last year. ( contract at 2 yrs older) With the scarcity of impact bats and increased $$$ this off season he may get up to $20M pet year but likely only 3-4 years. Bat is perfect fit for Astros but is limited to LF/DH
Yes, by about 10 points....and he's CLEARLY someone we need to look at replacing. My point is how much money are you going to throw at a 33 year old catcher who gave you essentially Maldonado level performance? By a lot of metrics, Vazquez got lucky last year, his expected average and on base percentage was significantly lower than his actual numbers... Like I said, if he's REALLY cheap, fine, gamble that he'll return to form for a year or so before needing to find a replacement for him, if he's not, just go with Lee and accept that the 9 hitter will be a black hole.
I'm of a similar opinion. Though, he would add value as both he and McCormick can play together in the OF or platoon if someone else takes/is given the CF job from McCormick.
few posts ago you were in the screw let’s roll with what we got mode - not sure I’d roll the dice on Yoshida at $20M per- rather see what the young guns have and then trade at the deadline for need (assuming we don’t land any other impact bat )
I don’t love most of the free agent options. I’d kick the tires on Vasquez again and see what Brantley has in the fall.
Should have signed Contreras then if Astros were scared of going 5 years with Nimmo. Even with injury concerns, Nimmo is by far the best non-SS left in FA. I'm really hoping the Astros don't have to make trades.
Is Omar Navarez not even an option? He's perfect to platoon with Maldy. Is there something wrong with him besides having a bad year last year?
He's likely a good backup catcher at this point. Not sure if he's an option or not, but he would likely not be a priority.
The Astros made at least one three-year offer to Contreras, according to a person with knowledge of the team’s discussions. It’s unclear whether the Astros broached a fourth year or had any inclination to include a fifth, but their interest in Contreras was strong. Signing another catcher may portend a trade of Maldonado, who a crucial part of Houston’s clubhouse chemistry and one of the team’s foremost leaders, to clear a spot for Lee or Diaz to develop. Christian Vázquez, whom Houston traded for last August after Crane nixed the Contreras deal, is now the best available catcher on the free-agent market. Contreras’ five-year deal delivered a benchmark for him to gauge his worth. Vázquez is two years older than Contreras and nowhere near the offensive threat. If the Astros have interest in a reunion, they are far from Vázquez’s only suitor. Other teams more desperate for catching may present more compelling deals. Multiple people familiar with the Astros’ situation said there is mutual interest in two-time Gold Glover Tucker Barnhart, who would solve another of Houston’s winter needs. Barnhart bats lefthanded, sorely needed balance for a lineup that’s too righthanded. Barnhart has a preexisting relationship with Baker, for whom he played in Cincinnati, and is thought to want a two-year deal. A report on Monday afternoon from MLB.com threw the Astros into the sweepstakes for Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy, who is widely expected to be traded this winter. Barnhart is under club control through 2025 and will command a huge return from whichever team acquires him. Whether Houston has enough to lure him is a mystery. Whether Crane feels it necessary to do so is another.
These are the types of responses that make me believe Crane et al aren't all that serious about making any more major moves - they're simply not willing to pay the going rate for most of the top flight talent. Which is odd bc they were willing to give one of the older FA's out there a deal into his age 39 season. I don't know that much about guys like Contreras but if one of the other smartest orgs in baseball were willing to go to 5 years for him, I very much doubt we had any advanced metrics that told us that was unwise. Odds are Crane isn't quite as committed to "going all in" on multiple signings as he's letting on. From al accounts, Contreras was our main target remaining. Also not saying this as if it's necessarily a bad thing, I just don't think Crane is as serious as he's letting on. He's never been that owner frankly. EDIT: seeing Rome say we offered Contreras a 3 year deal is all you need to know. The #1 catcher on the market, only 30 yrs old, your proclaimed #1 target, and you won't go beyond 3 years? That's the opposite of a serious offer.
Completely subjective, the Astros catcher was the best player on the team is an equally valid argument.
