He is serious but not foolishly so. I'd say this model of not going balls out and overpaying for FA talent has worked out pretty well over the past 6 years.
Yes please. Split DH/LF between Yordan and Uncle Mike and play Conforto or Benintendi in CF. Chaz is your 4th OF. Dubon is DFA’d. (Going to speak that into existence!)
I didn't say otherwise. But don't tell everyone that will listen you're ready to go all in when you're obviously not. Most of us (keyword most) aren't that stupid. All this hemming and hawing about what other big names we might lure to Houston when i all likelihood Crane isn't planning on bringing anyone else of note in.
It's really not. You can't just say "everything is subjective" in order to try and grant credibility to ridiculous statements. Those who want to pretend it's subjective tend buy into the more mystical BS surrounding the game....it's always "sure every metric says they suck, but what about intangibles" or those who credit the catcher for how the pitcher performs....and those kinds of things are almost entirely nonsense.
I’m still in the Benintendi camp. Left handed batter, just 28 years old, hits for average, doesn’t strike out much, walks at a decent clip. He’s not a “win you the game” type…he keeps the line moving.
I think that's the direction they are going. Since there's not a quality option available, they'll go after someone cheap and short term to be the weak hitting backup catcher as a placeholder. That should leave more money available to target a higher tier OF/DH
This is where I am. If he really can't play CF ( and if the Astros don't want Chas there I can't imagine they want him there ) and Yordan is playing 45-70% of games in LF then he needs to be impactful with the bat ( to DH), otherwise just go with McCormick.
How is that remotely debatable? Even losing Verlander the team returning had a 3.26 era last year. On top of that, you just added Jose Abreu to make it the best 7 man lineup in baseball including Chaz McCormick whose no slouch with the OPs. Please explain to me how the Dodgers(losing Turner) or Braves(losing Swanson) who choked in the playoffs are better than the returning champs.
I am scouring for possible bats that actually make an impact and am not finding any/many But then I remembered him.
If we signed him to 4 years I think we can get him for no more than 8 million. His last contract which should have been his best chance was for only 5 million AAV.
The Astros have got where they are by how they draft, develop their players and make prudent roster decisions. They made reasonable expenditures on two need positions and passed on risker, more expensive investments. That's been their MO. There is a reason they went after Contreras, but there was also a reason they were unwilling to trade Urquidy for him last year. The only glaring need is a left handed bat, or two.
Yeah I don't want anything to do with a 4 year contract for 33 year old Vazquez. Also, with no quality options available, and at least a few teams desperate for catchers, I think he might get more than most people expect.
Yep. No reason to force it. We’ve survived with a hole at the 9 spot, and it’s extremely rare to not have at least one defensive specialist in your lineup. Sign one more quality bat to give you a solid 1-8, then see who emerges from the farm system.
Rule V Draft In the First Round, the Astros select: No one! Passes No Astros selected in the first round or second round. Now moving to the AAA phase.
Yep... for a left fielder that's more or less average, you can also try the Braves 2021 approach -- play it out and see if you can strike lightning in a bottle down the stretch (with Rosario, Soler, and Duvall). I'd prefer that to a mid to high teens deal for Benintendi.
