In your mind is his ability to start gone forever- or is that something the Astros might still be open to? It seems a waste for a guy that big that throws hard and has 4 pitches not to start. I'm onboard with him getting his feet wet in the bullpen next season and seeing if he can keep his head on straight- but if he stays healthy and productive I'd like to see him start in 26 (or at least be given that chance) when Framber is gone. If he's at least a MOR guy that is really helpful. Ideal 26 rotation: TOR potential- Brown (arb 1), Arrighetti (pre arb 3), Javier (20M), Kichuchi (16M- year 2 of a 3 year 48M deal?) MOR potential (JV- year 2 of a 3/45M deal?), Whitley (pre arb 2), Blubaugh (pre arb 1- start him in SL until May), Garcia (arb 3- $6M). Others with a chance to contribute: Ullola, Fleury, Gordon, France, Gusto. LMJ will be in the last year of his contract making 17M in 2026. It feels like the right idea not to extend Framber or Bregman and to extend Tucker. I'd sign 1 of Kikuchi or JV if either of them would be willing to do 3 years at less than 50M- no idea if htis is a non-starter or not. Holy **** this run should continue for a good long while if that staff even comes remotely close to doing what they've done and the development continues to churn along.
Yep. Baseball powers that be can be fu****s in that regard. So much happens and has happened within the game and yet they want to scapegoat individuals. Luhnow deserves to be in the game. I would be incredibly surprised if it ever happens though. You can tell he still loves the Astros too. I have to wonder what the relationship with Crane is these days if there is one at all.
With starters being limited to 5-7 innings the value of single inning high leverage relief pitchers is unchanged but 2-4 innings long relievers will be more important than ever. I think Whitley is a bullpen guy one way or another.
2025 opening day Starters F Valdez* H Brown Y Kikuchi* S Arrighetti R Blanco Long Relievers (2-4 innings) L Garcia JP France L McCullers Single Inning Relievers J Hader* F Whitley B Abreu T Scott L VanWey
I was under the impression that Presley had an agreement with the Astros thru the end of this season. Next season they have a mutual option for $14 million with a $2 million buy out. If Whitley performs well he will be under team control for the minimum. Keeping Presley makes little financial sense, and I believe the make up of the pen will include fewer single inning relievers and more multi inning relievers in 2025.
The mutual option became a guaranteed year when Pressly hit 50 ip between 2023-2024, which he has done.
In the crap shoot baseball postseason I still don't think people truly appreciate just how crazy this run has been. Not just 7 straight ALCS, but they only failed to get to game 7 of the ALCS once. We lost in game 5 of the ALCS in 2018... and that's our worst finish. There are still fans who will try to say this team chokes when they lose even after this craziness.
I believe they will have the same type pen they have this year even without Pressly. Hader/Abreu/Whitley/Ort/Neris and maybe Scott will be back and even if he's not I've got confidence in Dana being able to find a quality arm for the BP on the cheap this offseason. That doesn't even take into account guys like Ulolla who have great arms that could win a middle relief spot in the BP. If Dana can bring back Kikuchi the pitching staff will be fine even if JV leaves.
Taking the best alternative option off the market probably ups Bregman’s value. That said, Bregman’s current injury is likely lowering his value, especially if it’s something he’s going to have to have surgery for after the season. So it’s hard to guess Bregman’s value. My guess is that if he finishes this season/postseason strong and has a clean bill of health, he will get $200M or very close to it. But if he requires surgery, he may find a soft market and want a pillow deal. In that case Houston would likely be in the mix.
Bregman Will Crane go 6 years? Probably 5/150 would be the offer if they make one. Tucker is going to get a 10 year deal from someone, so I think he is gone. If it comes down to Framber or Bregman who do you pick?
That was only after he had a bounce back year this year. He was only able to get a 1 year deal in last year's FA. Bregman may be needing to consider something similar (or a 3 year deal to split the difference) with this many unknowns.
I strongly believe that if Bregman were willing to take $150M/6yrs, it would be done already. Between Framber and Bregman at the same price, I take Bregman.
