Pitching was not a strength before the Kikuchi trade... we essentially had 2 solid arms (Hunter and Framber), one erratic arm (Arrighetti), one hitting a wall (Blanco), and the poo poo platter of bullpen games. Gamel getting hurt at the end hurt big time... we actually had some depth in the OF until he and Chas went down.
Sign Christian Walker. Try again and make a trade for Diaz for 3B???? Is Diaz any good at 3B? Seems like he hasn't played for a few years now. Is it because he was bad or because they had Paredes at 3B? But both IF bats. I would hope they would maybe add an okay bat for the OF(Winkler, Conforto, or maybe Kiner Falefa if he's capable at OF). Although probably too much money added
My goals: Trade for a young major league ready catcher, play Yainar at 1B and DH more. Rebuild bullpen using Whitley and hopefully McCullers. I wouldn't mind Ferguson back if money is right. Pressley likely traded to save payroll if he doesn't opt out. I still think the market on Bregman isn't higher than 5 or 6 years at 25-30. That keeps him within range of the Astros budget. Unloading salary makes it easier to take on. Jake and Chas are fine as backups but they need an everyday guy in CF. I would bring back Verlander on 1 year deal for less than 20 as a stopgap to bridge to the return of Javier and Urquidy. I would have him as a #4 starter in a 6 man rotation if Garcia is healthy. Kikuchi on a 3 or 4 year deal could be worth bringing back for depth. Most teams can't win with 6 starters going down... we'll be fine when we get some health back.
Analytics dont tell you if a guys a money player. Yuli's at his best on the big stage. Some guys are just like this.
1: Altuve 2: Tucker 3: Alvarez 4: Elite hitter capable of playing 3B or CF 5: Diaz 6: Singleton/McCormick platoon 7: Pena 8: Solid veteran hitter capable of playing 1B and LF 9: Meyers, Dubon, Whitcomb, or Dezenzo
Yainer is an all star and huge advantage at catcher. He is an average 1b. The bullpen does not need rebuilt. Pressly needs to go but there is tons of talent- especially with Murfee, Sousa, and Ortega returning from injury. McCullers is a lottery ticket. Put him in the rotation or bullpen, depending on which the doctors say give him the best chance to stay healthy. Have a replacement ready at all times and anything you get from him is gravy. And FTR I still think he has something positive to bring. I just don't know what, when, or how much of an impact it will make. Every fact and reason shows Bregman gets at least what Chapman got. I hope he returns, but he will have several teams after him. Meyers is a very valuable player to have just not as an everyday starter. Only trade him if you can find an everyday starting CF. Otherwise, find a platoon partner for him. Chas is a great 4th OF if Meyers is not on the team. If he is, then trade Chas to add offensive versatility to the outfield. If Verlander comes back it needs to be on an incentive laden deal with a very small base. He all but lost his chance at 300 wins by getting hurt this year, but may still have something in the tank and you can never have too much pitching. I think the 6 man rotation is the way to go. Kikuchi should be much more than depth. He should be a target and be resigned to be one of the top 3-4 starters in the rotation. If you get him ( and especially if you get Verlander too) then drop Framber for young controllable position players.
For the most part, that's not a real thing. It's just sample size. Yuli has a .764 OPS for his career but .705 in the playoffs. He just had a lot of opportunities so naturally in some of those he came through.
Yuli has been worse since he left Houston (and even the last year he was here) than Singleton. Nostalgia aside, he is not a solution for next year and would not have been the answer at 1B the last two years.
\ Yeah, makes no sense at all. It's easier to find 1B that hit like Diaz than a catcher that can hit like Diaz.
Resign Bregman if reasonable and spend some money on some 1B and LF bats which should be the least expensive bats to find. Hopeful, Brice, Melton, and Dezenzo turn into something and we can trade some of our access talent for good prospects.
Hopefully Dana can trade for Happ/Robert and sign Lowe or Walker. This would be a great off season and would make the Stros major contenders again.
Because Diaz has no value as a catcher. 120% of the value he contributed this year was in his bat. His contribution as a catcher was actually negative. Catcher is the most important defensive position on the team and Diaz is really bad there. I have been having a debate with myself as to keeping Diaz and playing him at first or Diaz as a trade piece. Or do we kick this decision down the road till the 26 season? There are a lot of arguments to be made for that.
The fielding Bible has 102 catchers listed for 2024. Diaz was tied for 16th. He is not perfect. Framing is a particularly bad skill for him, but that won't be an issue once some system is put in place to get balls and strikes accurate. In fact, that skill will be all but useless. But to say he has no value as a catcher is laughable.
