Well shit.
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Me either, but if they are 100% dead set about not going over the tax threshold to protect the positioning of the draft pick compensation, then all options will probably be internal so we can keep some flexibility at the deadline.
Whitley just had a rotation spot gift wrapped for him. Garcia, Beilak and perhaps Abreu will also get consideration Iâm sure. Letâs see who wants it the most.
JBJ just signed with the Brewers for 2 years $24 mil. Little surprise at this point but the Brantley-Straw-Tucker OF is more or less solidified.
Well thatâs that I guess.
Canât say Iâm surprised.
Agreed, no surprise there on the OF, and as I have said, I think Straw can be a contributing player. I have more cautious optimism for Abreu than for Whitley based on nothing more than performance and on what I have heard about Whitleyâs attitude. My strongest hope is for Whitley to prove me/his detractors wrong.
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Please, God, let this be Heymanâs typical bullshit:
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Jake Kaplan at the Athletic ($) has a short piece on Whitley today. Key points:
Workload issues: Whitley wants to do 140 to 160. But hasnât done more than 92 1/3 total in pro ball and that was during 2017. Has had very low inning counts the last two years due to suspension, pandemic and injuries.
Command focus:
Whitleyâs stuff will play as long as itâs in the strike zone, and he said that his command is his point of emphasis in spring training more so than developing the shapes of his four-seam fastball, cutter, change-up or curveball. Look for him to throw a lot of cutters and changeups this season, as he was too reliant on his fastball in 2019, a byproduct of falling behind in counts.
On what planet does a fractured finger require 7 months of recovery time? The typical time frame is 4-6 weeks.
It could be longer if he tore a tendon in the finger, but those still heal in about 4 months.
Itâs put up or shut up time for Whitley and, to a lesser degree, Abreu. Your talent only gets you so many chances.
Shit. Sounds strange that he could miss the season with something he pitched through in a spring game.
It is what it is.
So Odorizzi is supposedly wanting a 3 year deal in the $13-15M per year range. If Framberâs second opinion also indicates that heâll miss the entire season, I wonder if Odorizzi would take 3 at $27M to play with a contender like Houston? It would take away all flexibility at the trade deadline but still might keep us just under the number. Itâd be close.
I am sure he would jump at the opportunity to take 2/3 of his market value in order to help the Astros out.
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But what is his market value? It is obviously not what he thinks it is at this point or he would not be sitting at the house. I would agree however that he probably has better offers on the table than the 3 at 24 that I suggested.
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In todayâs episode of Small Sample Size (Spring training edition) - Miles Straw, who today went 1 for 2 with a triple, has hit in all 4 games he has played in (5 for 8 - .625), with a double, a triple and a stolen base. He has not struck out yet.
For comparison, last year before Spring Training got closed down, he was 10 for 23 (.435) with a double, 3 HR, 1 SB, 3 BB and 7 Ks.
I am encouraged by the amount of contact he is making and that he is making facing more experienced pitching. I am assuming of course that last year, he came in after Springer had had two at bats and he was less likely to face 25 man roster guys. This year, he is more likely to face higher caliber pitching with the caveat that it is still early spring training.
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While it is âonly spring training,â I too have been encouraged by Straw. He knows the microscope is upon him, if not so much by management, certainly by the fans, and heâs producing so far. Itâs encouraging.
Now, to change the subject, MLB Trade Rumors reports the Astros have checked in with Odorizzi now that Valdez is hurt. Can someone clarify what the penalty is regarding the draft pick compensation if the Astros are a repeat offender of the tax threshold? Which of the following, if any, is correct?
- The compensation for Springer drops from a second to a fifth?
- Compensation for any QO extended player who signs elsewhere next year is what drops and the Springer pick isnât impacted.
- International signing money is taken from us
- Some combination of all this??
Straw can succeed and thrive with the right approach. I will go down with the ship saying that, but remember you heard it here first.
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Bielak staking an early claim to a starterâs spotâŚ
Summary
Bielak breezed through three perfect innings in relief of starter Jose Urquidy during Fridayâs 1-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. Facing most of Miamiâs everyday, major league lineup, Bielak threw 29 of his 33 pitches for strikes while inducing 10 swings and misses. Since allowing four hits and two home runs during his Grapefruit League debut last week, Bielak has retired 15 consecutive hitters.
Did I know this? I donât think i knew thisâŚ
Summary
[Joe] Smith returns to the Astrosâ bullpen as baseballâs active leader with 782 games pitchedâŚ