Sadly, Altuve hit zero home runs in his three minutes. Got bounced from the competition by local player Diego Rincones who hit one HR and stopped.
I would be good with re-signing Brantley and signing Conforto as DH/LF options on cheap deals. Re-sign Yuli for bench role and play utility along with Hensley. Role with Chas at CF and have Leon compete for his spot sometime during the season. See what you got with Korey Lee as the backup catcher. Good mix of veteren experience and young potential. We have a lot of margin for error with the strength of the pitching staff and a top/middle heavy line-up.
That's too many left fielders. Yordan is going to be playing out there too. You can't sign Brantley and Conforto both.
If they hadn’t been able to sign Abreu, I would possibly disagree with you… but with Abreu added, I think the Astros should avoid Contreras unless they plan to not have him start 60% of the games… and I don’t see that with Abreu at 1st.
Brantley is the Astros back up plan I believe. It’s really hard to figure out what is a fair contract… his power is gone, he doesn’t play the field well, he is older and coming off an injury - but he is still a lefty that can hit a baseball in his sleep.
Supposedly Conforto wants a two year deal with the second season a player option. Not sure the Astros would roll the dice and do that. Boras isn’t afraid to wait, so let’s see what happens.
In my mind, if we needed a SS replacement for injury or something it would be Bregman with Yuli at 3rd.
Some of the FAs getting mentioned as Astros possibilities might have been Plan B if Jose Abreu did not sign.
We could be in a Brantley or Yuli but not both spot. Neither of them seem like up the middle guys off the bench.
On this team he is basically a bench bat. not sure he is willing to play that role or for that money.
Basically zero chance of that, he wants WAY too much money and the Astros have too much talent at the position.
I would say platoon bat. I think he could start 60% of games with 2/3 - 3/4 of those being at DH. Chas, Meyers, or Leon start the other 40%
Keep your eyes on the Mariners. Kirby and Castillo and Ray is a very high upside top of the rotation. They already added one really good outfield bat and intend to add another high level bat.
Yeah they are becoming more formidable for sure, glad we upgraded the lineup with Abreu. Also Alvarez says hi to both Castillo and Ray.
Told the Astros are looking at possible platoon type bats that can play some center and hit righties well. They like Chas against left handed pitching. Part of the reason they have checked on Benentendi, is to see his openness to playing some center in switches as well as getting at bats at while playing the corners… similar reason they have interest in Happ. It’s not the only reason, but it allows them to really craft the line up against the opposing pitcher. Happ and Benintendi both hit righties and Chas hits lefties well. IDK- just passing on that it is something they have looked at. Abreu is someone they value because he hits both lefties and righties. They are looking at utility players that can hit well against both lefties and righties.
I always thought Benitendi just wasn’t a good centerfielder… like Tucker, elite in his corner spot but average at best in center. I can’t see MMP being a great fit for him, but I guess for 20-49 games when matchups dictate it’s fine. I guess that’s the Bellinger rationale too.
