I wouldn’t mind Paxton if he’s cheap. Another slightly intriguing name out there is Jake Arrieta. I wouldn’t mind seeing if Strom could fix him if the price was right.
I think Arrieta may be washed up.
Claimed by the Diamondbacks.
I have always liked Paxton. Maybe he is washed up too. No on Arrieta, please.
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Me too re: Paxton. At the risk of saying something utterly asinine, not a bad gamble if they think it’s not a bad gamble. I’m very curious to see what the Click administration is all about. Had Luhnow signed Paxton we’d all be thrilled.
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Paxton: I’m thinking a 1-yr deal for $6M with incentives that pay him double that if he makes 25+ starts. If he does, and that’s what sends us into paying a luxury tax, so be it. Think what Strom could get out of a healthy Paxton.
Better get that info to the GM, Billy.
I do not know if his stats support my often-faulty memory, but I viewed Paxton as an Astro-killer during part of his career. If he still has something left in his tank, I would be glad if we added him. I have not read his name linked with Houston, though.
Souza missed all of 2019 and barely played in 2020. Likely a minor league deal.
Paxton: 8-4 with a 3.24 ERA in 14 starts against Stros.
I haven’t seen him linked to us or any other team for that matter.
I guess there’s no risk here, but I don’t see a fit for Souza.
Look at the roster:
Unless MLB agrees to a 27 or 28 player active roster, there is only 1 potential spot for a position player and that player must be able to play centerfield.
Again, no risk, but bringing in a player with no chance to make the opening day roster ( barring injuries) who will likely opt out rather than accept assignment to AAA is a waste of playing time that Siri, Leon, McCormick, or maye even Dawson could use.
You must be talking about Souza, and if you are equating McCormick with him, what???
If Souza can stay healthy and be anything close to his 2017 self, we struck gold here for peanuts. Not a bad gamble at all.
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With
Maldonado, Castro, Gurriel, Altuve, Bregman, Correa, Diaz, Alvarez, Brantley, Tucker, Straw, and eitherToro or Jones already guaranteed spots
That leaves 1 roster spot and only 1 player capable of playing centerfield
Whomever the 13th and final ( position) roster spot goes to must be able to play centerfield.
That leaves no chance for Souza to make the opening day roster, barring injury.
My point was centerfield
The players I named all play centerfield as their primary or at least backup position.
Since Souza can’t and at least 2 players need to,
Therefore, no spot for Souza outside of injury
Now, if Brantley, Tucker, and/or Alvarez get hurt before opening day, this is the move that could save the season
Off the top of my head, I definitely agree with you, but we of course aren’t privy to what Click and the staff are planning. We don’t have anyone in the organization currently who can back up Straw if he were to get injured. It can be argued that even Straw isn’t and every day center fielder. So what is the plan if the team isn’t going over the tax threshold? Trade? Possibly, but unlikely in my opinion. Who off the current roster would we be willing to trade that would clear enough salary to fit in financially any decent center fielder we would get in return or sign off the market? Joe Smith would clear $4M but having not pitched last year would there be a taker? Do we want to trade an experienced bullpen arm? Probably not. I’m thinking it is much more likely that we sign another lost cost option, probably on a minor league deal like Souza, or we try other options in center during spring training just in case Straw gets hurt or needs a day off, which he will. On the current 40-man, Tucker, even though he isn’t a center fielder, is the best option to spell Straw when he needs a day off or if he was hurt for a 10-15 day stretch. Would not be surprised to see Kyle get some center field play during spring. I know that isn’t ideal, but you are right, there isn’t anyone else.
I’m thinking and hoping Straw will be fine. In 98 career MLB games he’s hit .248 with a .327 on base percentage. Certainly not all star worthy but for intermittent play over 98 games, I’ve seen a lot worse. In fact, JBJ’s career OBP is .321 so…I’m willing to bet that if he’s given the job and plays every day those numbers go up. He just needs to get on base, any way he can, from the 9-hole and then play solid defense. He can do that.
I was thinking Diaz.
I’ve thought about that too, especially since he’s pretty fragile, but if we trade him, who is our utility player? Toro? I guess you could shift Gurriel around in that scenario and let Jones play first? Maybe…
I don’t really like the way our roster is constructed, and it’s not just center field organizational depth. Don’t get me wrong, we needed Brantley, and I’m glad we signed him, but with his injury history, what happens if he can’t play left and needs to DH? What are you going to do with Alvarez? I view Alvarez and his knees in the outfield as a worse scenario than Tucker in center. So we better keep our fingers crossed that everything goes exactly as we plan with the outfielders.
I wonder how much, or how little in our case, Brian Goodwin could be signed for???
If Click is looking to go the trade route, I was expecting a couple low level young pitchers but most of those have been lost for nothing via waivers
Maybe they had no trade value.
There is just very little, if any, position player value in the majors or close to the majors outside of the ones who are needed and not going anywhere.
Enoli has a new number and explains why:
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I hope Enoli ends up being a long time Astro.