He's a plus bat, young, and a good fit if Brantley is gone. If the Astros don't resign their two free agent OF, they might regret passing on a cheap option with a career .981 postseason OPS.
Tiering the available position player free agents that can help Houston: Tier 1 ($50M+): Springer, Realmuto, LeMahieu, Ozuna, Semien Tier 2 ($20M-50M): LaStella, Brantley, Profar, Bradley, E Hernandez Tier 3 ($10M-20M): Rosario, Pederson, Wong, Castro, Puig Tier 4 (<$10M): Ramos, Molina, Gardner, Flowers, Pillar, Avila, Lamb, Mazara, Villar, Markakis, Reddick, Souza, Marisnick, Choo, Almora, Suzuki Tier 5 (minor league deal): Shaw, Duvall, Bruce, Maybin, Dietrich, Lucroy, Jay, Cespedes, Naquin, Wieters, Martin, Chirinos
Update to the Schwarber deal... It does have an option. 1 Year 7 million Mutual option for 11 million with a 3 million dollar buyout. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/nationals-to-sign-kyle-schwarber.html I didn't think he was a great fit for the Astros. Our divisional opponents have large left fields and until we know how Alavrez is doing on his double knee surgeries we have to pencil him in at DH for the large majority of the time. It also makes me wonder about Brantley. He was hobbled fo most of the shortened season. We need his bat but you can't take Alvarez out of the DH spot on a regular basis. The Astros are going to have to make 40 man roster moves. So I expect at least one trade. We sit at 39 players and still need 2 outfielders, another bullpen arm, and a backup catcher at a minimum. Even putting Verlander and James on the 60 day injured list doesn't create enough room.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/red-sox-discussing-andrew-benintendi-in-trade-talks.html I would be all over this for Houston if the price is reasonable. Based on how bad he was last season and that he only has 2 seasons of control I would think Houston could get him for a couple of 2nd tier pitching prospects like Abreu and Bielak.
The price won't be cheap with 2 years of control. He's still 26. I assume you mean he was bad in 2019 (still a 2 WAR year, 2x of a '18 or '19 Reddick)--a down year at age 24 from his age 23 season (4 WAR, Brantley range). Gotta think he can get it back given overall track record.
Crane, Click...please save us from the hellhole that is Houston sports. Texans are becoming favorites as the most incompetent sports franchise ever run in history, and Tillman doesn’t inspire any hope either for the Rain Forest Cafe Rockets. Please extend the WS window with say, 2-3 year deals for Brantley, Hand and a smorgasbord of competent, controllable players. We still have a great nucleus and, if managed correctly, can seriously contend for years to come. Please save us.
Ironic that crane previously has the biggest question marks as to his competence and social justice tendencies prior to becoming an owner. He at least seems to understand the concept of letting those with knowledge/experience be the ones to run the team/make decisions.
I think there is no question he will do something to help the team once players decide to sign. The question to me is how much does he focus on 2021 wins (e.g., players like Brantley, JBJ) and how much does he focus on say the next 2-4 years (Players like Profar, Ozuna who help in 2021, but shouldn't be too risky for multiple years). Also, does Click consider it likely that Leon will be an impact player and is ready/almost ready for the majors.
Would both want to come here? I would think they would want to be a closer so if Houston signs one, would the other still be on board? Or does money talk? Alex Colome wouldn't be bad as well. Have interest in him and has connections to Click. Also Rosenthal.
Money talks. Probably more so for Hand than Hendriks as he's likely to get less good offers. Granted, I doubt Astros get both.
Grouping potential outfield trade targets after perusing all non-contenders' rosters: Wishful Thinking: Christian Yelich, Whit Merrifield, Mike Yastrzemski Prime targets: Andrew Benintendi, Jesse Winker, Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant, Ian Happ, Mitch Haniger, Ketel Marte, David Peralta, Kole Calhoun, Corey Dickerson, Brian Anderson, Starling Marte, Trey Mancini, Joey Gallo Underwater veterans: Charlie Blackmon, Lorenzo Cain, Dexter Fowler, Andrew McCutcheon, Jason Heyward, Brandon Belt Forgotten Prospects: Jake Bauers, Josh Naylor, Oscar Mercado, Billy McKinney, Corey Ray, Mark Payton, Bubba Starling, Mickey Moniak, Roman Quinn, Adam Haseley, Luis Basabe, Lewis Brinson Gapfillers: Avisail Garcia, Alex Dickerson, Austin Slater, Jacoby Jones, Jon Berti, Garrett Cooper
Would Colome and Rosenthal be realistic? Or just one of them? Or even for those 2, Houston would be lucky to get?