2023 Official Astros World Champs Offseason Thread

[WBT 20618]

Pasadena?

[tx 3 putt 77093]

yes

[Gourmand 7774]

27 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

good stuff man !

 

That is awesome. Well done, Dusty.

[Gourmand 7774]

Y'all still walkin on air around the house and workplace like I am?

 

[tx 3 putt 77093]

im ready for all the free agents to land somewhere, in one day and spring training in 3 days from now !

[tx 3 putt 77093]

[UTHornFan014 710]

1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

Fuck SI for that "convincing" title line

[APMP 688]

Fuck SI for that "convincing" title line

It is what it is. Even the Fox commentator couldn't resist on the last out, which will be replayed forever. Had to get in a cheap shot about 2019, saying "this time they finish the job."

Whatever, let the hate flow, I'm happy being the New England Patriots of baseball...the Patriots won, a lot.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13515]

Crane sounds like a dick to work for. The GM meetings has 30 GMs and I’ve read only Click and Cashman are not under contract.

Crane implied they’ve been too busy to discuss. During the playoffs, the GM and owner have time.

but since I’m a fan Of the Astros and don’t work there, maybe mlb winning requires an asshole of an owner.

[Wulaw Horn 19116]

2 hours ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Crane sounds like a dick to work for. The GM meetings has 30 GMs and I’ve read only Click and Cashman are not under contract.

Crane implied they’ve been too busy to discuss. During the playoffs, the GM and owner have time.

but since I’m a fan Of the Astros and don’t work there, maybe mlb winning requires an asshole of an owner.

He’s got the right to work with a guy he likes. JL had pretty much unlimited authority/ he trusted him. He doesn’t trust Click. That’s his prerogative. 

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

JV opts out.

[The Dog 44066]

 

[CycleTex87 2972]

Is Yuli officially out?

[Sleepygrad 1029]

Is Yuli officially out?

Not officially

[Js1 85425]

What are the odds we offer a Correa Twins type deal to JV? 

I'd like one more year to finish the cloning JV into Hunter Brown's body. 

[huge 3793]

Talked briefly to my neighbor that works for the Astros as an analyst and he said that work is like mom and dad fighting a lot.

Said Crane is VERY involved.  If Click comes back it is for 1 year.

[CycleTex87 2972]

So you keep a guy on the payroll with one foot out the door, spending half his time looking for his next gig?

[Huckleberry 33005]

53 minutes ago, The Dog said:

 

Such an opportunity to improve the offense. Get it done 

[formermav43 4606]

51 minutes ago, CycleTex87 said:

Is Yuli officially out?

Not sure exactly what you mean, but he is officially a free agent.

[HtownHorn 14726]

1 minute ago, formermav43 said:

Not sure exactly what you mean, but he is officially a free agent.

I think he was asking if the Astros will not try to resign him.

[formermav43 4606]

1 minute ago, HtownHorn said:

I think he was asking if the Astros will not try to resign him.

I kind of thought that maybe, but it’s not like there’s going to be an “official statement” on that. That’s the sort of thing that usually only comes out after the fact.

[HtownHorn 14726]

My ideal off-season

Resign Verlander, Montero, and Brantley

Sign Contreras

26 Man Roster

C - Maldanado

1B - Contreras

2B - Altuve

3B - Bregman

SS - Pena

OF - Alvarez, McCormick, Tucker

DH - Brantley

Bench - Diaz/Hensley/Dubon/Julks

SP - Verlander, Valdez, Javier, McCullers, Garcia, Brown

RP - Pressly, Montero, Abreu, Neris, Stanek, Martinez, Mushinski

[tx 3 putt 77093]

If we don’t resign JV, but add a bat while resigning uncle Mike and yuli ? Use jv’s money to extend players 

we are blessed with starting pitching. Curious to see how things fall out. 

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

15 minutes ago, HtownHorn said:

My ideal off-season

Resign Verlander, Montero, and Brantley

Sign Contreras

26 Man Roster

C - Maldanado

1B - Contreras

2B - Altuve

3B - Bregman

SS - Pena

OF - Alvarez, McCormick, Tucker

DH - Brantley

Bench - Diaz/Hensley/Dubon/Julks

SP - Verlander, Valdez, Javier, McCullers, Garcia, Brown

RP - Pressly, Montero, Abreu, Neris, Stanek, Martinez, Mushinski

Contreras has 11 appearances at first in his career and hasn't played there since 2019 when he made one start there.

[Rockethorn1978 6093]

I’d love to see Houston sign a bomb hitting DH only type guy. Nelson Cruz type. Other than that I just want us to see the opportunity we have to win more WS and be aggressive.

[Scraps 13565]

Man we better do better than that regarding htowns ideal postseason

[Wulaw Horn 19116]

8 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Contreras has 11 appearances at first in his career and hasn't played there since 2019 when he made one start there.

