We might have a differing opinion on what constitutes good D in RF. Dezenzo has had very limited time in the OF and none in RF ftm. Making a player learn a new, hard position on-the-fly in the MLB is a very tough ask. Dezenzo might be up for it. We will see.
Updated hypothetical remaining offseason: In: Bregman, Neris, Junis, lotto prospect(s) Out: Caratini, Montero+prospect, Trammell, Singleton Opening day roster: LF Altuve 3B Bregman DH Alvarez 1B Walker 2B Paredes C Diaz RF McCormick SS Pena CF Melton Bench: Dubon, Salazar, Meyers, Hummel Rotation: Framber, Brown, Blanco, Arrighetti, Junis, Wesneski Bullpen: Hader, Abreu, Neris, King, Ort, Whitley, Scott IL: Garcia, McCullers, Sousa, France (60-day), Javier (60-day) Optioned: Gordon, Gusto, Hernandez, Contreras, Dezenzo, Whitcomb, Corona, Leon Let’s roll.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...an-impact-including-kyle-tucker-trade-return/ With all that out of the way, let's get to ranking the top three prospects in the Houston Astros system. 1. Cam Smith, 3B The short hook: Promising corner bat, but which corner? Smith ascended from a so-so first season at Florida State to being made the 14th pick in the draft thanks to a tweaked swing that allowed him to greatly reduce his strikeout rate. He's now capable of contributing in each of the triple-slash categories, with his above-average strength in particular giving him middle-of-the-order potential. (To wit, none of his seven professional home runs were total pull jobs; they were all hit to left-center, center, or right field.) Questions remain about his long-term defensive home. Evaluators have expressed the belief he could slide from third base to a different corner in due time. The Astros, who obtained Smith in the Kyle Tucker trade, have stated they intend to crosstrain him at each corner position as a means of improving his and their optionality alike. MLB ETA: Summer 2025 2. Jacob Melton, CF The short hook: Dynamic center fielder with power Melton is an athletic center fielder with an intriguing left-handed bat. His exit velocity last season peaked at 113.6 mph, putting him in the same neighborhood as Bryce Harper and Matt Olson, among other notable big-league sluggers. Melton certainly has the strength to leave the park to all fields (seven of his 15 home runs went out to left or left-center field), but in the near term his power might play more in the form of doubles; that's because he had an average launch angle in the single digits in Triple-A, along with a ground-ball percentage over 50%. Melton's offensive capacity could be hampered by a swing-happy approach that contains plenty of swing-and-miss, too. On the bright side, he should be able to claw back value on the basepaths, where he successfully swiped 30 bases during the 2024 season. There are some intriguing potential outcomes here if Melton can further optimize his swing plane and gameplan. MLB ETA: Summer 2025 3. Brice Matthews, SS/3B The short hook: Dynamic infielder with power Matthews had an interesting season, jetting all the way to Triple-A just about a year after being selected 28th overall. He notched 15 home runs and 32 stolen bases across 79 games, all the while striking out in more than 31% of his trips to the plate. The industry is more forgiving of strikeouts now than at any other point in history, but Matthews will test that tolerance; only one qualified MLB batter, Zack Gelof, struck out more frequently. At the same time, Matthews would appear to have one major point working in his favor: his employer. His ability to pull fly balls to left field should come in handy in Houston, where he could become fond of the Crawford Boxes. Of course, Matthews will still have to make enough contact for that possibility to materialize. For now, he's someone to keep tabs on. MLB ETA: Summer 2025
Side note: Rafael Montero gave up a game-tying homerun in the 9th inning as he tried to close out the championship game of the Dominican Winter League.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/60...alonso-astros-bregman-dodgers-pirates-skenes/ Houston Astros officials are adamant that free agent Alex Bregman will remain at third base if they re-sign him as a free agent. But defensively, the Astros might be better off with Bregman moving to second and Isaac Paredes staying at third. Bregman, 30, won his first Gold Glove at third in 2024. But his agent, Boras, has indicated that he is willing to move to second — the position Bregman would play if he signed with the Boston Red Sox. Of course, it is one thing to change positions for Rafael Devers, the Red Sox’s franchise player (though a subpar defender), and quite another to move Paredes, who made his first All-Star team last season but is still only 25. Bregman, who was a shortstop at LSU and has appeared in 257 games professionally at that position, likely would adapt well to second, where he has only 32 innings of experience. The Tampa Bay