2018-2019 Astros Offseason Thread

[Snake Diggity 4714]

Which package would you rather have:

 

Bryce Harper, Zack Greinke, Marco Estrada, and Justin Wilson

 

Yasmani Grandal, Michael Brantley, J.A. Happ, Charlie Morton, and Andrew Miller

Edited December 11, 2018 by Snake Diggity

[Scraps 13799]

Easily A

[formermav43 4625]

A makes the team better short term.

B is more than good enough to win the World Series without the salary commitments of A that might hamstring resigning existing players.

So, B

[WBT 20970]

2 hours ago, Mo Horn said:

110 mph

I have heard that his running startball is unhittable

[Amos Moses 795]

1 hour ago, Snake Diggity said:

Which package would you rather have:

 

Bryce Harper, Zack Greinke, Marco Estrada, and Justin Wilson

 

Yasmani Grandal, Michael Brantley, J.A. Happ, Charlie Morton, and Andrew Miller

I'll take B, without Grandal.  Give me another bat either in FA or via trade.  How about Abreu for DH?  I read the Astros may still be sniffing around acquiring him.

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

Looks like we can cross Cruz off of the list:

 

[Hank Chinaski 6352]

2 hours ago, Snake Diggity said:

Which package would you rather have:

 

Bryce Harper, Zack Greinke, Marco Estrada, and Justin Wilson

 

Yasmani Grandal, Michael Brantley, J.A. Happ, Charlie Morton, and Andrew Miller

A. Harper is the best player of either group. In his "down" year in 2018 he had a 135 wRC+, which would have tied him with Altuve for second-place on the 2018 Astros. And Greinke can still pitch. 

Edited December 11, 2018 by Hank Chinaski

[runthebone 8374]

2 hours ago, Snake Diggity said:

Which package would you rather have:

 

Bryce Harper, Zack Greinke, Marco Estrada, and Justin Wilson

 

Yasmani Grandal, Michael Brantley, J.A. Happ, Charlie Morton, and Andrew Miller

I would take all 9 because it's not my money.

[Storm the Field 5366]

Cross another one off the list:

 

[Mez2 4048]

I'm going to continue to trust jeff luhnow, but would've been nice to have cutch roaming leftfield with this lineup. And really would've liked cruz as a DH

[formermav43 4625]

13 minutes ago, Mez2 said:

I'm going to continue to trust jeff luhnow, but would've been nice to have cutch roaming leftfield with this lineup. And really would've liked cruz as a DH

I’m gonna call my shot now: 2019 Tucker > 2019 McCutchen.

[henrygandorf 29225]

2 hours ago, Storm the Field said:

Cross another one off the list:

 

while this may very well be true, his own agent refuted this report.  and a different report mentioned the astros and white sox also possible landing spots.

i'm not sure i want him, but thought i should pass along the "news".

[henrygandorf 29225]

1 hour ago, Mez2 said:

I'm going to continue to trust jeff luhnow, but would've been nice to have cutch roaming leftfield with this lineup. And really would've liked cruz as a DH

i like cutch as a dude, and he had a really nice stretch a few years back, but he just seems like the type of guy that settles into a .260/17/65 rut as he gets into his 30's.  which is totally fine, but not for the type of money he's gonna make with philly.  3 for $50mm?  no thanks.  we basically have reddick already doing that at a 25% discount.

[Fozzz 152]

1 hour ago, formermav43 said:

I’m gonna call my shot now: 2019 Tucker > 2019 McCutchen.

That would be pretty impressive.  How many 2.5-3.0 WAR 22 year olds have there been?

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

 

[Scraps 13799]

In other news PJ tucker dove for a loose ball and Bregman was on front row and spilled his beer all over himself


I hate the offseason

[formermav43 4625]

49 minutes ago, Fozzz said:

That would be pretty impressive.  How many 2.5-3.0 WAR 22 year olds have there been?

Well you’re assuming McCutchen puts up 2.5-3 WAR. Part of my prediction is rooted in skepticism of that.