Also, you know, he’s a unicorn as a good hitting catcher but he’s below average offensively as a first baseman, so…

[tx 3 putt 77093]

He’s coming off a career year too 

[TonyTexas 10517]

Even though FAs aren’t supposed to negotiate with new teams until today at 4:00, we all know that’s bogus. Is MLB as blatant as the NFL and NBA about making that deadline a joke and see a flurry of activity this afternoon and tomorrow. I don’t remember. 

Edited November 10, 2022 by TonyTexas

[APMP 688]

Trout has 10/5 trade blocking rights, Ohtani does not. We are full of the most elusive thing in baseball --- young, controllable starting pitching. If we are gonna make moves, let's at least start by thinking big.

[tx 3 putt 77093]

[formermav43 4606]

If Verlander walks, that obviously frees up a lot of money; if he resigns, a pitcher is getting moved, one of Urquidy or Garcia. Urquidy would be preferable, because he’s older, has fewer years of control, and Garcia has better stuff; but that’s also why Garcia would likely net a better return.

Either way, there’s a great opportunity here. I can see both sides of it.

The only thing they can’t afford to do is just run it back with the same guys. Montero is wasted money. Yuli is washed. Brantley is a very qualified *maybe* depending on his medicals and the contract he wants.

There’s no reason this team shouldn’t be even better next season.

[tx 3 putt 77093]

[Mitch Hedberg 2090]

I don’t think I want Alvarez as everyday left fielder. He’s too valuable as DH to have him crash into a wall or dive for a ball. If we sign Contreras I’d like to try to pry Varsho from Arizona as an outfielder and 3rd catcher which would allow Contreras to DH when Alvarez does play left with Varsho in center. Alvarez as LF/DH, Contreras as C/DH and Varsho as LF/CF/C would give lots of lineup flexibility for Dusty to play his lineup games. Not sure why Arizona would trade Varsho but it would be interesting. I don’t see a lot of free agents frankly that move the needle for me. Some of y’all know players much better than I do though.

[Mitch Hedberg 2090]

Fantasy baseball games are fun. 

[henrygandorf 29192]

was hoping they'd announce jv was opting out but then also announce his new deal.  could still be happening, sort of, but not sure.

pretty crazy that our top two "resigning" priorities are verlander and montero - two really good players that we could go win 105 next season without.  to paraphrase what pop says to bump in the natural, talking to montero, "we believe that abreu can fill your position very neatly".

this season proved once again - you can never have too much pitching.  people get hurt, go through bad streaks, etc.  when nobody got hurt, we went 6 man.  when hunter came up, we went 6 man, even when jv was out.  when all our relievers were on, stanek barely pitched - didn't need urquidy/garcia at all.

so either people get hurt and you have depth to cover it.  or nobody gets hurt, and you have so much depth that you win the world fucking series.  hard not to like that formula.

i have nobody on my immediate want list.  i'd like to take a flyer on a high upside homer guy (like a christian walker) who prob won't require a long term or super pricey deal.  not sure who the outfielders are who fit that description.  really need to trade urquidy or garcia.  a 6-man is practical.  a 7-man is just egregious.

[tx 3 putt 77093]

noon 790 is going hard on passing on jv, this analogy ....

you've been on a hell of a hot streak at the black jack table. it's late and time to leave, you're way up. the casino always wins,  leave while you're ahead. father time always wins on all athletes. 

but crane is your rich friend, he just ordered a double vodka and red bull and tells you to sit down  ! haha

Edited November 10, 2022 by tx 3 putt

[Liquor and Poker 3659]

11 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

noon 790 is going hard on passing on jv, this analogy ....

you've been on a hell of a hot streak at the black jack table. it's late and time to leave, you're way up. the casino always wins,  leave while you're ahead. father time always wins on all athletes. 

but crane is your rich friend, he just ordered a double vodka and red bull and tells you to sit down  ! haha

This is why I play poker

[henrygandorf 29192]

not sure if this belongs in this thread or the 2022 thread, but i'll put it here.  one of the more important deals we've made during this stretch, yet never really gets talked about.

Quote

On Friday night the Minnesota Twins traded pitcher Ryan Pressly to the Houston Astros for two prospects: right-hander Jorge Alcala and outfielder Gilberto Celestino. Here’s a quick look at the newest members of the Twins system.

