If Dana is allowed to make one major addition I hope that addition is Santander. But I doubt it's going to happen. So, I'm looking at trade partners and the Cards/Red Sox, A's, Tigers, Giants seem like they would make great trade partners.
I wish they’d gotten a longer look at Whitcomb, Leon, and Dezenzo in the majors this year. Those guys could be answers to all the lineup questions but rolling with them without a bigger sample risks another year of a desperate deadline. Similarly, I wish they’d called up Blubaugh so we could know how much of an answer he might be for the rotation.
I'm hoping Dezenzo is the answer at 3rd. They really need to add at least a bat either in the OF or at 1B in the off-season. Do this and get Tucker back and I think they can make a run in 2025. It doesn't bother me that they aren't bringing Blubaugh up. He needs all of the seasoning he can get at AAA. He's definitely got the stuff to be successful though. I'm hoping Dana can trade Pressly for a young cost controlled 1B.
Offseason options for a lefthanded middle of the order bat: Free agency: Josh Bell, Carlos Santana, Dominic Smith, Rowdy Tellez, Jesse Winker, Jurickson Profar, Michael Conforto, Anthony Santander, Cody Bellinger Trade: Luis Arraez, Lamont Wade, Yandy Diaz, Ryan O’Hearn, Jake Cronenworth, Jeimer Candelario, Kerry Carpenter, Trevor Larnach, Jake Fraley, Jared Kelenic, Mike Tauchman, Max Kepler, Mike Yaz, Jeff McNeil
Thanks for the list? These aren't just FA options. Off of this list give me Santander Carpenter Wade O'Hearn Fraley Conforto. Diaz wont be available, Dana should be able to land one of these guys though.
I'll go with Santander. One last attempt at a WS with Tucker. And eventually he just becomes Tucker's replacement if he leaves as a free agent. And the final offer you made to Tucker, basically that money covers the remaining amount on Santander's contract if Tucker declines.
The Astros need to add one of these 10 players this offseason to play 1B: Carlos Santana, Luis Arraez, Lamont Wade, Yandy Diaz, Ryan O’Hearn, Jake Cronenworth, Jeimer Candelario, Vlad Guerrero Jr., Kerry Carpenter, Brent Rooker Then have an open competition in LF between McCormick, Leon, Whitcomb, and Melton. 2B Altuve RF Tucker DH Alvarez C Diaz 1B TBD 3B Dezenzo LF TBD SS Pena CF Meyers
Astros Winter Activities I think the Astros need to extend Kikuchi for a couple of years now, or sign one Free Agent SP to a two or three year deal this winter. Kikuchi is a captive audience now. This winter will be a free for all and so far, our GM sucks at those. Winter Ball Candidates Whitcomb LF Melton CF Cole OF Daniels OF AJ Blubaugh C Gordon* M Ullola T Dombroski* 2025 line up 1. Altuve 2b 2. Tucker RF 3. Alvarez DH 4. Diaz C 5. Whitcomb LF 6. Dezenzo 1b 7. Mathews 3B 8. Meyers, Leon or, or Melton CF 9. Pena SS Bench Catcher, Caratini Outfielder, Meyers, Leon, or Melton Infielder, Diaz, Kessinger, or Amaya Versatile, Dubon Starting Pitchers (5 to 6+ innings) Valdez Brown Blanco Kikuchi Arrighetti Bullpen Single Inning Relievers Hader Abreu Scott Murfee Whitley Tandem Pitchers (2 to 3 innings) McCullers Garcia France Trade for Prospects or Release Singleton Pressly Ortega Verlander Urquidy Graveman Ferguson Sousa* Cabbage*
There is absolutely no way I see Matthews as the starting 3B at the beginning of next year. While he is showing some positives in AA, he also has a 36% K rate. He has a lot more development before he is ready. I also think there is only a slim chance that Pressley is traded, and if he is it will be for an upgrade to the MLB team, not for prospects. You trade for prospects when the team is not competing for a title. Just my thoughts
García has been way too good as a starter in the past to put him in the bullpen. Either go with a 6 man rotation or swap him and Arrighetti.
A 2025 bullpen of Dubin, Ort, Scott, Abreu, Pressly, Hader, and one of McCullers, Whitley, King, or Murfee should be pretty damn salty. Unless Pressly is disgruntled and disruptive, I don’t think they should trade him.
We need to face the facts that Pressly will be an Astro at least until the trade deadline. This is his home, the Astros have not made any indication that it's even on the table, he is still a solid 3rd or 4th best RP, and he has full no-trade rights. I could see Hader, Abreu, and some combination of Murfee, Ort, Whitley, Scott, and/or King ahead of him relegating him to the 6th/7th innings but he will be here.
Allegedly they picked up Aledmys Diaz for his locker room presence so I'm assuming hanging onto Pressly will be the same. Keep him for his leadership. Only way he's gone is if he asks for a trade because he's unhappy about being a 6th/7th inning guy and still feels he can be a closer or a setup man.
Garcia will be coming into his first full season after a long recovery, I prefer to bring him back carefully.
I was pretty tired when I posted this. I meant to say Arizona Fall League when I said winter ball, and I meant to include Mathews on that list. I think he breaks out there and proves himself to be capable at the hot corner.
I believe the Astros are going to have to be more frugal this winter due to self made budget problems. I also believe that Presley would rather be someplace where he can be the closer. If he would rather stay I am all for it. With starters pitching less innings the importance of having multi inning relievers in the pen will become obvious. They can allow managers to pull starters quicker when necessary and keep the high leverage single inning relievers available and fresh for their intended purpose. Three inning long relievers will have a lot more value than single inning middle relievers and are a true market inefficiency to take advantage of today.
Matthews was always going to be a slow mover. He has everyone's attention but he is still at least a full season away. I actually think he could be the starting SS,CF or primary 2b while Altuve needs 65-70% DH days in 2026 but I think he stays up the middle.
If we have a pair of young aces in arrighetti and Brown making minimum wage for a long time everything gets pretty easy for the next 4+ years.
