Yulieski Gurriel agrees to 5/$47M deal with the Astros

Whoooo it's a great time to be an Astros fan!!

 

What do you guys think the players think about a major move like this?

Valbuena. Gonzalez. Reed. Bregman.

 

Happy to read the excitement.

Looking at his Cuba League stats, his BB/K ratio is great for a slugger. We'll see how it translates in MLB.

 

Is 3 strikeouts in 220 at bats good? Are Bonita fish big?

 

He'll never be a Royal?

Eh, close enough.

 

Front loading it was the prudent way to go given our current payroll and what's coming down the pipe starting in '20.

 

Front loading is a great approach for any long term contract.

Rewards players for the years they are most likely at peak production, takes some heat off players if they don't produce as much, provides a much better TMV return for the players, and provides flexibility to retool in later years as most players inevitably regress.

 

We're getting to that stage of the season when the teams that do make the big deals that not only make them stronger, they also pump up the team (and fans) but also crush the spirit of the teams behind them. The Red Sox acquiring Pomeranz is that type of move and you can bet Blue Jays and Rangers will try to counter with their own big moves.

The good news... we have already countered, and with a deal that didn't cost us any talent. And still allows us another move or two.

Awesome time to be an Astros fan...

 

Thought the same thing. Part of me thinks that some players won't like it. They'll lose ABs first off, and now some outsider comes in and makes more than Altuve, Correa, springer, kuechel, and LMJ combined. Valbuena might take it the worst. Bregman said he liked the move, but he's been great from a PR perspective his whole career. Who knows how he really feels. Then again, maybe they're excited. I have no idea.

 

he'll be a below avg player in 3 years

 

In 3 years he'll only have 1 year and a couple months left in his contract.

 

Is it Gurriel or Gourriel?

I see both online

 

He spells it "Gurriel"

 

It's Gurriel. They changed their name a year or two ago.

 

I don't know much about this kid. But 47 mil? Is this a SOLID acquisition or is this a gamble? 32 and never in the majors?

 

Hmm. Yeah I can't imagine players liking it. But at least we didn't lose anyone for it. I feel some of our guys are very close knit , also wonder how they would take it if a trade happens during the season and they lose a close friend.

Bregman is a class act. I watched some of his interviews yesterday, impressive.

 

Correa, Altuve, Springer and McCullers will all get major contracts when it's time. The front office will do whatever they can to lock up the big 3 Altuve, Springer and Correa for the long term and ride them like Biggio and Bagwell.

 

2003:
Biggio
Bagwell
Berkman
Hidalgo
Ensberg
Kent

2004:
Biggio
Bagwell
Berkman
Beltran
Kent

Really, only Ausmus was awful in those years. Everett wasn't great, but had a .701 OPS over those 2 years.

 

Both.

 

Of course it is a gamble, we are talking about a 32 year old that hasn't played in a year; has never played in the big leagues; is still adjusting to the culture in the USA and is expected to contribute for the Astros in 5-6 weeks time. That is a lot to ask. It is a risk.

However he has an elite skill set and has been heavily scouted and done extremely well in a very competitive baseball league. He is one of the best players ever from Cuba.

He also cost the Astros no draft picks or minor league talent.