I’d say the offseason has been positive and negative. Positive moving forward to Abreu Rehiring Dusty sorting out front office issues the mindset of being aggressive Making tough decisions to let gurriel and verlander go Negatives Missing out on their primary catching target The rest of the division is getting better The ban of the shift reduces our IF and P strengths The hot market has diminished value options for us Any big upgrades going forward are likely to be huge risks or very costly trades Losses of key scouting and player development gurus
I just saw that FS1 is playing a HOU/PHI World Series documentary right now. I’m catching it mid way. It runs again on Friday night at 11pm Central.
26 Man Roser Infield (5) Abreu Altuve Peña Bregman (Utility Infielder) Catcher (3) Maldonado (Backup Catcher) 1 of Lee or Diaz Outfield (5) Tucker McCormick Yordan 1 of Meyers or Leon or Dubon (Starting LF) Staring Pitching (6) Valdez Javier McCullers Garcia Urquidy Brown Bullpen (7) Pressly Montero Neris Stanek Maton Abreu Martinez I don’t see any room at all for pitching unless you move McCullers into the bullpen, which would probably require you to trade someone currently in the bullpen. Otherwise there isn’t room for even an “inning eating vet”. The needs are: Utility Infielder Backup Catcher Decide between Lee or Diaz as a 3rd catcher Starting Left Fielder Decide between Meyers or Leon or Dubon for utility Outfielder
I’m moving forward with the hope of a Murphy acquisition. Borrowing an idea from larrythegm.com: The cost of a Murphy deal 51.3 Total Trade Value Example of Astros players that would approach this trade value Chas McCormick- 31.3- 4 years control Yainer Diaz- 14.4- 6+ years control- #3 Fangraphs Astros Prospect Colin Barber- 3.9- 6+ years control- #2 Fangraphs Astros Prospect JP France- 2.0- 6+ years control- #33 Fangraphs Astros Prospect Total package- 51.6 I would make that trade. Then sign Nimmo and Brantley. Trade Maldanado or convince him to become a coach. 2B Altuve SS Pena DH Alvarez 3B Bregman RF Tucker 1B Abreu C Murphy (3.5M) CF Nimmo (21M) LF Brantley (9M) BN Lee BN Dubon BN Hensley BN Meyers It fits in our payroll under the tax threshold and dramatically improves our offense and defense.
All fair, but we are amazingly a young team with room for improvement. I’m optimistic about the young guys coming up soon. What looks like a hole now may disappear in 6 months.
McCormick, Peña, Leon. There’s plenty of opportunity for somebody to take a big leap forward. That’s why I’d like to see us be stingy with our remaining signings. A starting LF, a defensive backup catcher we could easily cut, and 1 utility guy…then see what happens.
Trade Maldanado or convince him to be a coach. Find a good catcher. Hensley will be fine as a util IF. Get a LF.
I hope Diaz gets some reps at C this season to see what he and his bat can offer. Lee seems like he needs some more time before he’s ready.
Tempting. Really tempting. You keep all your arms, which makes me question whether the As would actually accept this deal. Hate seeing McCormick go. I think I’m saying no to this deal because of Diaz. Too much potential there. Get him with Maldy and see if he can fix his mindset.
Maybe he can be convinced otherwise. If he has the tools for it (which some think he does), then he could potentially make a lot more money that way than as a fringe 1B/DH.
Imagine if, before the 2017 season (or even a year later), Miami accepted a trade for Realmuto where we gave them Forrest Whitley, AJ Reed, Francis Martes, David Paulino, and Freudis Nova. At that time it would be considered quite a haul. I'm just saying, MLB players are proven, prospects are just prospects. To me, the fact that the 3 years of Murphy are cheap is also something to consider. There is a ceiling as to how much I'd give up for Murphy, but there are two sides to every argument.
Not saying you’re wrong, I just tend to be skittish about trading high level prospects for anyone less than a star. In most cases, I’d rather see them flame out than be the team that traded a long-term controllable all-star.
