Not the case. Singleton has put in a lot of work with the hitting coach and is in the cage and studies film as much as anyone on the team. In the past he has coasted but I know for a fact he hasn't coasted since being called up.
Does poop stick? I ain't trying to hand out bs. I have no proof with Singleton with my own eyes. So I will never say that I stand behind it 100%. My fault.
Regardless, Singleton was overmatched his first season in the bigs. And it has left a lot of doubt about his future. Hope it isn't Brett Wallace all over again.
something scares me about trading for pitchers like Hamels. He's 30 and signed a 144M extension a couple years ago. Wonder what it'd take to get him. This is why I wanted to make moves earlier, with our farm depth, so we didn't just lose guys like DDJ in the draft.
Luhnow's going to hold guys that his staff has vetted/drafted in higher regard over the previous regime's picks anyways. The original plan with DDJr to convert him to the 2B of the future was all Ed Wade/Bobby Heck... once that fell through (and Altuve ended up being that 2B), DDJr really didn't have a place other than base-stealing/pinch-running specialist.
On trading for a guy like a Hamels, have to take salary into account. The first years of big deals are usually a bargain and the last years end up paying back the bargain. Got to be careful not to get all of the butt and too little of the bargain when trading for a guy in the middle of a big deal. Much rather try to acquire guys via trade before those guys have signed a free agent contract.
The Astros are likely on the no trade list, therefore Hamels would likely have to waive his no trade. If he were gonna do it, it would probably be contingent on the Astros picking up his 5th year option. He turns 31 in two weeks. Once a pitcher hits his mid 30's he is very prone to falling off a cliff in the post PED era. The Astros would be committed to paying him 67 million from 33-35. He would likely be a spectacular addition for the next 2 years, but he could become a financial hindrance from 2017-2019, when the Astros expect to truly compete. Although he may not, it would be a risk. This is now a pitching era, and pitching is much easier to come by. Hitters are the hot commodity. I expect pitching will be available next offseason if we still need it, so I would wait.
The odds of Hamels drastically declining at age 33 is no higher than anyone else and his track record to date is impeccable. He's thrown at least 30 starts and 193ip the last 7 years with a 3.27 career ERA. His contract, while expensive, actually looks below current market value. He's a top 5-10 pitcher and 'an Ace' easily. He's exactly the type of player the Astros have a history of whiffing on in FA. If they can get him reasonably in a trade, they almost have to pursue it. I'd much rather have Hamels than Scherzer, Shields, or Lester.
I didn't say he was any more likely, just that any pitcher period is prone to falling off a cliff in their mid 30's. I imagine another ace level pitcher will be available next offseason, or at the trade deadline. Pitching is very plentiful right now. Invariably if you are gonna add a big name pitcher, you are gonna have to pay him into his mid 30's. I would just prefer us to go after a guy whose peak years will better overlap with our expected contender years.
Agree to disagree, particularly given the off-seasons that similarly 70-ish win teams the Cubs and Red Sox had. It's completely possible to make a couple big moves and accelerate a timeline into expected contention next year. And what are the 'expected contender' years? 2016? 2017? 2019? George Springer's last team control year?
