https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ml...rizona-fall-league-top-prospect-rankings.html 5. Forrest Whitley, RHP, Peoria (Astros No. 1/MLB No. 16) No. 2 on this list a year ago, Whitley returned after a regular season in which he logged a 7.99 ERA and missed nearly two months with shoulder inflammation. He topped the AFL in strikeouts (32 in 25 innings) for the second straight year, demonstrating improved command and more consistent mechanics. The stuff is still there, too: a four-seam fastball that ranges from 93-98 mph, a cutter and a changeup that seem allergic to bats, and a curveball and a slider that can be plus pitches when they're on.
Wheeler would be my top target followed by Odorizzi. Gibson, Keuchel, Roark, and Pineda would be back up plans. Pomeranz makes sense if we don't resign Harris. We will need a lefty in the pen. I doubt the Astros risk the money on Betances. He had 3 separate injuries last year and will still command a decent salary because of his big strikeout numbers. No idea what the Astros plan to do at catcher. I would think Chirinos and Avila are on the list but not sure who they favor and how much they want to spend.
Here’s the list of seemingly available catchers and starting pitchers. I’ve asterisked trade targets, everyone else is a free agent. I’ve ordered them according to my preference: Catcher: Tier 1: Grandal Tier 2: R Perez* Chirinos Castro Narvaez* D’Arnaud J McCann* Maldonado Avila Cervelli Tier 3: C Vazquez* T Murphy* Zunino* Lucroy Vogt Astudillo* E Diaz* Wieters Starting Pitcher: Tier 1A: Cole Tier 1B: Kluber* Ryu Wheeler J Gray* Odorizzi M Gonzalez* Price* Boyd* Bumgarner Ray* Marquez* Hamels Keuchel Carrasco* Tier 2: Gibson Roark Archer* Hill Bailey Miley G Gonzalez Samardzija* Duffy* Pineda D Norris* Bundy* Lyles Wood Tier 3: B Keller* Teheran* Zimmerman* Leake* Cashner Nova Anderson Wacha Eovaldi* Vargas M Perez Gausman* Harvey Chacin Hellickson Miller Moore
Nats let Yan Gomes go. He had a bad year but was a star in 13-14 and was pretty good as recently as 2018. He can be added to the list of potential backups.
Will be interesting to see what happens to Jose Abreu. No clear spot on this team, but Luhnow was (is?) a big fan of him. It’ll be really interesting to see how we shape next year’s roster. We’re not going to blow anything up (read: can people stop suggesting we’re going after Rendon?), but there’s a lot of good supplemental players available on the market this offseason I would love to see us extend Springer. Ideally around 3y, 55m, but I’d guess we give him the 4th year and hope that we get some sort of a hometown discount. He does love it here. If you don’t approve of a Springer extension, go be a Rangers fan. Dude is great and hopefully a Stro for life. Will be fun to watch regardless. If you think this loss will deter Crane, you’re lost. We’re hungrier than ever. We’re still favorites going into next season. I’m excited to see what Luhnow and co. reel in. edit: unrelated but check out how much younger everyone looks:
We could pivot from Cole to Strasberg?? 2 years older. Imagine the AAV will be similar but less years... shrug
Pothead, Springer, Cosart, Tuve, Maxwell, Correa, Lyles, Lucas Harrell? Pretty sure George & Carlos weren't called up yet
I rather save a bit of money and go after Wheeler or 2nd tier pitcher. Strasberg will get about 28 mil per season.
Do they never use the orange hat or the orange Bill hat anymore? Don’t know why I didn’t notice that.
I’m pretty sure they still go with the orange bill every now and then. Haven’t seen the full orange in a long time. They should pull that one out.
If Crane is willing to pay a little tax, the Astros are in a great position. A lot of good 2nd and 3rd tier starter, reliever, and catcher options.
Yep. There is plenty of quality depth in this FA class. Kintzler, Vizcaino, Roark, d'Arnaud, Asdrubal Cabrera (if they feel a need for another utility infielder), Hudson, Pineda, Will Harris, Joe Smith, Betances, Will Smith, Keuchel, Odorizzi, Ryu, Bumgarner and Wheeler. The big names will get more attention (Strasburg, Rendon and Cole), but there is plenty of depth to this class. Guys like Ryu, Bumgarner and Wheeler will definitely command more money than the others, but there's no reason to believe the Astros couldn't afford any of those players. Hypothetically, if we were to go ahead and add Kintzler, d'Arnaud, Will Smith and Odorizzi that would be a really solid offseason IMO. Nothing splasy, but you'd be getting two really solid RP's, an above-league-average SP and a solid catcher as well. I really would love for us to go after either Bumgarner or Wheeler, though. Wheeler is the one I would really really want if you can afford him.
Why would you arbitrate with a guy like Sanchez only to rehab him? He isn’t all that special that you spend $$ and ride him out.
Do yall think Ryu, Bumgarner, Wheeler can be had for 3/60 4/80?? I'm expecting Bum & Ryu to re-up with home team. Considering a guy like Nathan Eovaldi got 4/68
I expect the 2nd tier guys (Ryu, Wheeler, Odorizzi, MadBum) to get at least $80M. Ryu and Wheeler are not like Keuchel (old with no stuff but good results), they are guys who can be expected to be as good or better than they have been.
