I don't doubt Altuve could go to LF and field balls out there at an average level at least. But when on the road in bigger parks, his arm would 100% be an issue. We really should not want Yordan in LF very much, with his history of lower body issues it just doesn't make sense, his bat is too valuable So if Altuve to LF is going to be a thing, Espada is going to have to be really smart with his use of them. Altuve on the road with Framber on the mound, yea he should be fine in LF for the most part. But any time we have a fly ball pitcher on the bump, him being out there in a large LF will cause issues
With Polanco off the board, Altuve to LF will only be a regular thing if the Astros bring back Bregman or Arenado is their backup plan.
Yea i'm sure that is correct I really hope we don't make a move for Arenado. Before we acquired Paredes I wasn't crazy about it, but I understood the need for acquiring a legit 3B. Now that we have Paredes, it isn't a "need" and I just don't see Arenado as a player we should be actively looking to acquire when it would then require several other moves to make fit As much as Bregman is frustrating with his slow starts, reality is he is a very consistent player. No, we will never get another season like 2019 out of him, but the last four years he has hit for an OPS between 768 and 820 each year. He gives you competitive at bats pretty much every time, he walks almost as much as he K's Arenado is still a great defender, but he lost almost 60 points of OPS last year and that was coming off of losing over 100 points of OPS the previous year. While he isn't "old" at 33, he clearly has declined two years in a row. I just don't see him as a guy we should target, at 33 years old and on a big salary, when we don't have a need at the one position he plays anymore Even with Alex, as much as i'd be ok with him coming back now, i'm not sure it would be the smartest way to spend 156 million dollars
Do I want Arenado at 3 years, 74M? No. If the Cardinals pay down some of his salary to make his remaining contract owed by the Astros 3 years, 45-48M, it’s a different valuation for me. Arenado is still a Gold Glove third baseman and he’s a dead pull hitter like Bregman and Paredes. Minute Maid Park will help him as a hitter. The reality is the remaining free agent outfielder market is a bunch of depth pieces that nobody should want to start, and the trade market is limited, too. Other than Wilyer Abreu in Boston and Luis Robert, Arenado is better than Cedric Mullins, Mike Yastremski, etc. I really want Bregman to return because he will help the team the most and he’s an Astros’ legend that the team’s best player respects and wants around. But, I can see why Arenado is a backup plan for the team if the Cardinals pay down enough salary.
Even at 14-16 million per year over the next 3 years, I just don't see him as a fit. We have a 3B now who is much younger, controlled at a very low cost, and also is a pull hitting masher. Taking a chance on Altuve being able to play LF, or forcing Yordan's legs to play out there while Altuve or Paredes is the DH, in order to pay a guy who has gone from .891 OPS to .774 OPS to .719 OPS the past three years, just doesn't seem like a good use of funds And it's not like that 14-16 million per year couldn't affect us if he didn't rebound. We just had to find a way to get rid of Pressly so we could get out from under his contract, and we have been hamstrung to a bit the past couple of years because of paying that same range of money to Abreu and a little less to Montero Without a need at 3B, taking the risk even in that price range again just makes zero sense to me. If we were talking about a LF who the same exact numbers and was a strong defensive player, i'd be more open. The risk/reward there would just make more sense than it does at a position of no need Heck, after the Tucker trade even our top prospect is now a 3B
From what I’ve read the deal for Arenado had Houston taking on ~$45M/3yrs. I can’t say for certain I’d rather have the deal for Arenado than Bregman at $160M/6yrs, but it’s close. But I agree with you, both Arenado and Bregman likely improve the team more than whatever OF are currently realistically available.
The issue with Arenado is convincing him to waive his no-trade clause. I think he still doesn't want to come to Houston.
Yeah, that is the big question. There seems to be speculation that Houston signing Walker combined with a lack of other options might have opened Arenado back up to coming to Houston.
If they're going to take on a large amount of salary in an incoming trade then Luis Robert Jr. just makes so much more sense than Arenado.
If the money is close to the same, but Arenado doesn’t require meaningful prospects while Robert requires 2 of Houston’s top 6 prospects, I would much rather have Arenado.
In a vacuum i'd MUCH rather have Robert But we don't really have the prospect capital to go after Robert in my opinion Not saying we don't have enough well thought of prospects that we couldn't possibly put a package together, but i'd be shocked if we would be willing to outbid what other organizations would put up for him And i'd be shocked if the Sox deal him in the offseason. Much more likely they hope for him to get off to a good start and look healthy, and then try to strike when his value is higher
There are questions about whether Cam Smith sticks at third base longterm. He very well may end up a corner outfielder when it is all said and done. As for Arenado, I understand where you are coming from, but Jim Crane wants to compete for championships every year. He’s a better player than the majority of players available to the Astros right now. Not to mention, he improves the infield defense and Minute Maid Park plays into his hitting style, so he could rebound offensively here. That’s what Crane and Brown are thinking. Plus, they traded Pressly not only because he asked for a trade at the beginning of the offseason but to free up money to upgrade the offense.
The Whitesox tried to trade him to the Reds for Edwin Arroyo. He's the #92 MLB prospect. The Astros could match that with Melton or Brice Matthews in a 1 for 1. I think an average Roberts season would be Meltons career season. And if he bounces back u have 1 of the best outfielders in the game. Dana should at least have a conversation with Whitesox people.
