The balls out way: Sign Christian Walker, Yusei Kikuchi, and Michael Conforto Trade for Luis Robert (include Meyers in that trade) CF Robert 2B Altuve DH Alvarez RF Tucker 1B Walker C Diaz LF Conforto SS Pena 3B Dezenzo Bench: Dubon, Caratini, McCormick, Singleton that’s a stacked lineup and if McCormick returns to form that’s a stacked bench. But that’s asking a lot from Crane.
Hear me out... the free agent market for first is not good, and we are more likely to have another Jose Abreu than a prime Yuli available. We have a glut in the outfield of mediocre talent, but a good number of them are specialists in one way or another, so time to get Chas a first baseman's glove and let him platoon with Singleton. It is cost-efficient, and assuming Chas can rebound against lefties at minimum, not actually bad at the plate, and passable defensively.
I think the organization has been poorly managed for at least a couple years now. Don't have a ton of confidence in the folks leading the Astros these days TBH. Feels like the window is closing a bit faster then I suspected.
We can’t know what limits Crane has on spending money. He’s continued to spend more each year and gone well over the first 2 CBT thresholds. Robert’s stock is low; if Houston wants to trade for him, they have the prospects. Who knows for sure what the Sox would ask for and if it’d be worth it, but I do think Houston has the prospects to make the trade.
From the MLBTR article on JV: Per RosterResource, the Astros project to be have a spending gap of more than $100MM between 2024 and 2025, both in terms of pure payroll and their competitive balance tax number. However, that gap is actually narrower when considering the full picture. The arbitration projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz have the Astros slated to pay over $58MM to a group headlined by Valdez and Kyle Tucker. So that would project Houston to be able to take on between $30M and $50M in new 2025 money, making reasonable (but uncertain) assumptions about payroll capacity and holding back some for the deadline. Thats enough to add one significant contract and 2 3rd tier contracts. I actually expect the market for non-superstars to be pretty cold, as so many teams are dealing with revenue uncertainty and reductions related to TV contracts. So I’m optimistic about what Houston will be able to do this offseason.
Best part of the offseason...unfollowing Chandler Rome. Not a fan of his opinions, but Astros really hurting for a good beat reporter that isn't tied to the Astros or MLB.
Trade them: Tucker. J Abreau R Montero With the money saved you could go get SOTO. Problem solved. You're welcome I know it's not plausible or practical for the Sox, but it could happen until it does not.
They are not rebuilding - at least that is what Brown told employees after the exit. As for Hader - he isn't going to be traded. He has four years left on his deal. I do believe that they will use him differently next year, like a traditional closer and he will pitch one inning the majority of the time. They got overly cute with him. He isn't 25 years old now. His success will go up once they use him like a modern closer and the era will go down. They supposedly are going to work on his pitch location as well. As for third base - they are willing to try and keep Bregman if Bregman is willing to make sacrifices to stay. The Astros do not know what Bregman will do, and are not assuming he will be willing to not let the market play out. The most likely outcome is that Bregman is out and the Astros find a short-term solution that doesn't cost a lot of money and use the money on other positions. As for first base - they are very interested in Christian Walker if Bregman is gone. Walker is a very good fielder, and he is capable of hitting in the middle of the line up. His bat is better than Bregman's. In the outfield - I still expect them to trade for someone under team control and to also possibly sign a free agent that is an above average bat to a short term deal. Lowe from the Rays is someone that the Astros have targeted before, and I could see them try to sign him. On the pitching side they ideally sign a middle of the rotation guy like Kikuchi or Pivetta - but if they are priced out on that - they likely look at Verlander, Scherzer, Bieber, Severino or Michael Lorenzo.
They will need to spend money and they are willing to do that. However - there are other options, they are looking at trading for players already under team control to fill holes. It will cost prospects and/or players at other positions under team control - but they are going to be aggressive looking at bats in trade.
The Astros will have some money - especially if they end up dealing Pressly and Caratini and don't bring back Bregman and Urquidy. As for dealing for Robert - the White Sox want young pitching under team control - and they are also a big fan of Melton. It is certainly conceivable the Astros could add free agents and deal for someone like Robert. I don't know if they will resign Kikuchi without him making it a priority to be back - but there are a lot of pitchers out there.
Yup - that is inline with what I have heard. Back up catcher is one area where the Astros are looking at saving money. They also are looking at the pen and possibly a platoon situation.
