The improvement will be from getting rid of Dusty, that immediately gets rid of Maldonado taking the Astros catcher position from being the worst in the league both offensively and overall to being most likely top 5 offensively. That's about as massive a leap as any team has taken and that doesn't even factor in the pitching the Astros are getting back.
Blockbuster with Toronto to take advantage of their desperation to capitalize on their half billion dollar investment: Blue Jays get: 3B Alex Bregman SP Jose Urquidy CF Jake Meyers Astros get: SP Alex Manoah OF Spencer Horwitz IF Cavan Biggio IF Josh Kasevich IF Leo Jimenez P CJ Van Eyk Astros get an extremely high upside SP, an underrated lefty 1B/LF bat, a utility infielder to compete with Dubon for the 3B job, and Toronto’s #4, #5, and #14 prospects. This trade would not happen because it probably makes Houston ~1 win worse in 2024, but I think it would dramatically improve their long term outlook. Toronto gets an MVP caliber rental 3B, a solid SP4/5, and an elite defensive CF to pair with Varsho and Springer.
I just want a big splash move for once, The Astros only have so many years before they start looking to rebuild and in these final years I want a move that will put fear into teams.... I know its not the way The Astros do things, every year it seems like a young star rises up but eventually that luck will run out.... I'm still salty about The Rangers because I know Dusty was the main reason The Astros don't have another WS win... I just want a clear star heading to Houston...
I hope so, already lost to Rangers in the post season.... Losing to The Yankees would be even worse...
I remember Soto to the Padres was supposed to be just awesome. Next. Soto to the Yankees He'll probably go to the Dodgers next a year ago, Yankees sign Rodon! omg scary. "stros should have signed him"
Yeah, all those teams that make splash moves every year do so well. Padres are the annual kings of the offseason and trade deadline. I'm sure their fans love it. As proven over the last 7 years, the Astros' strategy just can't compete with that.
A splash move really only makes sense if a team needs help at the top of the roster. The Astros have 8-10 players who have performed at an All star level and should compete to be All Stars this season. That is a team that has a World Series ceiling. That is a team that does not need a splash move. What it needs is complimentary moves that help raise the floor and provide insurance against injury and under performance Splash moves cost. They either take payroll space away from other players, or cost players that hurt the team in other areas, now or in the future.
Andrew's trade for Soto could have happened with what he proposed. We could also have signed Garver for 3/39 and probably been better off than the Vic signing (which I like by the way). Joc Pederson could have come in handy for sure. All that **** can still be accomplished at the trade deadline so I'm not ******** on this offseason- we got done what we needed to get done at manager, catcher and I'm fine with seeing what we have in the bullpen and in Meyers and putting that on our midyear shopping list if neither solution are improved dramatically. We really should get a LHH OF that is good against RHP. This team practically doesn't have a hole- that's it. That's the hole. It's not a big one- but might as well fix it so the lineup goes 9 deep against RHP. If Vogelfat hasn't signed yet I think it makes a ton of sense to bring him in. He can probably fill that role well enough (it means Yordan plays left on days he DH's) and I can't imagine him costing much of anything as he got non-tendered.
Yeah and the Mets were going to win a 120 games with all their moves too. Buying players can help but it's not a guarantee to sucess. When it goes wrong you look like a complete dumbass of an organization.
I listened to the podcast and Andrew's Soto trade was reasonable. I didn't like it because it slams the window shut after 2024, and in hindsight, the Padres got way more for him. I like your Robert deal better since it kept the window open for 2 years instead of just 1, prevented the team from being bottom of the barrel in 2026-2027, and provides a plan to have that window opened right back up. What many fans don't realize is that this team just as it is (now that it has a legitimate backup catcher) has as good of a chance as anyone to win a World Series in 2024. It is 10 deep in players who should be in the top 25% of players at their positions and also has several guys who have the ceiling to add to that. As a fan, I want another bat to play vs RHP. I want a legitimate back up 1B. I want another proven relief arm. But none of that is NEEDED to compete and this team has no money. Truth is the Mariners adding a big bat may improve their WS odds by 10%, the Astros adding the same bat improves their chances 1-2%. This team is in dire need of revamping the high end talent in the minor leagues. They WILL lose Bregman, Framber, and Tucker to FA in the next 24 months. The level of talent they get back in compensation picks is directly influenced by whether they are above the CBT or not. If this team was to spend on additional talent and increase their chances of winning by 1-2%, the cost is drastically less talent added to the system and potentially a longer period of non competitiveness. The option they are taking: Give the playing time to Jake Meyers and hope he has a Chas-type breakout. Try the young RPs until one steps up. Not only will this potentially add a productive player to the roster for 4-6 years extending the current window, but shortens the time the window may be closed when the stars leave.
All that makes a lot of sense. But I know one thing, if the team comes up short this coming year, almost everyone is going to blame Crane for doing next to nothing to improve the team.
Of course they will. That's what Fandom is all about. But in 2019, the Astros were the deepest, scariest, best team I have ever seen. They added Yordan and Grienke- and still lost. Nothing is guaranteed no matter what you do or who you get. Other than depth, this team doesn't really have any glaring needs. Once a team gets to that point, the moves made don't always make more sense than the moves they don't make if you are looking at the Long run.
Limited depth will show its ugly face if/when key guys get hurt. But looking down the road, I agree with you. Some of the talk about going all in this year or saying that we wont trade Bregman because we are trying to win it all seems thin.
Agreed, but thexway I see it, any of the moves people are talking about- Trading Bregman to improve the farm Trade a bunch if young MLB players for Robert or Robert and Cease, or Soto All of them actually hurt the depth, at least for 2024
I don't want an owner or GM that makes decisions based on "what should I do so fans don't blame me for losing?" in a league where 97% of the teams will ultimately lose.
