I think at this point, the biggest mark is Abreu and health. He looked great in the Spring until the injury. Obviously Framber's elbow is a concern. I'm just hoping he is hyper conservative based on the stuff Verlander, McCullers, Garcia, Urquidy has gone through. Montero coming back to life is really good.
No team is likely to be ready to sell yet, but here are 4 guys that I think would make sense for Houston if they are ready to move on from Jose Abreu: Luis Arraez, Ryan McMahon, Jake Burger, Yoan Moncada. All 4 guys can play both 1B and 3B, and come with additional control. Any of them could replace Abreu (or singleton) this season then serve as a stopgap replacement for Bregman or Abreu next season.
Arraez is a star. I'm not sure what it would take for Miami to part with him, but he'd be great. They may be more likely to part ways with Burger, who had a really productive year last season between CHW and MIA. Either would be an upgrade. I don't think McMahon or Moncada are worth trading for.
Didn't Nook say Astros were interested in Burger last year? Unless things changed, he makes sense as the target?
If Abreu and Singleton have not improved by May 1st this is what I do: Promote Cabbage and DFA Singleton. Cabbage starts at 1B vs all RHSP and hits 8th. Abreu starts vs LHSP who throw under 92 mph or use FB less than 50%. Kessinger starts at 1B in the other games. Start giving Julks some starts at 1B in AAA when Loperfido is playing elsewhere. Reassess 1B at the all star break. Has Cabbage reduced Ks and/or produced? Is Abreu coming around? Is Loperfido ready? Can Julks be 13th guy/b-u 1B if needed? Is Kessinger a viable 13th man?
Cabbage is hitting .222 in AAA. He hit .111 in Spring Training, and .208 last year for the Angels. He's probably not good. I get that Abreu looks cooked. But we need a better option if we're gonna bench him. Crane has got to be able to find money under the couch cushions for Brandon Belt, or trade for something better than what we've got available.
I just realized that if the Astros win the World Series this year Blair Henley gets a ring. If that’s not motivation I don’t know what is
Loperfido is our best internal chance to fix 1B, I know he has some K issues, but I have hope he can perform well at the big league level.
I know about Cabbage - who is also striking out too much, but this isn't really about him. It's about Abreu and Singleton being zeros at the plate, in the field, and on the bases. The Astros need to find a 1B they can park in the 7th or 8th spot in the order and hope he can do something positive once every few games and isn't an overall negative. Cabbage has a VERY low floor, but also has some ceiling left, unlike Abreu or Singleton and also brings baserunning and defensive value. He is at a point where he needs to hit at the MLB level or the Astros should move on. This is his chance. Roll the dice because it's a better option than they have now. If it works he can improve his trade value or be a good 13th man. If not park him in AAA and move on. At 27 and his likely outcomes there is no need to protect him like a true prospect. He is basically getting his chance and buying time for Loperfido
SS/3B = Pena 2B/DH = Altuve (DH when Alvarez/Tucker/McCormick/Meyers = OF, Dubon = 2B, Caratini = C) LF/DH = Alvarez (DH when Tucker/McCormick, Dubon in OF) RF/DH = Tucker (DH when McCormick/Alvarez/Dubon in OF) DH/2B/CF/SS = Dubon (2B when Caratini = C & Altuve = DH, CF when McCormick = LF/RF, SS when Pena = 3B) CF/LF/RF = McCormick 3B/DH = Bregman C = Diaz (DH when Caratini = C) 1B/C = Caratini / (Singleton/Abreu = 1B when Caratini = C) this is my lineup, in order as appearance... every reason to believe this can be a RBI/XBH producing lineup ...to reference these past professional organizational anchors-- I would think Pupura, Hinch, Garner, Hunsicker, Cora, Dierker, Wade, Elias, Click, Cintron, Pettis, Espada, Luhnow & Dana Brown-- all had/have (hopefully) the same thought-process & aligned-thinking. Makes enough sense other than numbers unknown to us-- or exactly how they minimize/maximize contract cost/value. CAN and/or DOES THE FREE REIGN EXIST-- Dana Brown prepare to make a seemingly sweeping strategic move as you described? I was under the impression Caratini could play 1B -- wrong? (it was confirmed here)....
Caratini absolutely can and has played 1B The issue is that: As a catcher, he is a very good and valuable player with a much better bat than most other options. As a 1B, his bat is pretty mediocre and doesn't add to any projected wins.
