He should have been traded and replaced in the offseason. Sign/trade for another post season caliber starter like Flaherty or Alcantara ( we had no clue he would not be Cy caliber) who has multiple years of control. - not likely or Sign a veteran innings eater with no ( extra) injury risk to a cheap 1 year deal to shore up the #4-5 spot. Even having a lower spot filled worry free is a benefit. Then trade Framber for 10-18 years of unproven but projected MLB impact prospects/young players. At least 1 needs to be a high ceiling SP. Then work out the top of the rotation, hoping for health from at least 3 of Brown, McCullers, Arrighetti, Javier, Garcia, and/or new guy from scenario #1 and there is additional talent for 2026-2030/31. But once season started, all thoughts of trading him end unless they fall out of the race, or 4+ guys become post season caliber starters without (extra) injury risk, in season.
I would peg him for somewhere between $140M/4 and $200M/6, with $160M/5 the o/u. His absolute ceiling is probably $220M/7yrs but that would take a team doing something really stupid.
I think the Astros could afford 4/150 this offseason. Going past age 35 on a multiyear contract for a pitcher feels like it could be a big mistake. Based on past experience, I'm guessing they don't do that, and use the available salary space to sign a middle aged corner OF or 2B instead, perhaps trade for a vet SP3 type.
A lot might depend on Arrighetti getting back and showing he can be a solid 2-3 rotation starter. Brown is really the only reliable TOR pitcher we have other than Framber. I think they need to re-sign him to a 4 or 5 year contract, unless Arrighetti comes back and is lights out by the end of the season or someone else surprises. No way I’d rely on McCullers to be TOR again next year, even if he stays healthy this year.
I would bite the bullet and give him 6-200. I really like the 4-140 a lot better though, I doubt Framber does a 4 year deal though.
Yep, there's a good chance if you sign him to a 5-6 year contract there's a good chance you probably will be eating the lasy 1-2 years of that contract.
There’s just way too much unknown to have any concrete idea on what Houston’s 2025-2026 offseason will look like. On the pitching side, how healthy/effective are Brown, McCullers, Javier, Garcia, and Arrighetti at the end of the season? How have Gusto, Blubaugh, Gordon, Walter, Ullola, and Pecko performed over the 2nd half of the season? On the hitting side, what move did they make at the deadline (did they add a controllable 2B/LF)? How healthy/effective are Alvarez, Walker, and Altuve at the end of the season? Have Pena, Paredes, and Meyers sustained their breakouts? How have Smith, Dezenzo, Melton, Matthews, and Whitcomb performed over the 2nd half of the season? As things stand, Houston looks like they’ll enter the deadline/offseason only looking to add a good lefthanded bat at 2B or LF. But they could end up needing help at SP and ****ing 1****ingB.
Yep Max Fried who is the same age as Framber so reached FA one year younger, got 8 years, 218 million Framber has been just as good and more durable than Fried over the past few years Fried Innings Pitched coming into this year, 174, 78, 185 Framber Inn Pitched coming into this year, 176, 198, 201 Fried Era, 3.25, 2.55, 2.48 Fram Era, 2.91, 3.45, 2.82 When you consider that the top contracts generally go up year after year anyway...Framber will get 220 Million easily, if not even more, and yea Crane ain't going there
Arrighetti has great stuff but little control. I'd love it if he became a TOR guy but he's been BOR every month except for August of last season. And he wasn't amazing in the minors, either. He'd really have to demonstrate sustained performance to give me the impression he's figured it out.
I've seen the Fried comparison a few times now (maybe even on here?). Per Chandler's response to a fan question https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6412355/2025/06/09/houston-astros-catchers-jacob-melton/
Signing Goldschmidt or Carlos Santana this offseason because Walker didn't work out would be the most Astros free agent thing ever. Plus side, neither would cost $60m for 3 seasons.
“Sorry mom, you play for the Pirates now. They were willing to part with Skenes and we just felt like it made too much sense for the organization. We know you’ll do big things over there. Ok I’m gonna let ya go, the Pittsburgh GM will be calling you here in a few minutes to let you know what’s next. All the best to ya Mom.”
Yea my initial thought when I saw his I would trade Mom post was "what the hell" But if Pittsburgh came calling with Skenes.....
I wouldn't bet on that. Max Fried has been the better pitcher in his career and was a year younger than Framber will be this offseason and he barely got over $200M.
I’d like to see Dezenzo or one of our other youngsters get some time at 1b, just in case Walker doesn’t come around, but maybe that’s a stupid idea. I don’t know much about the defensive side of the ball.
Fried is a better pitcher than Framber. You can make a case for Framber's durability but Fried has him based on pure numbers. And you left out 2021 where Fried threw more innings than Framber so it's not like Fried has been some injury prone guy. Fried's ERA+ each season from 2021-2024 is 143, 166, 171, and 128. Framber is 135, 123, 138, 132.
I think it is debatable. Framber can pile up the innings, and without checking, I think Framber has been better in the post season. I don't see Framber getting the deal Fried got - Framber doesn't have the reputation that Fried has, and his best season hasn't been as good as Fried's.
