Like it or not they are the best outfielders in the system today. I would prefer Corona to Melton in center but Smith in right looks like the best outcome there. Unless somebody really steps up I do not see going into the second half with Meyers and McCormick in Right and center field. Trading for outfielders is a silly way to solve a problem that you can solve internally for free.
I get the concern, 5 errors in 30 chances at 3B was awful. I was concerned. And Brown sees him in the OF. But he played better (and more) SS and 2B in the minors than 3B. He was above-average in range at 2B and not bad at SS. Not error prone at either position. I think he'd be a much better option starting at 2B than some of the folks we've been throwing out. He was .293/.378/.530 at AAA last season and went 25/25 in just over 100 games. He's a very legit power-speed threat, 26 years old, with nothing left to prove at in the minors. So I endorse Snake Diggit's idea. If Altuve is LF is going to happen, give Whitcomb a legit shot at 2B to begin the year.
I have a feeling that your response would be the same regardless of what position we were discussing. Pitching, catchers, infielders, we have all of those in the minors for free.
Altuve projects to almost a -2 war defensive guy at 2B this year. If he can track balls in Lf it won’t be nearly that bad. You are out to lunch on this one and just not statistically accurate. now, if he can’t track and catch the balls that will be a different matter- but that arm ain’t costing us 2 WAR next year like his 2B defense will. since the guys that play at 2B instead of him are likely to be plus to plus plus defenders it’s actually an even greater difference, as the guys he’s set to replace defensively in LF will likely be below average. nothing you’ve said is at all supported by data and numbers man.
It was a bad defensive showing at his 3rd best position, in a very limited sample set. You don't know that he's a bad 2B unless you've watched a lot of Space Cowboys games...
Alvarez was the #1 left fielder in the league in 2024 according to MLB network. Altuve is untried. Alvarez can catch a fly ball at the wall flat footed that Altuve would have to leap for. He can leap for a ball that Altuve would have no chance at. He can cover the ground that would take Altuve ten steps in six steps, maybe five. I could make irrefutable arguments on this subject all day. Alvarez is clearly a better left fielder than Altuve, or anyone else for that matter.
This is like when I opened a pack of 1989 Donruss and saw that Ricky Jordan hit .308 as a rookie and thought he was gonna make the hall of fame. Whitcomb played 14 games at 3B for the Astros. 14 games ain’t ****. What’s worse is most people are really drawing their opinion from 1 game.
I'm not "most people" ...and when the GM says straight out "his future is in the OF" most people should listen
give me a break. He was the number 1 left fielder because he's the third best hitter in the league. His defensive stats were horrible.
Alvarez was irrefutably the #1 left fielder in the league in 2024 Altuve is irrefutably untried. Alvarez can irrefutably catch a fly ball at the wall flat footed that Altuve would have to leap for. He can irrefutably leap for a ball that Altuve would have no chance at. He can irrefutably cover the ground that would take Altuve ten steps to cover in six steps, maybe five. Alvarez is irrefutably a better left fielder than Altuve can ever be. I could make irrefutable arguments on this subject all day. You can't just ignore physics.
Alvarez was the best offensive "LF" (DH really) in MLB. He was a massive negative while actually playing the field. Refute that.
