He gave it to Verlander when he came back from TJ surgery. He would have given it again if it weren't for 40 million per over 3 years.
I prefer Montgomery as well but Crane likes certain players and it seems like he likes Snell. Might be Snell or basically make a trade at the deadline. But all they need to do is remind Crane that Montgomery shut the Astros down last year in the playoffs and he was pretty consistent through out the playoffs.
Gerritt Cole got his 2nd opinion. No surgery. Out 10-12 weeks. Maybe that puts the Yankees out of the running with Snell.
I would also like to read @Nook 's take on Snell. We have heard that Crane likes high ceiling talent. I prefer Montgomery: 1) 3 consecutive seasons 150+ IP w/ ERA under 4 2) improved IP, ip/gs, and ERA 3 cons. years 3) is a target of Rangers 4) does not have QO attached. Snell: 1)in 7 years never pitched 130+ innings except his two CY Young seasons. 2) Has 4+ ERA in 3 of his 7 seasons. 3)Has QO attached.
Its no surgery for now. He's going to rest 4-8 weeks. Then start throwing again. If there is any flare-up or re-aggravation of the soreness, he'll likely then get surgery. My guess is that there's a minor/partial tear. Yes, it can heal... but as soon as he ramps it up again, who knows what happens.
If Crane is down with spending, Snell is the guy I want. Innings don't concern me. I'd rather take a chance on absolute brilliance over consistency as Astros will likely have some good arms in the postseason already.
You are right. RIGHT NOW but by the time the post season gets here the Astros could gain Verlander, McCullers, and Garcia. If even 2 of those guys are back I will take the Astros. But I was responding to a post that said the Mariners are LOADED with pitching. They aren't. They have 3 very good starters and 2 MOR guys and no 6th starter. They have 1 dominant reliever, 3 good relievers (2 of whom are currently hurt) and several guys no better than Stanek. They have excellent top end pitching talent but no depth and any injury to a top 3 starter or top 3 reliever will hurt them more than most.
This isn't 2021 anymore and the Mariners staff is only going to get better. The only Astros pitcher with some sort of consistent success and a track record sans an aging Verlander is Framber Valdez. That's really it. You can hope for some sort of production from the oft-injured Garcia and McCullers. The guy who many thought would eat innings is now done for the foreseeable future, Urquidy. Hunter Brown is a bit of a Wild Card with 155 innings pitched last year, but even then he showed signs of fatigue later in the year. Javier took a step back last year and unless he rebounds... that's also an unreliable arm. So yes, when comping this staff with the Mariners early in the year it's an issue. Astros can't afford to fall behind early in the standings which is why the reports of Snell make sense. Astros know... I think it's time to start noticing what's happening in Seattle. Might be forreal this time, they are better than their 2022 team.
Blanco needs to come up with another solid outing today and solidify that 4th/5th spot in the rotation.
This is an exaggeration. The Astros are and have been doing their due diligence on starting pitching…. The pen and the outfield market. This makes it sound like the Astros were heavily shopping. They have been monitoring the market to see if they can get a really good deal… but they were doing that with an outfielder too. Adam Duvall was close to being an Astro until the Braves made the same offer. Hard to hear much on Snell, as far as what he is thinking or doing. I know the Mariners have been keeping tabs on him too. All I have heard is from an Astros source that Snell expected to get a massive deal after a second Cy Young, and is surprised that he has been scrutinized as much as he has. This part is just my opinion, but I believe the Astros would be open to Zimmerman too- but he has more suitors than Snell now. Cubs, Red Sox, Yankees, Rangers and others all are in on him. If Snell does a 1 year with 2 option years, I think he goes to Giants or M’s…. But that’s just my opinion
Loperfido is a lock at the point. Just pencil him in. Insurance in case Meyers decides he wants to bat .225 again this season.