But, beyond that-Correa did. Bregman was 23, but put up 3.5 in his first full season. Altuve put up 2.0 at 22.

[TexArcher 39061]

3 years and $50 million for Cutch is asinine.

[HtownHorn 15229]

7 minutes ago, TexArcher said:

3 years and $50 million for Cutch is asinine.

It's like they learned nothing from the Carlos Santana deal.

[henrygandorf 29225]

cutch's agent confused everyone into thinking it was 2016.

88mph and whatnot.

[UTexasFight 9814]

Hinch/Boone/Cora on Baseball Tonight right now is pretty good

 

Talking mound visit limits: Hinch busting Cora/Boone for their game always going 4.5 hours regardless so what difference does it make.

[WBT 20970]

11 hours ago, Scraps said:

In other news PJ tucker dove for a loose ball and Bregman was on front row and spilled his beer all over himself


I hate the offseason

Sitting with Jim Crane.  Extension imminent?

[Fozzz 152]

11 hours ago, formermav43 said:

Well you’re assuming McCutchen puts up 2.5-3 WAR. Part of my prediction is rooted in skepticism of that.

But, beyond that-Correa did. Bregman was 23, but put up 3.5 in his first full season. Altuve put up 2.0 at 22.

I don't know, Cutch has been pretty consistent offensively over the past few seasons and it is much easier to hit HRs as a RHH in Citizens Bank vs AT&T Park.  

Given how Tucker played in Fresno to end the season, I wouldn't be shocked if he's able to put up offensive rate stats sufficient to garner 2-2.5 WAR if he's afforded enough PAs.  From looking through FG, it appears there are a few 21, 22 year olds that put up 2 WAR each season, although most of them put up more defensive value than Tucker could likely put up.  

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

Charlie Morton, Weighing Two-Year Offers, Could Sign Soon:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/12/charlie-morton-weighing-two-year-offers-could-sign-soon.html 

 

Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton could decide on his new team as early as today, according to Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman (Twitter link).  Morton has received several two-year offers that could be worth as much as $30MM.

The Rays, Rangers, and Astros have all been linked to Morton this offseason, though it’s fair to assume that many other clubs have also at least checked in on a pitcher who posted a 3.36 ERA, 10.4 K/9, and a 3.19 K/BB rate over 313 2/3 innings over the last two seasons.  Morton turned 35 in November and has weighed retirement in the past, so one would figure many teams would be interested in a short-term arrangement.  Morton could be seen as an alternative to J.A. Happ, another veteran arm who is still quite productive in the latter stages of his career, but one that is looking for a three-year deal.  MLBTR projected Morton for a two-year, $32MM pact heading into the offseason.

As of mid-November, Houston had reportedly only offered Morton a one-year deal with an option, though the Astros certainly could have since upped their offer to a second guaranteed year.  Morton had expressed an interest in a return to Houston or in pitching for a team closer to Delaware, where his wife’s family resides.  The Rangers aren’t a fit in this regard (and aren’t expected to be contenders in 2019), while the Rays are at least an east coast team, if not overly close to Delaware.  The Phillies and Nationals are the most logical geographic fits, and since both teams have been searching for starters this winter, you’d have to guess that Morton would at least be on their radar.

Edited December 12, 2018 by Seasick Sailor

[Horny Bull 2766]

19 hours ago, Storm the Field said:

 

Yaaaaawwwn.

 

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

^ Glad to see it. Rather sign Morton and maybe trade for Grienke than sign Happ to a three-year deal. 

[Hank Chinaski 6352]

12 hours ago, TexArcher said:

3 years and $50 million for Cutch is asinine.

Not really. They're paying for his age-32, 33 and 34 seasons. He had the worst year of his career in 2016 (and he was still an above-average hitter), but the last two years he has posted wRC+ of 123 and 120 and OBP of .363 and .368. He is still a good offensive player. He's averaged ~3 WAR the last two seasons; if he only averages 2 WAR/year over the next 3, it's a good deal. 

