Solid moves today but I think a full season of Bregman and Yuli will create far more impact than we anticipate. Hope the Stros make the big push for Verlander or Sale. Reed, Fisher, Martes, Tucker, Cameron, Whitley there's a lot of great talent to trade.
Current Astros rankings in Fangraphs positional projections: C #5 (McCann/Gattis) 1B #26 (Gurriel) 2B #1 (Altuve) SS #1 (Correa) 3B #10 (Bregman) LF #5 (Reddick) CF #24 (Marisnick) RF #4 (Springer) DH #14 (Gattis) SP #8 RP #7 Total Position Players: #2 Total Pitching: #9 Total: #3 (#1 in AL)
We can hang that banner with the "Houston Astros 2015 Prospect List World Champions" one, somewhere next to the Enron billboard.
Really enjoyed that article: It isn't that the Astros added super stars, but they added average players to weak positions from last year. When the 6 & 7 spot produce in the lineup... it will be a happy day. Altuve/Bregman/Correa/Springer are going to do their thing, but that lower lineup production will be huge.
If they sign Beltran.. RF Springer 3B Bregman 2B Altuve SS Correa DH Beltran 1B Gurriel C McCann/Gattis LF Reddick/Aoki CF Marisnick/Teo
Last year, the Astros went with 4 OFs and a DH. One on your list has got to go. Probably down to Teoscar or Aoki.
I think we should just about go all out for an ace now. The offense looks set to me. Some want to go after Encarnacion, but I think this current lineup depth give us some room to play with the likes of Reed, White and Marisnick to see if we can have a breakout in house without spending huge money on a player that could be on the brink of a decline.
Gonna throw out a theoretical trade scenario... Chris Sale for Martes, K Tucker, Joe Musgrove and AJ Reed. 1. Do you think that would be enough to get it done? 2. Would you be pleased with that deal?
It should be enough and if it's not Houston needs to back away. I would be pleased with that deal because it would mean Houston was able to add an ace without giving up any of their core pieces, and they would still have a pretty good farm system. That said, it is a tremendous amount of talent to give up, as Martes/Tucker are Top 25-50 prospects and Musgrove/Reed would easily be Top 100 guys if eligible. All 4 of those players could very well be star players and Tucker/Martes could end up as superstars.
I'm pretty sure they want McCullers/Springer as well as most of that group, but that certainly looks like the ballpark asking price. Maybe have to chip in another top 10 guy as well. If no MLB talent is going out I make that deal in a heartbeat. They price will be steep, very steep, and I think a lot of fans will suffer from sticker shock when they see what would actually go out in a deal for an ace with multiple years left. Sending out Springer/McCullers along with all of our top prospects is what would make me pause. Would the net positive be enough to justify the cost.
Yeah... LF in MMP is probably as suitable a defensive position as there is for Beltran at this point. I assume (even with some regression) his arm would be more than adequate there. You can then platoon Gattis/McCann C/DH, with Beltran stealing a few games at DH and LF.
I'd be fine with adding Beltran, provided it doesn't compromise the Astros' ability to pay a solid starting pitcher I'd like to see them acquire.
Haven't heard anything. Personally, I'd like to keep him and play him at 1B. That would give us one of the best defensive infields in the game and I believe the Valbuena of 2016 (pre-injury) is real.
Luhnow's plan is becoming more and more clear. Extend the depth of the lineup with proven, veteran bats and then use your extra resources (prospects) to go after an ace. If they get Beltran then I expect Reed, Martes, Perez, etc. to be dangled.
So, I am thinking up next is throw money and/or prospects at a SP. Get an ace. But I think another signing that might be had for a slight bargain would be Napoli. I don't think teams are way high on him with his OBP, buthe would be a 1B lefty with power. Some combination of: Springer CF Bregman 3B Altuve 2B Correa SS Napoli 1B Gattis DH/C Gurriel DH/LF McCann C Reddick RF Aoki LF
Signing Beltran would mean a non-tender for Aoki. It would also mean a wicked deep lineup: CF Springer 3B Bregman 2B Altuve SS Correa LF Beltran 1B Gurriel RF Reddick DH Gattis C McCann Bench: Marwin, Marisnick, ??? (Open competition in spring training between Kemp, Teoscar, Moran, White, etc.) I daresay that would be the best lineup in the league. Getting 100+ HR from C/SS/CF is nice.
