I won't lie... I was the first one that didn't want Dubon on the team in 2023. After Altuve went down before the season started, I thought for sure we are screwed. Dubon did amazing for this team in 2023. I like they want him more in the infield this year switch means they are going to keep the infield fresh. Alvarez is such an important player for this team. He and the team need to embrace him as David Ortiz. His bat and presences are that good. I'm still not sold on the outfield, but I have to trust that Dana will make a move if it doesn't work out. Meyers is a really great defender. He has a better eye for the ball than Chas, but his bat is my concern... I was hoping for them to at least make run at Soler. This would allow them to move Chas to CF fulltime.
At least Redding made it on multiple teams and had somewhat of a career. Whitley hasn't. And probably won't. At this point people would take him to be another version of peak Kendall Gravemann I suppose? With more injury risk.
From Ken Rosenthal’s athletic article this AM: The Astros Executives from two clubs indicated this week that their teams are monitoring the possibility of the Astros trading left-hander Framber Valdez. For a variety of reasons, such a move could make sense. The Astros’ luxury-tax payroll, according to Fangraphs, currently stands at $237.4 million, slightly above the first threshold. Under owner Jim Crane, the team has exceeded the threshold only once, in the shortened 2020 season, when it turned out penalties were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Valdez, 30, is projected to earn $12.1 million in arbitration and become a free agent after the 2025 season. Trading him could provide a boost to the Astros’ farm system, which Baseball America ranked 27th in its midseason organization rankings. Perhaps the Astros could acquire help for their major-league bullpen, too. A less dramatic move would be a trade of righty José Urquidy, whom the Astros have sought to deal in the past. Urquidy is projected to earn $3.5 million in arbitration. Like Valdez, he is under club control for two more seasons.
It's probably not a bad idea to at least look around and see what offers there are out there for him. But unless you're blown away by a trade that includes a legit MLB ready player and at least a high-upside prospect or two then there's absolutely no benefit to trading him.
Framber wanted to extend with the Astros. If the Astros have a bad 2024, then they likely will look at trading him but I have heard ZERO about them dealing him this season. As for Urquidy - he and Meyers were offered substantially in trade this off season but, the interest was tepid. They couldn't even get a leverage pen arm under short term team control for him. At this point - keep him and see if he bounces back, there really is no such thing as too much pitching. I know a lot of fans are pissed about Glasnow to the Dodgers, but that is better than the Rangers and Red Sox, who were runners up for him. Also - the pieces that the Rays got back are solid. They got a #3 starter under long term control and a possible long term starting bat, all for a guy that wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and goes to the DL.
Soler? He must have had his second fullseason of hitting great last year. I don't follow the Marlins much. For most of his career outside one great season in Kansas City and a second half run in Atlanta in 2021 (F#$% you Soler), he's basically a pre-2023 Chas bat with Evan Gattis level OF defense. Did Soler make any changes to his approach last year or did he just have a good year with the ball ending up on the other side of the fence?
I wonder if the price for Cease is so high the Astros are like “if that’s what they’re gonna get for Cease, I wonder what we can get for Framber, who also has 2 years of control and a more consistent track record.”
That would be giving up on our 2024 club. Really stupid idea if it’s just for minor leaguers. We should be thinking about extending him not trading him. His stock is down right now, perfect time to extend him.
Unless you’re getting a really good SP back in return, I don’t see the sense in trading Framber. Who else is going to pitch?
This. The Astros 1st priority should be 2024-2025. Then 2026 2nd, then 2027 3rd (close to 2026), and then 2028...a distant 4th priority. I don't see the Astros taking talent from a higher priority to improve a lower priority. Playing musical chairs within a priority is as likely to lose value as it is to gain it, and should only be done to fill holes as a last resort. I don't think Dana Brown will get his panties in a twist if he can't get prospective FAs after the 2024 or 2025 season to sign an extension.
Mentioned this before, but I'd trade Framber then sign someone else. It's basically buying prospects of which Framber would bring a lot in return. Trade out Frambers money for another pitcher on the market for perhaps slightly more money than Frambers arbitration estimates and end up with several legit prospects. Sign Imanaga or Matsui if you can't afford the big guys.
Signing someone who can provide as much value as Framber next season would cost a king’s ransom. More likely they would sign another discount bin starter who would suck ass.
I do not think the Astros will trade Framber, Tucker, or Bregman. If what @Nook says is true and Framber wants an extension then they should keep him and work on that. I do not understand the hate Framber is getting. He was the Cy Young frontrunner last year until he hurt his ankle in July. After that he was very inconsistent and frequently bad but he still finished a good season and has a proven track record. There are very few pitchers I would rather have in a rotation over the next 2 years. That said, based on the condition of the system and the coming FA in the next 2 years of: Bregman, Altuve, Framber, Tucker, Verlander, Urquidy, and Pressly without clear proven, or even semi-proven replacements for any of them, trading one of them would be a very hard but smart long term decision. If he isn't going to be extended, then trading Framber makes tons of sense if the return helps 2025+ with only small hurt to 2024. Framber has an exceptional track record. Look at the starting pitching in MLB? Framber is durable, which is rare and overall very good, even if he can't field his position and occassionally melts down. The qualities you say you want in a pitcher are rare to non existent anywhere. I don't think the Astros will trade him. That said, I like the Astros pitching depth enough that a trade could be exciting and help 2025+
Watch Framber win the Cy next season now that he has a receiver who’s not scared of catching his breaking pitches.
If you are not thinking 3-4 years ahead you are doomed to failure. Your priorities are completely backward. When you are 1 year out there is little you can do other than to make a few adjustments to compensate for miscalculations in planning or for injuries. The bulk of your team must have been assembled long before.
