Robert is under control for 4 seasons, including the 2 club options and he clearly has the talent to outperform $20M per year so as long as he is healthy the options will be picked up. That means the White Sox will want at least 2 top 100 prospects and 2 other from a teams top 10. They probably laugh at Drew Gilbert, Colin Barber Colton Gordon, and Spencer Arrighetti (about as close as they can get) but it won't matter because half a dozen teams can and will outbid that offer.
Was told tonight the Astros are being very aggressive looking for bats…. Priority over another starter.
The Astros have the players to get Robert if they want to. He is very talented and has a good contract at only 25 years old. However he doesn’t have the best reputation around the league and is viewed as a poor worker and a distraction or worse in the clubhouse.
Did not specify - only said right now priority is offense over pitching and have been aggressive looking for a bat. Astros overall winning so don’t have to be desperate but priority is to improve offense. No idea on Brantley could be hitting soon but not willing to count on him being healthy and ready down the stretch. If he is, then added to the mix. I really expected the priority to be a starter but isn’t. No one with Astros knows McCullers status. Was in low to mid 90’s when he felt pain. Early next week they will have him scanned and know where he is at.
It's really that or Salvy Perez at C. Beyond that, there's not really many positions that make sense to upgrade - players like Abreu, Bregman, and Tucker just need to play better, but you aren't going to replace them.
I wonder if they really are betting Arrighetti comes up this year? If not, I just don’t see how they can be satisfied with SP given the injuries and the uncertainty over McCullers. Counting on France, Bieliek and Urquidy over a pennant stretch is terrifying. Not that Arrighetti is a sure thing, but I can’t think of any other internal candidate they could be hoping for, and they cannot possibly be satisfied.
At first blush, this really surprises me. I would have bet good money that starter was their priority. Then I thought on it. Hitting is made up from a roster of 13. 2 players really belong in the minors - one who has played regularly. Several veterans have severely under performed to date. They clearly do not see Chas as an everyday player. Who knows if Brantley will return It's getting later and later waiting for Abreu to snap out of it. They have been in the bottom 1/3 in run production all year. They are unbalanced - much weaker vs RH pitching. The Rangers are likely more serious competition than they thought. New GM likely has observed players who fit/don't fit his vision and wants to make an impact A starting pitcher must be on the table, unless they have good news on McCullers and/or Urquidy. But I can accept that Brown is prioritizing a bat.
It also doesn't help that the Rockies who are the worst team in the NL are only 5.5 games out of the wild card. You can talk percentage chances of making the playoffs all you want. Teams aren't going to rush to be sellers when everyone is bunched up tight like they are in the NL. In the AL you have the A's, White Sox, and Royals that are 10 or more games out from a wild card spot and look like near locks to be sellers. Trying to make an early trade this season is going to be really tough. With the chance that Urquidy will be back around the all-star break you can afford to wait on a pitcher. The offense is just really bad overall and their aren't any great reinforcements in AAA. After Brantley made it so close to coming back and then developed soreness again you can't rely on him. So I understand why a bat would be a priority in the near term.
Mike Ford has been crushing it in AAA for Seattle. Just opted out of his minor league deal. Mariners need to bring him up or he will be FA.
L-Oh-L.... what happened with their power hitting, swinging for the fences, SUPER UPGRADE multi-tool 1B bat....?!? (Get your pubes trimmed bro) edit: eat the contract and trade this fool.
The Astros have been trying to make a trade for a bat and teams have said it is too early. There have been a few minor deals around the league but those have involved guys that were close to being released. It isn't just that a lot of teams are still in the race. Most front office's have meetings with ownership before mapping a course concerning trading or adding guys. The White Sox for example told the Astros that they have not spoken with ownership about a direction at the deadline. I know that the Astros are primarily looking to upgrade the offense with a bat or two - but I think they will have a harder time getting a quality starting pitcher. There are a number of corner bats available - and will be available.
Yeah, there is still hope for Abreu. I am sure they will be patient with him as long as they can be - and when they cannot, he will sit.
Oh I want the Stros to get better and win more, win the whole ****ing thing again, but it's ok if they don't. I've seen the highs and lows. I just don't want to watch many more shitty games like last night.
Looks like Cleveland might shop Shane Bieber. I think the stros should look into him since we're lacking SP depth due to injuries.
Agreed. The price would be very high and he's our 3rd starter at best IF he can beat out Brown. I'd rather go after a rental like Stroman that wouldn't cost as much.
