I get what you are saying. The Astros get what I am saying when they trotted out Cam Smith to RF to start last season.
The Astros had 7 guys who hit less than the Mendoza line while playing as an OF. Chas, Cam, and Dezenzo weren't that far above it. Meyers looks like the big stick in the OF unless Cole is not a fluke. Unless the Astros trade for an OF that can hit, there will be an IF playing OF because hitting MLB pitching is harder than being piss poor defensively in a corner of the OF.
I think the only way he comes back is if he accepts the qualifying offer or takes a deal near the qualifying offer that gives him some security with opt outs.
It's pretty clear that for the Astros to truly contend, one of our young guys needs to break out to near all-star level and another to be solid. We also need another top of the rotation pitcher. Hopefully Imai or someone internally is that guy. I do know this. If we are leading the division and making some noise by the trade deadline, Crane will give Brown the go ahead to make a splash if we can get a great pitcher. He's pretty much done it every year. Verlander, Greinke, Yusei, etc. He doesn't mind investing for tangible short term benefits.
Diaz is not worth anywhere near his arbitration salary. The Astros would be better off trading him for whatever prospects they can get this afternoon.
Sign Framber for $40M/2yrs with an opt out then attach Arrighetti to Walker to dump his salary. Easy way to add 2-3 wins to the roster. I would be all in on a rotation of Brown, Framber, Imai, Javier, and Burrows.
Would love it. I think Walker is going to be good this year, but Framber would make our rotation elite. My guess is that our staff is going to turn Burrows into TOR pitcher.
The Astros are in trouble if Cam Smith doesn't hit better than Meyers this season. He had an 800 OPS at the break before the wheels fell off.
Speculation: The Astros are coming off one of the most injured seasons in MLB history, which cost them their first playoff run in almost a decade. The Astros elite hitters are all injury risks and/or 30+. Espada, Correa, Brown have all publicly emphasized the necessity of keeping players healthy. WHAT IF the plan is to limit our best/risky hitters (Alvarez, Altuve, Correa, Pena, Paredes, Walker) to 130 starts a piece? Kind of like using a 6 pitcher rotation… This would resolve a lot of issues.
Odds that Lance cracks the starting 5????? I put it under 20% barring an injury to the other guys............One week from today!! After the Texans fiasco, I am ready for a nice long winning season from the Astros Houston Astros pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report for 2026 Spring Training in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The first full-squad workout for the Astros is scheduled for February 16, 2026
It's less than 10 percent unless the wheels fall off but there is a chance. Hopefully whatever mental or physical thing that prevented him from throwing heat last season can be overcome.
I bet he could get $35m/yr over a short deal like that. He's averaged 3.8 bWAR over the past 4 seasons.
I think it’s <50% McCullers ever appears in another mlb game. I would put his odds of being on the opening day 26 man roster at ~30% a the odds of him being in the opening day rotation at ~10%. Everything the front office has said and done this offseason indicates they have no expectation for McCullrs to be a significant contributor to the team this season.
Me too, but crazier things have happened. It’s possible his personality quirks have impacted his market more than expected.
I don't think anyone should rely on Lance being healthy or pitching well, but I don't think the odds are as dire as you do. He's only 32 and it was always going to take him a while to return to form once he was healthy enough to get back to throwing at the big league level. That said, I think the ship has sailed on him being a starting pitcher. I do, however, think that he could be a solid in relief and even long relief starting potentially this season. Now, that could be due to my bias, I'll always pull for guys like him to make it back, but I don't think it's entirely based on that bias.
