Split contract just means the player gets paid less when in the minors. I am confused by that in Trammells case because he is supposedly out of options.
With the EDLS signing I would think the bullpen is set: Hader Abreu Sousa King Okert EDLS If they carry 6 starters that leaves one spot for VanWey, Murray, Ort, or another starter that can't crack the rotation like Blubaugh or McCullers.
Ort is also on the roster and out of options. He was really good in July and August last season. Bad every other month.
Well, I guess Dana wanted to preserve the option of going w Jesus Sanchez as a LHB/strong side platoon despite the crap showing last year. Perhaps Sanchez will perform closer to career norms if he has time to acclimate and not join a team in the pressure cooker of hot division race. I wonder what are the odds that Sanchez can be dealt if Dana finds a different option or needs the money for SP. $6-7MM aint nothin. I wonder what JJ bleday might cost. Then again, Sanchez’s baseball savant page looks better than Bleday.
After the way he played since coming over I'm very surprised they brought him back. He was absolutely terrible at all things baseball.
Yes I don’t think we should let the 160 pa Sanchez had after the trade overshadow his 2000+ pa career, where he’s shown to be a solidly above average hitter against RHP. He has extremely good bat speed and ability to barrel the ball. He has good speed. He chases a lot, whiffs a lot, and thus strikes out too much, and his launch angle stats are poor. But with his raw tools it’s easy to see why Houston gave up 2 decent prospects for him and why they are willing to pay him $6M+ next season. If he’s Houston’s 7th or 8th best hitter, it likely means they have a great offense.
Sanchez has at times been a good hitter. The tender is bad because it means that the Astros were not confident they could sign or trade for an upgrade. It is reading the tea leaves but it gives you some idea of what the Astros view as the market.
I wonder if they plan on Cam spending some time in CF. That would open up RF for a Sanchez/Dezenzo platoon. Defense would suffer but they could stack their lineup.
There are way more LF and CF options than RF options currently on the roster. I don't want to hinder another season of Cam's control having him learn another new position. Keep him in RF, let him win a gold glove or two and be done with this CF talk
If season started now, guaranteed to make the team C) Diaz, Salazar 1B) Walker, Paredes 2B) Altuve, (Paredes?) 3B) Correa, Paredes, SS) Pena, Correa DH) Yordan That leaves 5 roster spots and all you have from the OF is 2 guys who can play LF but should play as little as possible: Options: Allen(RH): SS/2b/3B. Out of options. Exceptional glove, equally as bad bat. Smith(RH): RF. 3 options. Good glove and baserunning. Held his own vs LHP. Struggled vs RHP. All the potential in the world but very young and inexperienced. Sanchez(LH): RF/LF. Out of options. Weak glove and solid baserunning. Historically very good vs RHP and unplayable vs LHP. Trammell(LH):LF/CF/RF. Out of options. High effort but weak defender, especially in CF and baserunner. Historically a bit better than average vs RHP and unplayable vs LHP. Meyers(RH): CF. 3 options. Exceptional range and glove but weak arm. Above average but not great speed and baserunning. Historically very good vs LHP and weak vs RHP. He reversed that in 2025. Dezenzo(RH): RF/LF/1B/3B. 2 options left. Average glove and solid baserunning. Inexperienced with good power. Reverse splits guy who has been good not great vs RHP and weak vs LHP throughout pro career but has very few MLB PAs vs LHP. Melton(LH): CF/RF/LF. 2 options. Exceptional glove, arm, and baserunning. High power higher strikeout prospect. Traditional very good vs RHP weak vs LHP in minors but failed vs both in small sample MLB debut in 2025. Cole(LH): RF/CF/LF. 3 options. Very similar to Melton. Probably more power but also more K (yes its possible) in his game. Had exceptional 15 game cup if coffee but still major bust risk. Matthews(RH): 2B/3B/CF/SS. 2 options. Has not found a defensive home having been moved around quite often since turning pro. Most recently played a lot of CF in September. More raw than Melton or Cole and is RH. Not as good with glove and without big arm. Speed and power are big tools. Has hit both RH and LH pitching very well when he makes contact. Another high strikeout guy. Salary is much less of an issue because they were all tendered yesterday so will get paid whether they make the team or not. No trades, no free agents pick your 5
Glad to hear it. He can be a really good 8th or 9th hitter in the lineup and set the tables for 1 - 3. Agree?
