Starling Marte 4 years 68 million Chris Taylor 3 years 39 million Verlander 1 year 15 million maybe with a team option for a 2nd season (or just give him the qualifying offer) Still leaves room for a reliever and space for the deadline. Even more room if the luxury tax threshold goes up from 210.
Don't sell him short. He averaged 6 innings per start. WHIP of 0.667. 10+ Ks/9. And he was undefeated. Should have won the Cy Young.
That would be an excellent offseason and a sick opening day roster: 2B Altuve LF Brantley 3B Bregman DH Alvarez 1B Gurriel RF Tucker CF Marte SS Taylor C Maldonado Bench: Castro, Diaz, Straw, TBD (Garcia, Toro, McCormick, Jones, Stubbs, etc.) Rotation: Verlander, McCullers, Valdez, Odorizzi, Urquidy Bullpen: Pressly, Javier, Stanek, Baez, Paredes, TBDx3 (Raley, Emanuel, James, Pruitt, Martes, Taylor, Scrubb, Bielak, Abreu, Solomon, Ivey, etc.)
Starling Marte is on the wrong side of 30 and will be 33 in 2022. I would say 3 years $42M-ish, maybe 4 years $52M and he can shift to LF once he slows down.
I think your money is a little low. Marte is pretty similar to Brantley as a hitter but can handle CF for probably 1-2 more seasons. Andrew McCuthchen pulled 3/50 with a 15 million dollar team option for a forth year. He's only played 15 games in CF for the Phillies. He was 32 the first season of that deal. Also, Lorenzo Cain received 5/80 at age 32. Marte is a better hitter than Cain and that Cain contract if 5 years old. I agree that Marte would move to LF after Brantley's contract ends. Chris Taylor can also play CF. It gives the Astros versatility and protection against injuries. Taylor can play LF, CF, SS, 2B. He's also played a little 3rd and RF. Plus, if Leon or Jeremy Pena prove they are ready then Taylor can be super utility and Marte can shift positions as well... But sure, if they can get Marte for less even better...
Luis Castillo w/ a 7 ERA. If CIN doesn’t improve (19-20), I wonder if they look to move him. Maybe not a huge need because our rotation isn’t really a weakness, but would love for Strommy to work with him.
Astros' Framber Valdez shows solid command in first rehab outing In his first rehab start since breaking a finger during spring training, Astros lefthander Framber Valdez had no trouble with his control Monday, firing 38 of his 47 pitches for strikes in a three-inning appearance for Class AAA Sugar Land at Round Rock. Starting the first game of a doubleheader, Valdez allowed five first-inning runs on six hits, all singles. Four were unearned because of third baseman Taylor Jones’ throwing error that allowed Express leadoff hitter Yonny Hernandez to reach. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/te...er-Valdez-shows-solid-command-in-16183877.php
All of the COVID challenges were in games 8-17. That wasn't the whole story, but it was a big deal. I do think these next 2-3 weeks (after the Rangers) are going to be really tough. Need to tread water, then take advantage afterwards. But I expect a lot of panicked posts in a few weeks when we've lost 6 of 10 to LA/SD/BOS
Yup... Looks like the Dodgers mixed up their rotation so we won't face Bauer However, this is the gauntlet awaiting the Astros after the series in Arlington... Kershaw TBD Darvish Snell Musgrove Garrett Richards Piveta Perez Eovaldi Should be fun and it will be awesome to win a bunch of those games.
