My experience working with the Astros is that the marketing people don't know anything. And I worked with all of them, really; top down. Luhnow runs a tight ship and information is not leaked. There's also not a lot of baseball/marketing crossover. Now, this was all 2+ years ago; maybe they've had tremendous turnover, I don't know. I was in their offices on trade deadline night (the year they dealt Wandy), and the marketing people had NO IDEA what was going on; we were all learning in real time.
I didn't ask specifically who it was.... but I would imagine Beltran, Holliday or even McCann could fit that role.
I have family members/former colleagues that work on both sides of operations. I hear just about as much from the marketing department as the baseball side. There is cross over between the top of marketing and baseball operations because some of them are friends and have relationships that extend outside of work. Having said that, some of the biggest decisions makers for the Astros don't even live in Houston. One of them lives about 30 minutes from my Illinois home.
Guesses on long term bat: Encarnacion, Ramos, Cabrera, Fowler, Cespedes Guesses on short term bat: McCann, Beltran, Holliday, Braun, Reddick
If he is healthy and in shape than his age would not matter. He has a problem with his weight from time to time but if keeps that in check he can continue to be the offensive force that he is. Anyways if he is on the market the astros should definitely pursue him and I hope they land him
No interest in Edwin whose old and wants to long of a contract. He will become a boat anchor half way through it
Given the choice between spending over $100 million on a long term deal for Encarnacion vs. trading prospects and some ML talent for Miggy...I'd take Miggy. His bat is going to play for many more years, IMO. A lineup that includes Altuve, Correa, and Cabrera would be pretty damn formidable. If they can do it and keep Bregman? We are the favorites in the West if we can also nail down a front line starter.
The Tigers are not in sell mode. They are not trading Cabrera unless it's an insane deal where the purge us of assets. I dont doubt the Astros will finally spend some money this offseason but Cabrera is a pipe dream.
The owner (Ilitch) has turned the operations of his various businesses as well as the Tigers over to his kids. He was trying to buy a World Series ring the past few years, as he's in his upper 80s and not in the best of health. From what I heard, the kids don't think the core of the team is strong enough to win a championship, so they're ready to tear down and start over, so there's a big emphasis in getting the payroll under control. Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of Cabrera, Verlander, VMart and Zimmerman dealt this year.
fowler, nap, and Ramos Springer-rf Bregman-lf Altuve -2b CC- ss Ramos-c Nap-1b Yuli-3b Gattis-DH Fowler-cf
As I said, they will want a kings ransom for those players. Unless we are willing to give up significant assets I do not see someone like Miggy coming to the Astros. The family has plenty of money, they are not hard up for it obviously, they run the city of Detroit.
I was thinking Nap too. That would be a sick lineup. I like Fowler at the back end, like when would the pitcher have a break? One change though is I would like to keep Breg at 3rd, he is really good there, can Gurriel play left? or Aoki and gurriel plays DH? with Aoki that is the best BA lineup we will have had in forever.
Indeed. Why couldn't we do that? Neither Astros nor Toronto is Central division. Ramos seems interesting, but last year, a contract year, was by far his best. Could 5 years 50/mil get him? How is his fielding?.
I'm a bit worried about Ramos having his second ACL injury. Seems like he will be out for a while, but if he comes back and hits like last year....that would be a great addition.
