It feels like we are in an era where owners only hang on to teams 15-20 years, instead of making them heirlooms. But Crane is a different guy. He was a player and owns to team to win instead of as an investment. He also kicked Reid Ryan to the curb in favor of his son a few years back. I also would not expect him to jump ship until he sees a good return on the entertainment district coming soon. 9-10 years maybe, but I doubt he's gone before then.
And as a FA, you have the right to ask. You have the right to wait You either win, or settle. It just looks bad if you made it public and then settle.
I don't see any team giving him more then 200-210 (7+ yrs). Astros should offer him 6/180 and give him two days to accept it or move on. The difference of 20-30 mil would be offset by no state income, city income tax, cost of living, and staying with the franchise that drafted you, won WS with, and still will have a really good team if you stay. Be a legacy player. Your wifes family is in Htown and how many players get to stay with one franchise their entire career. Astros should go this route because Bregman stays at 3rd and Paredes slides over to 1B. They will then have Altuve/Bregman/Yordan/Diaz/Paredes locked up for the next three yrs minimum.
Wouldn't it be better to offer 7 years $180? That's $24 mil for 1 extra year over what they already offered. If they were to go $180 mil then I'd think this would've been the route offered first. Most I see the Astros doing is 6 years $168 at this point.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/st...s-update-passan-arenado-bregman-burnes-alonso … St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado used his no-trade protection to block a deal to the Houston Astros, who were willing to pay $59 million of the remaining $64 million on his contract, according to sources. While the parties could revisit a trade for Arenado, his killing the deal could lead St. Louis to kick in more money as it attempts to move him -- and, in doing, so draw more teams' interest -- or could lead to Arenado staying with the Cardinals. He is not the only All-Star on the trade market. San Diego general manager A.J. Preller, always willing to consider creative deals, could move infielders Jake Cronenworth or Luis Arraez. With a paucity of on-the-dirt free agents, either would bring back a premium. Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. is owed $15 million this year with a pair of $20 million club options after that, and whether it's this winter or at the July trade deadline, he is widely expected to be dealt. For teams in search of an outfield bat, the Mets' Starling Marte, Cleveland's Lane Thomas, San Francisco's Mike Yastrzemski and the Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward are there to be had. Other options include Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor -- whose availability, along with that of San Francisco's LaMonte Wade Jr. and Texas' Nathaniel Lowe, further muddies a crowded first-base free agent market -- Angels utilityman Luis Rengifo and Minnesota catcher Christian Vazquez. The cache of arms who could be on the move includes Padres right-hander Dylan Cease, Miami left-hander Jesus Luzardo, St. Louis right-hander Erick Fedde, Texas right-hander Jon Gray and Minnesota right-hander Chris Paddack, with Tampa Bay less likely to move right-hander Zack Littell after dealing lefty Jeffrey Springs to the A's. Some of the biggest names bandied about come with complications. Three-time All-Star Luis Castillo has been dangled by Seattle in multiple scenarios but wields a no-trade clause. Same with Carlos Correa, owed $128 million over the last four years of his deal with Minnesota. The Twins have listened on right-hander Pablo Lopez, and if free agent pitching prices remain stratospheric, perhaps they'll go beyond the listening stage. On the other hand, Philadelphia is steadfast in its contention that third baseman Alec Bohm isn't going anywhere, despite the Phillies' desire to reshape their roster. A near-lock not to be moved: left-hander Framber Valdez, with Houston having told opposing executives it plans to keep him. The biggest name missing from this list: Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Blue Jays entered this winter intending to spend, and while they won't spread out the $700 million they were willing to give Soto on a group of lesser players, moving Guerrero is a last resort. If Toronto struggles and doesn't foresee re-signing Guerrero, he'll become the prize of the July deadline. The two remaining top-of-the-market free agents Temperature: Comfortable Right-hander Corbin Burnes and third baseman Alex Bregman are the two players left who fit this description, each with distinct markets that include some crossover. They also share an agent (Scott Boras) and a likely signing date after Christmas. The cost to sign Burnes is likely to exceed Fried's deal, and Bregman's payday could be in the $200 million range as well. The markets for both players remain strong because a number of teams still have big money to spend. Among those with payroll flexibility: Toronto, San Francisco, Boston, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston and both New York teams. Bregman has the widest variety of options. The Blue Jays need a third baseman. Ditto the Red Sox. The Yankees could move Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third to second base, and the Mets could make a similar infield shuffle with Mark Vientos shifting to first. The Astros don't want to stretch beyond a six-year offer and got Isaac Paredes in the Tucker trade to man third, but he could shift to first if Bregman re-signs with Houston. And the Tigers have a need for top-end talent and a connection through manager A.J. Hinch, under whom Bregman played for five years. The Phillies are also lurking, but only if they were to move Bohm. Burnes' suitors include the Giants, Blue Jays and Orioles, and because of his bona fides -- four All-Star appearances, a Cy Young Award and the second-best ERA in MLB over the past half-decade at 2.88 -- ruling out others engaging would be premature. … Infielders Temperature: Cold The pipes are frozen on the first-base market. Beyond Alonso, Christian Walker is the top available choice, and he would love to get a fourth year. So far, teams have balked at going more than three. Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana, both in their late 30s, will require one-year deals and have held firm on prices teams simply haven't been willing to pay yet. The teams in need of a first baseman include some of the biggest in baseball: the Yankees, Mets, Astros, Arizona and Seattle. But as long as teams believe Naylor and Wade are available, they can stand firm on free agents and threaten to -- or actually -- pivot to trades. The two top middle infielders available each come with impediments. For Ha-Seong Kim, who has played shortstop, second base and third base, it's his arm. He underwent labrum surgery in August, and for a player whose big league value mostly has come from his defense, it's a fair concern. At the same time, Kim is targeting a late-April return, and accordingly, he does not want to sign at a severe discount. Second baseman Gleyber Torres was barely a league-average hitter this year and does not distinguish himself defensively or on the basepaths. But he's only 28. And as much as teams value production, age remains a pertinent factor in free agent signings and could serve as Torres' saving grace. … Corner outfielders Temperature: Frigid This is the most confusing group considering that the list of teams that have inquired about corner outfielders includes nearly half the teams in baseball: the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Mets, Padres, Yankees, Braves, Phillies, Giants, Angels, Astros, Reds, Pirates and Royals There aren't enough free agents to fill the open spots. While some teams could bow out via other moves -- if the Yankees sign a first baseman, for example, Bellinger will be a full-time outfielder and negate the need for another -- plenty have the incentive to lock in on a target and go full pursuit. At the front of the group are Teoscar Hernández and Anthony Santander. Both are coming off excellent seasons that led to being tagged with a qualifying offer. Hernández's return to the Dodgers has always felt logical, but with his free agency festering longer than anticipated, a surprise team could jump into the mix. The interest in Santander has been limited enough that, despite coming off a 44-home run season, he could get squeezed. Also looking for a deal in the three-year-plus range: Jurickson Profar, who is coming off a .280/.380/.459 season that included a career-best 24 home runs. Veteran Joc Pederson is regarded as an elite platoon option against right-handed pitching as well as a top clubhouse presence, and he's primed to snag a multiyear deal. Among the candidates for one-year agreements: Max Kepler, Alex Verdugo, Randal Grichuk (a lefty killer), Jesse Winker, Mark Canha, Austin Hays, Manuel Margot, Ramon Laureano, and Harrison Bader and Kiké Hernandez, both of whom play center.
I think Arenado has the Angels on his yes-trade list because he's from Orange County. 20-minute drive. Unlike outside free agents, overpaying guys like Bregman or Altuve wouldn't bother me. If they struggle in the final years of their contracts, I'd just see their big salaries as a thank you for all the pennants and championships they won for the city.
This is a great reset. Astros have a lot of options to get three vet bats to fill out the lineup. Need a couple of guys that can hit left-handed.
I don't agree with that. Years of control has always been Jim Crane's biggest issue. It would not surprise me if Crane would rather do a 6 yr $180M deal than a 7 yr $180M deal. That extra $4.3M in AAV may not be more attractive to him than having the commitment end a year earlier.
He belongs here. The Polar Bear at the ICE Box. Someone tell Bagwell to tell Crane he just came up with that.
Agreed... getting that $25+ mil off the books around that time for luxury tax purposes makes a lot of sense actually...
The Astros want to limit it to 6 years. Bregman wants 7 years and $200M The obvious answer is a vesting option. 6yrs/$180M + $20M option w/ $5M buyout that vests at 450 PAs. If Bregman is still good at 36 then he gets 450 PAs and he gets his $200M. If he's good enough to get 450 PAs in 2030, then $20M in 2031 should be a bargain. If he isn't, then it's easy to sit him enough to avoid the extra $15M and year on the roster. Lesser playing time justified if he's below average. If the option doesn't vest, then Bregman has a solid chance of getting $15M on the FA market to hit his $200M goal.
