<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Astros option DeLeon, Marwin Gonzalez recalled</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/statuses/367521177436053505">August 14, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I agree with optioning DeLeon, but calling up Gonzalez? I guess they need insurance at 2B/SS with Altuve's quad and Villar's thumb injury, which may or may not still be an issue.
Career splits vs. LHB: .238/.320/.352 Somehow he's struggling against lefties and finding success against righties this year. Strange year for him.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rangers&src=hash">#Rangers</a> acquire LHP Travis Blackley from <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> for cash considerations. He goes on Triple-A Round Rock roster.</p>— MLBRosterMoves (@MLBRosterMoves) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBRosterMoves/statuses/367700227236454400">August 14, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Jim Crane is getting that paper.
Very curious. He'll definitely be claimed (if he hasn't been already). Just a matter of if that team is going to give us anything.
Both ways have been reported. Tags is probably the most official I've seen, and he said PTBNL + Cash.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Just got this from the man himself - Jeff Luhnow: "All PTBNL transactions have an 'or cash' component to them."</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/367707697635786752">August 14, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> I think I'd rather have cash than the PTBNL for a 30 year old minor leaguer who they could have had for free last week if they wanted him on their active roster.
Fill Wesley Wright's spot with anyone other than Humber. The only reason Humber will be in that spot is because the club is locked into his ~$800k salary for this season because he made the opening day roster, and if they brought up another reliever they would owe the prorated minimum to that player. There are not many things the club can do, but it is difficult to argue at this point that they are not cheap. There is no reason to pay money to watch this team at this point, and remember, Crane doesn't care about any of our opinions unless we have $10 million to buy a portion of his team. Additionally, it is reprehensible what they are doing to George Springer. They are clearly attempting to delay his free agency and arbitration eligibility by a year. To do this for a player who is clearly better than any other outfielder currently on the club in an industry where someones career will last a decade if they are lucky is awful. I had respect for Luhnow and the baseball operation and generally supported every move they have made, but this is disgusting. And hiding behind him having no two strike approach and striking out too much, when the team is about to break the club's strike out record in mid August is laughable. Another example of new ownership being cheap. If ownership was going to run the club as custodians of something engrained in the community I would be interested in going to at least a dozen games a season. However, if they are going to run the club purely as a business, I have no intention of doing anything other than watching games on television until they are in contention for the division and there is something worth paying for.
And they know that. Doesn't matter how much people whine and complain and threaten to boycott. The second the winning starts, the seats will be filled.
They aren't delaying his free agency... BTW, they DFA'd Humber earlier this season and brought somebody up to take his spot. Why do that if so concerned about those $$$? I can't say why they called up Humber, but it probably isn't to save $100k.
I have serious doubts that Springer will be on the opening day roster next season. He probably deserved to be on the team when Grossman was added the first time. He might not be on the team until next July. And they had to DFA Humber earlier in the season. They tried to put him in the pen because of his contract, but he was awful there too. He was added now instead of someone else because they were already paying him.
So you wanted him to skip AAA completely and to give up future roster flexibility? He had to relief appearances. He was spectacular in one and terrible in the other. I'm curious, why was Humber skipped over for Lo, Zeid, Chapman?
Over reacting.... The Astros MAY prove to be cheap, but it is too early to tell. They have spent in the draft thus far and do not need to be targeting free agents at this point. As far as Springer is concerned, our GM harped on strikeouts and controlling the count in the past. To me the bigger concern is that our GM/Scouts are concerned Springer isn't ready, that his AAA success won't translate.
