I really wonder what going on with Verdugo's market right now. He seems like a nice bounceback platoon candidate who fills 2 issues (LH bat, good arm for RF)
At this point, I don't see any FAs that move the needle. Between the guys still out there, and the prospects/fringe guys in camp, there simply isn't enough potential upside to not give the current guys a chance. Trades are a different matter.
I really think the Astros are not going to make any substantial moves to upgrade the OF. I think they are willing to let this be a down year and re-group in the off-season when a significant amount of money frees up. If one of the youngsters pans out and we are solidly in contention, they might make some noise at the deadline, but much to the chagrine of the fans, I think they stand pat and assess peformances of their youngsters and pitching staff. If Framber shows up again, I think they try to extend him.
I don’t think the plan is to “let it be a down year.” I think one of 4 things is happening: They feel good enough about the other parts of their roster (infield, pitching) that they still feel like they will win the division even with a weak OF. They think Meyers, McCormick, and one other player will dramatically exceed projections as a whole. They really like their OF prospects in the upper minors and are willing to bide time in the first half while those guys get ready to come up. They had a plan to improve the OF this offseason, it didn’t work out, and now they’re ****ed. Basically, bad management. I personally think it’s some combination of the first 3.
The Astros outfield in 25 looks to be the same or better than it was to begin 24. Meyers, McCormick, & ? was the starting outfield last year and will be again this year. Tucker began at about the same time last year as our best prospect to play half a season this year will be ready. In the infield Walker will be a huge upgrade at first base. He is a far superior bat with superior defense at first. Parades will be equal to or a moderate improvement over Bregman. He is a similar player with better consistency at the plate and should not have the slow start or the down stretches we have been accustomed to at third base. The 25 Astros are far better now than the 24 Astros where at this time last year.
How do we feel about an OF of Altuve, Meyers, and McCormick, with Gamel spelling Meyers against a lot of RHP? Even factoring in that it means Dubon at 2B (with Guillorme spelling him against a lot of RHP), I kinda like it.
So far he has had unrealistic expectations - he has had several offers that are all basically the same and he is waiting to see if someone budges on a second year. His reputation hasn't helped him at this point. He is talented - so maybe realizing that he is one slow start away from the Mexican League will motivate him to produce more.
There are a number of Japanese players that could do well in the majors right now - and the pipeline for those in their teens is amazing. They are producing per capita baseball players on par with the hot spots like Dominican Republic and Cuba. They do not quite have the depth yet, but their higher end players are as good as anyone coming out of the USA or Dominican Republic. Look for South Korea and Australia to both start producing more talent in the next decade as well.
There are a lot of moving balls in play with the Astros. First, the owner has to be considered. He is willing to spend money on what he views is the right player. He made a large offer to Bregman, last year he made a large offer and signed Hader. He has stepped in and given Verlander money in the past as well. However, he will not go over the tax line for what he views as incremental improvements. Think of the Bryce Harper trade that almost happened a handful of years ago.... if the Astros are doing well at the trade deadline, and they need a bat - there is a very high likelihood that Crane will push Brown to make the move. Second, Brown has been very critical of some of the moves made before he was the GM. The one that I have heard mentioned numerous times is the Jose Abreu and Montero signings. Brown has privately made the comment that the Astros jumped the gun, and that you don't pay other team's old players for three seasons. He also believes you don't overpay setup men. As for the existing outfield - I can tell you that Brown isn't a fan of Meyers game as a starter. He has tried to trade him numerous times for everything from a reliever, to a prospect and hasn't gotten anywhere. I am sure that from a cost/value perspective they are hoping that Chas bounces back or Meyers has a career year - but that is a lot of uncertainty. As for existing prospects - I am sure the hope is that one or two of them establish themselves as starters because that is a MASSIVE help from a budget standpoint and would allow them to address other positions with finances. For example, a young budding 800 OPS outfielder would go a long way towards allowing the Astros to keep Valdez. Having said that - Brown was willing to trade most of those young outfielders in a deal for Robert from the Sox. He only balked at the inclusion of pitching. So read into that as you will. Last - as far as management goes, they knew that it was going to be basically a Bregman or bust scenario once they signed Walker, and they signed Walker because he was about to sign elsewhere and the demands from Santander at the time were sky high. I personally think they made the right decision signing Walker because they could have been left with no one - and I think Walker is a better player than Santander.
Roberto Clemente.... Bo Jackson..... Glenn Wilson.....Jose Guillen.... Vlad Guerrero.... Dave Parker.... Raul Mondesi.... Andre Dawson.... Ellis Valentine ....Yasiel Puig.... Ichiro Suzuki. Off the top of my head those are the strongest and best arms that I have seen....... and this throw is as good as any I have seen outside of a few I have seen from Clemente, Jackson and Valentine.... it wasn't just accurate, it was an absolute laser.
I bet they will use the first half of the season to evaluate whether they have an in house solution. (Melton/Dezenzo/Whitcomb/Baez etc...) If there's not an in house solution, then I could see a Cahna type trade at the deadline. What I'm hoping for is that they can make a trade for a young MLB ready OF. Kinda like the Maton/Diaz trade, even if they have to wait a year to reap the rewards of a trade like this.
Man still can’t believe we got Diaz for Myles Straw. Not quite Yordan for Fields, but I’d say like one spot below in terms of best Astros trades in the last decade
