Exactly. $10 million/year for a pitcher of this caliber (far and away better than what they had last season) is the going rate. Further illustrates how important local TV money is after you keep seeing deals like this. It's driving up the price. The concern was that Crane wouldn't spend any money..that he was using this whole thing to line his pockets and he wouldn't add any free agents or bring in veterans to fill in around his young guys. He's added over $17 million to next year's payroll with 2 moves and the offseason is still young.
Feldman Cosart Oberholtzer Peacock They figure to have the top 4 spots. I'm realizing Feldman has a good chance of being our opening day starter.
According to Fangraphs.com, his performance in 2012 and 2013 was worth 10.5 and 10.6 million in free agency, respectively. Seems like Astros paid what he is worth.
I like the signing a lot. He immediately becomes the best and most established starting pitcher on the Astros' staff. $30 million over three years seems about right for Feldman. Starting pitching is always expensive, but the Astros' needed a veteran on the staff to hopefully add some stability. I don't foresee them making any other additions this size through free agency. I bet they sign one or two bullpen pieces for under $3.5 million each, take another potential bullpen arm in the Rule 5 Draft next week, and probably make one more trade to add someone who will be under contract for 2-3 more years. So far, I really like all of Luhnow's offseason moves.
In 2012, Feldman had an ERA over 5, pitched 123IP and went 6-11. That is replacement level. He was a FA after 2012, and all he could get was a one year deal for $6M from the Cubs.
Do Astros really believe that over the next 3 years they won't have enough talented starting pitching from their youngsters, that they need to get a marginal guy like this and pay him that much?
We had gone to a 6 man rotation last year. Wojciechowski seemed like a likely candidate to join Cosart/Oberholtzer/Peacock/Keuchel. The team did always want a veteran starter though.
Keuchel as a member of the rotation would surprise me, though. The other guys all deserve some time, but Dallas seems like someone that was given a fair chance and didn't do too much.
He's a replacement level guy. He would continue to be a stop gap until we see Foltynewicz or Appel, or while waiting for White to come back from injury. And there is still Lucas Harrell (who I think will win the 5th spot).
I had COMPLETELY forgotten about Harrell until you just mentioned him haha. Frankly, I think Clemens and Olbie are expendable in the long run due to the potential of Folty, Appel, and most likely Rodon. Feldman is the vet this young team can use in my uninformed opinion. I see what you're saying, though. Much easier to call up Appel is he is replacing a stop gap rather than a paid vet.
Nothing new here, but this XLrocket guy is a joke. I know I shouldn't feed the troll, but I'm finding it more and more challenging. Oh yea, and kut karter......
If the A's got Scott Kazmir for two years $22 Million I'm sure he would have given the Astros a hometown discount for $8 mil a year.