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2018/7/28/17625254/twins-trade-ryan-pressly-to-astros-for-prospects-jorge-alcala-gilberto-celestino

i remember very well (i'm sure someone can dig up the 2018 thread) when we were discussing making a move for a back of the bullpen guy.  i had read about a lesser known guy named ryan pressly - we apparently liked his spin rate, but his numbers with minny weren't special.  he was basically a 4+ era guy, but our scouts liked him and the rest is history.

several of us liked the move at the time, but i don't think anybody saw this coming, especially since even at the time, osuna our primary closer.

it should not be overlooked that after winning in 2017, we went right out and signed uncle mike, traded for cole, and then made moves for osuna and pressly.  very happy mike and pressly finally got their rings.

if we continue to be aggressive, draft well, take advantage of our international infrastructure, there should never really be talk of windows closing.

[Gourmand 7774]

I'm super fuckin pumped to see what Gilbert and Melton do next year in the minors. Not to mention all the underrated/unknown international talent the organization has cultivated through the Cuban/Latin American pipeline. 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13515]

2 hours ago, huge said:

Talked briefly to my neighbor that works for the Astros as an analyst and he said that work is like mom and dad fighting a lot.

Said Crane is VERY involved.  If Click comes back it is for 1 year.

I would think Click would only want to come back solely for money. Being a GM of the WS champs would seem to open other opportunities. Perhaps sit out a year or two but I assume at a minimum he would get consulting gigs.

[Fudge Nuggets 19206]

17 minutes ago, henrygandorf said:

it should not be overlooked that after winning in 2017, we went right out and signed uncle mike, traded for cole, and then made moves for osuna and pressly.

Uncle Mike came after the 2018 season.

[Gut Wagon 8083]

I loved Melton in college ball. Hard to say what he'll be as a pro, but if he can keep his Ks at a manageable rate, I think his overall skill set will make him at worst a solid trade piece. At best, either he or Gilbert becomes our CF anchor for years. Hopefully Tucker is in RF for many years to come. 

[UTexasFight 9504]

19 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

 

wagner plays 2nd 

Well guess who’s a free agent in 2 years.

and the article mentions he’s been at 3rd all fall and yet to make an error

guess who else is a free agent in 2 years.

[henrygandorf 29192]

18 minutes ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

Uncle Mike came after the 2018 season.

right, after we beat up his team in the 2018 ds. good catch.

[UTexasFight 9504]

They’ve got to get some real OF bats and something at either 1B or C, preferably both.

Yordan simply can’t be the everyday LFer.

and much like 2017 when bats up and down the lineup were having career years, the same thing happened with the pitching staff in 2022.

Offense has to be significantly better next year to cover for whatever regression will be coming to pitching next year. 

[HtownHorn 14726]

2 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Contreras has 11 appearances at first in his career and hasn't played there since 2019 when he made one start there.

And a lot of baseball people think he will move there fulltime in the near future. Despite what Brent Jennings said, 1B is not some magical position that no one can learn how to play. Gurriel learned how to play the position has he was a 3B in Cuba. A guy that hadn't played the position in over a month made the biggest defensive play (at the time) of the WS coming in cold off the bench.

Contreras has a nice bat for any position you play him at, gets on base and has decent power. He provides you flexibility in that he can be your everyday 1B and backup catcher. Then you have the same thing with Diaz, make him the RH platoon at DH, and he is your primary backup at 1B and emergency catcher.

[HtownHorn 14726]

1 hour ago, Mitch Hedberg said:

I don’t think I want Alvarez as everyday left fielder. He’s too valuable as DH to have him crash into a wall or dive for a ball. If we sign Contreras I’d like to try to pry Varsho from Arizona as an outfielder and 3rd catcher which would allow Contreras to DH when Alvarez does play left with Varsho in center. Alvarez as LF/DH, Contreras as C/DH and Varsho as LF/CF/C would give lots of lineup flexibility for Dusty to play his lineup games. Not sure why Arizona would trade Varsho but it would be interesting. I don’t see a lot of free agents frankly that move the needle for me. Some of y’all know players much better than I do though.

Arizona might be interested in making that trade because they have a lot of young controlable OF and a shitty pitching staff. Their pitching coach knows plenty about Urquidy. @Wulaw Horn and I were kinda joking about it during the WS, but you could trade Urquidy, Maton, Bielak, and one other pitcher for Varsho and it wouldn't even put a dent in the Astros pitching staff.

[HtownHorn 14726]

3 hours ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Also, you know, he’s a unicorn as a good hitting catcher but he’s below average offensively as a first baseman, so…

You are better than this.

He would have finished 2nd, 3rd, and 2nd among AL 1B in wRC+, wOBA, and WAR last year.

Also had the 2nd best ISO amoung qualified 1B, with the 4th best BB% which is also helped out by his ability to get hit by pitches.

This was also a down year for offense across the board in the MLB. HRs dropped from nearly 6000 to 5200.

Edited November 10, 2022 by HtownHorn

[CycleTex87 2972]

20 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

 

he'll get his ring his first game back at minute maid 

Probably pitch a two-hit complete game shutout against the Astros.