Macklemore doesn't understand the fiances of baseball when you are hamstrung with shitty personel decisions and an owner that really is cheap.
When you understand that Tucker was never resigning with the Astros and Bregman's contract is abysmal the minute the ink dries you understand why the Astros are doing what they are doing. Anyone thinking that the 3 guys they gave up for Kilkuchi are going to anywhere as good as Cam Smith doesn't understand baseball at a fundamental level.
Framber needs to be traded next because you can rebuild your farm system and get major league talent that can help you contend this year in the same deal, we just got that in the deal for Tucker.
Clearling off salary and not taking on shitty contracts is how the Astros stay competitive. Really they should have done this with Springer and Correa as well. You had guys ready to replace them, sell high and get another wave of guys that can replace Tucker, Brown, Bregman, etc. Whoever is willing to give you a team discount that is actually good, those are the guys you keep for long term deals and build around them. The problem right now is the $47M that is tied up in Abreu, Montero, and McCullers. None of that is the fault of our current GM.
If the Astros had that money, then this off-season would be completely different, but then again the Astros are not a team that is going to give out massive long term contracts that hinder their future investments, nor should they. If we get serioulsy involved with Santander, a 5-year deal is where I would draw the line. 34 is a good age range to not want 3+ more years committed to a player, unless they are the face of the franchise, you let him retire as a only Astro, ala Bagwell, Biggio, and Altuve.
This is the 1st offseason in 4-5 years that had a plan with easy to pivot to contingencies.