[Scraps 13799]

Cats are spared....for now

[Storm the Field 5366]

38 minutes ago, Horny Bull said:

 

 

Rosenthal just walked back his tweet and said they are close but nothing done. Please don't tell me that means we're still in the running.

[TexArcher 39061]

29 minutes ago, Hank Chinaski said:

Not really. They're paying for his age-32, 33 and 34 seasons. He had the worst year of his career in 2016 (and he was still an above-average hitter), but the last two years he has posted wRC+ of 123 and 120 and OBP of .363 and .368. He is still a good offensive player. He's averaged ~3 WAR the last two seasons; if he only averages 2 WAR/year over the next 3, it's a good deal. 

Disagree.  You can't reasonably expect anything more than .250-270 with 20-25 HR and 10 SB at this point.  That can be had for less than $17 million a year.

[Hank Chinaski 6352]

28 minutes ago, TexArcher said:

Disagree.  You can't reasonably expect anything more than .250-270 with 20-25 HR and 10 SB at this point.  That can be had for less than $17 million a year.

Not on the FA market, though. 

[Horny Bull 2766]

 

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

4 minutes ago, Horny Bull said:

 

Please no. Losing Charlie would hurt on many levels.

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

 

[Horny Bull 2766]

 

[kevwun 16437]

I wish I knew what the Astros' plan is because I hate letting him go.

Edited December 12, 2018 by kevwun

[tx 3 putt 78675]

Good for CfM, cashing in 

 

hate to see him leave 

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

Fuck the fucking off season. It's going to take a big move to make up for losing Charlie. 

I wish him nothing but success though. Great guy who will always have a place in Astros history for his performance in Game 7.

[Jebus 1341]

Fuck

[BurntOrangeBlooded15 1707]

Fuck is right.

 

Salute to you CFM. All time place in Astros history.

[Seasick Sailor 3747]

So right now our rotation is JV, Cole, McHugh, Peacock, and Valdez/James?

[Snake Diggity 4714]

5 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

So right now our rotation is JV, Cole, McHugh, Peacock, and Valdez/James?

Yep,  if opening day were today, Verlander, Cole, McHugh, James, and Valdez would be the rotation.  Luckily it’s not opening day and there’s a 100% chance they add at least 1 SP.

[MAROON 446]

17 minutes ago, BurntOrangeBlooded15 said:

Fuck is right.

 

Salute to you CFM. All time place in Astros history.

you damn right.  we'll always have game 7 CFM!

 

[mycox 587]

24 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

So right now our rotation is JV, Cole, McHugh, Peacock, and Valdez/James?

Whitley will be in the rotation by June. Luhnow will sign some no-name . Brent Strom will modify his delivery and turn him into a Cy Young candidate. I don't see a problem here.

[Scraps 13799]

Meh.  This move doesn't bother me.  

While I would have welcomed him back to the squad it isn't that big of deal losing him to me.  

Charlie will always be a H Town Hero though. 

Edited December 12, 2018 by Scraps

[Mez2 4048]

yeeesh - this sucks. i understand you can't sign players off of emotions but really thought we'd offer something to CFM. 

would rather him retire than play for another team but that's just me being selfish. 

[WBT 20970]

23 minutes ago, MAROON said:

you damn right.  we'll always have game 7 CFM!

 

13.5 months later and both guys are ex-Astros

[Mez2 4048]

flags fly forever!

[Scraps 13799]

1 minute ago, Mez2 said:

yeeesh - this sucks. i understand you can't sign players off of emotions but really thought we'd offer something to CFM. 

would rather him retire than play for another team but that's just me being selfish. 

We did offer him something.  He wanted a 2 yr deal.  Stros only want to give a 1 yr with option.  

Tampa ponies up the 2 yr deal so they get him 

[mbtex 697]

It will be interesting to see how CFM and DK perform without Stom to lean on.