MLB top 30 Astros prospects thru week 1: Bregman 1059 OPS Reed 1083 OPS Martes 6 shutout innings Tucker 596 OPS Cameron 355 OPS Moran 774 OPs Paulino 5 shutout innings Musgrove 5 shutout innings Fisher 619 OPs Feliz 12.46 era Abreu 7 k in 2.2 IP Davis 437 OPs White AL PoW Kemp 1071 OPS Arauz, Celestino, Sierra, Perez Extended Spring Training Gustave 20.25 era in 1.1 IP Ferrell 2 k 1 shutout inning Kemmer 599 OPS Hoyt 6 k in 2 shutout innings McCurry 3.86 ERA 2.1 IP Devenski 3 shutout innings in MLBdebut Gonzalez 063 OPs Teoscar 301 OPS Duffy 3 AB for Houston before being sent down Aplin 705 OPs Bostick 3.00 era in 3 Ip Freeman 3 shutout innings
Astros are way to deep to give Gattis money. Team needs to keep Altuve, Correa, White, Springer, AJ Reed, Rasmus, and Moran locked up. Keep Keuchel, McCugh, McCullers, and Giles Live off your farm on the rest.
Gattis is a weird case. Put him in catcher's gear and he is extremely valuable, put him as a DH and he sucks. If he only is a DH, let him go at the end of the year. Tucker can do his job, and is locked up thru 2021 if we so choose to tender him every year. We have to convert him to catcher, it's a huge chance to upgrade our offense further.
Gattis isn't a looming FA, he's team controlled through 2018. It was a big part of his value when we got him. At this point, I certainly agree that he needs to spend some time behind the plate. He's a productive hitter, but he's not so good that we absolutely have to protect his spot in the lineup everyday. And I don't think it's good for the team to carry 2 DH's with no defensive value. As is, there is a clear log jam at DH, and that's with Reed looming to get his opportunity. Tyler White cannot play a reasonable 3B, if he could he would have been doing it in the Spring. He is most definitely a 1B/DH only player.
Tucker can't do Gattis' job, because he can't hit LHP as well (It won't matter as often, but it is still relevant). You could platoon him with someone else (Matt Duffy being the internal guy right now) and they would probably replace or outperform Gattis. Gattis being able to catch, would likely make the situation manageable, but if he can't, he almost certainly needs to be traded. The lack of defensive flexibility for all 4 guys really makes it difficult to find them ABs on this team. Gattis isn't a FA next year, unless we let him. We have a team option for $5.2M, and then a 3rd year of arbitration after that. AJ Reed is not a proven big leaguer, which means there is risk. Tucker & Gattis are proven big leaguers.
It'll be interesting to see how the Astros handle their overflowing wealth of talent. The only thing I pretty sure of is that Carlos Correa is going to spend his career in Houston; he's the one truly untouchable. I honestly don't think there's a player in baseball they'd trade Correa for. Otherwise, we're already starting to see some log-jams (1B/DH) and it's easy to see some future log-jams (namely, Bregman and where he fits into the equation). Interestingly, I've never considered Rasmus part of the core - but if Gomez is gone next year (likely, IMO), Rasmus (or Springer) will probably be our starting CF moving forward. Man, it's great to have so, so many options.
There is talk about allowing a taxi squad next year with probably some clause that a SP has to remain on active roster. Not sure if the Astros can figure out a way to have all 4 up this year, but it would be beneficial to have all 4 next year if they do this.
We'll probably make some moves, and be forced to trade some guys or let them walk in FA. Not considering money or outside help, Moran probably takes over for Valbuena by next season, and I think Bregman takes over Marwin's role. I think Tucker becomes the starting LF next season. I don't see any position prospects outside of Reed, Bregman, and Moran being likely big league regulars.
Many think Correa is on par with those guys, and he is way cheaper than those 2, and under team control longer than Harper. Correa also has all the intangibles teams want and doesn't carry any baggage like Harper does (even if I think Harper doesn't deserve most of the crap thrown his way).
I don't believe many people think Correa is on par with Trout and Harper...... he is way cheaper though.
Is that why 14 ESPN panelists picked Correa for AL MVP (same as Trout)? http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page...predictions/mlb-award-predictions-2016-season Honestly, I think a lot of people are getting ahead of themselves, but people are expecting him to be up there.
He's also 2 and 3 years younger than Harper and Trout. I'm not arguing he's as good; I'm not really arguing I'd turn down any and every offer myself... I just think the Astros would. He was Luhnow's first-ever pick as a general manager; I would imagine there's a very deep, personal investment on his part that probably elevates Correa to the level of untouchable.
Trout plays centerfield - and is better defensively than Correa or Harper; he's clearly the most valuable of the three (IMO).