Rays, because of Paredes’ limited range, considered him much more of a third baseman. Yet Paredes seemingly is the one who would switch, even though he has played only 67 games at second compared to 335 games at third. The re-signing of Bregman also would raise another defensive question for the Astros. Jose Altuve said at the team’s Fan Fest on Saturday that he is willing to go from second to left field to accommodate Bregman’s return and Paredes’ expected move to second. But in 18 professional seasons, Altuve has never played outfield. In the majors, he has spent all but six of his more than 15,000 defensive innings at second (the others were at short). Moving Altuve off second certainly makes sense. He ranked 35th among second basemen last season in Defensive Runs Saved, 36th in Outs Above Average. Left field at Houston’s Daikin (formerly Minute Maid) Park might not be a problem for him; Fenway is the only left field in the majors that is smaller. But Altuve turns 35 in May. His sprint speed last season was in only the 44th percentile. And the Astros prefer Yordan Alvarez as their primary DH. Adding Bregman to an offense with Paredes and Christian Walker would cushion the blow of losing right fielder Kyle Tucker in the trade that brought Paredes from the Chicago Cubs. But while Walker is a significant upgrade at first, the turnover of position players would leave the Astros with questionable defense at second and in left. And the trade of Ryan Pressly to the Cubs will weaken their bullpen.
I would be an idiot to say I don't want Breggy back, I love the dude BUT, if our offer wasn't good enough at the start of this why should we still offer that now. I feel like the girl whose BF broke up with me to get the new hot girl, but she refuted you and now you want me to take you back. I have to ask myself why no one wanted you, is the elbow not right, does no one want a gold glove infielder who can't hit for the first 2.5 months of the year. Asking Altuve to play left to accommodate this seems forced. If I were Crane I would tell him the offer is good for the day but then we have to move on........I think Boras over played his hand and now Breggy has to deal with the fall out
Seems like the origin of the idea was Altuve himself. Paredes and Bregman make more sense to shift over as needed with them actually playing other positions before.
I like Paredes at third better than Bregman. Bregman is on a downward slope. He is older and battleworn and is unlikely to be playable for more than 3 to 4 years. Paredes has youth and projectability. He is likely to improve over the next 6 years and he could be extended to six years for far far less than bringing back Bregman for 6 years. Nobody is willing to beat Houstons 6 for 156 offer because he is unlikely to be worth that much. We have third base covered for now and well into the future. If Bregman comes back he should be playing in left field. It is a less demanding position and might extend his usefulness. I know I am probably alone in this but thinking long term should change a few minds.
Was this comment really necessary?? Day after day people have to read you call other clutchfans members derogatory names which is way out of line and uncalled for. It's also pathetic coming from someone who has their moniker as IBTL. I wonder what Christ would say about all of this? At the end of the day we're all Astros fans. Maybe you might want to lighten up or then again maybe you won't.
Still good but Dodgers pitching was .50 worse on the road and I believe Brusdar is expected to miss most of the season. I would look more at a 3 year trend line with relievers. Montero looked pretty good in a season once too.
Why don't you try this amazing feature of putting me on ignore? No one is forcing you to read my posts. Lighten up, Francis.
I heard today we are meeting w/ Bregman. I hope a contract is to follow. Let's pray my brothers and sisters in Christ, except for @the shark .
Bregs might be on a downward slope, but he is the defending GG winner at 3B. For 2025, presumptively, he would play a better 3B than Paredes. If the goal is to maximize our chances of winning in 2025, Bregs would play 3B. Also, for Bregs, I’m not sure that 3B is more demanding than LF. He seems to struggle with running/hamstrings as I recall. 3B is mostly about quick twitch reaction, granted there is some full on running. LF would have more running/range requirement, which perhaps would be more demanding for Bregs history. But in any case, it would be hard to justify Bregs not plying 3B for 2025. That could be revisited as seasons move forward.
The idea of 30 being "battleworn" makes me feel very old. Bregman looked plenty good at 3B last season when he won the Gold Glove. He's a better 3B in 2025. If both are on the team in 2026, we can have that conversation again at that time.
Says the guy that can't bother to put people on ignore. Well-done! Is this your first time on a message board?
