I agree that WAR can be a misleading stat. And I think Meyers leaves a lot of opportunity for improvement, but I don't understand the hate. With him in CF, the Astros are better off than they currently are at 1b, 3b, or arguably, LF. He is a perfectly OK player, not a drain like Jose Abreu or Chas was in 2024.
I dont hate him, I think he's fine as a 4th OF. You aren't going to win a championship with a Mendoza hitting CF. I would rather Chas be in CF because he's got good range, Chas/Meyers have the same arm and when healthy Chas has proven to be a productive MLB hitter. (Probably will never be as good as he was in 2023.) I really would rather see Robert in CF and a platoon of Gamel and Whitcomb in LF than Chas. Heck give me Robert in CF and Duvall in LF. Better with the glove overall and adds much more power to the lineup. No real holes in the lineup if they also add Walker. Maybe Dezenzo, but he's going to be a MLB avg hitter IMHO.
Dodgers might be about to win the world series with a guy that hit about as well as Meyers this year. If the Yankees come back and win,they have a left fielder that hit about as well as Meyers You can easily win a world series with a gold glove center fielder who is a below average hitter. What you can't have is a first baseman and left fielder who hit on par with said center fielder.
I agree he is perfect at 9th. Possibly 8th vs a lefty, but 9th in every game he starts is perfectly fine with me. The problem is the Pena also should be 9th in every game possibly 8th vs a lefty. Lol.
Why would you upgrade, stay within the budget, but not have the budget/prospects to do moves that help a team win more and increase odds of winning a World Series more? If having perfect teams was easy to do, every team would do it.
Thank you - this is my point. Jake has value to the Astros - and would get a job around the league as he is worth more than his current contract - but that won't be the case for long.
If the Astros fill their other offensive holes, they can live with Meyers bat in the lineup, and at the salary he is going to make in 2025. However, doesn't mean that the Astros are "set" in CF, it is still a position that you consider upgrades at if it proves too hard to upgrade at another position. CF isn't the top 2-3 priority.
I guess I believe in Dana's ability to add 4-5 top prospects a year in the draft/int FA. You must not have that faith in Dana's ability to judge talent. I believe this is the Stros window to win championships and they should do everything they can to make those happen. MILB is made to supplement the MLB club. As I've heard somebody once say, prospects are cool, parades are cooler.
Upgrade if you are able to within budget AFTER resolving the much more pressing positions of 3b, LF, and 1b in that order.
And ANY team only has to win 4 out of 7. If the Astros ever face the Dodgers again in the World Series. . . The Dodgers won't be as good as the 2019 Astros and the Astros won't be as bad as the 2019 Nationals.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/latest-on-the-cardinals-offseason-plans.html Learned in that article that both Contreras and Arenado have no trade clauses. Not sure how either feels about the Astros but it does make it less likely they get traded.
Dodgers are only going to get better too. They will add this off season and get Ohtani back pitching. That being said anything can happen in baseball.
I consider CF to be the most pressing position and the most difficult position to replace. Trade for Robert and bring in a cheap vet like Duvall or Comforto. Not only have you upgraded two OF spots not only offensively but also defensively. Plus there should be money to bring in a guy like Walker or Lowe.
