Bob Nightengrainofsalt indicates the player option is for another $25M.
Heyman confirms $25M for the option.
I hope there’s an innings minimum for that player option to vest.
ETA: If there’s no criteria for the player option to vest, then I would argue that the deal is better described as a 2yr./$50M deal with a player opt-out after the first year.
Verlander will be great for guys like Valdez and Garcia to learn from. Love this deal.
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Edit.
I meant the 6 pitchers who will start games, not necessarily a 6 man rotation.
As 7th, Odorizzi is no longer needed.
And farm hand like Solomon or Bielak can fill in if a replacement is needed in addition to those.
This still gives the team the flexibility to limit the innings for all of their starters, where necessary. It will certainly be necessary for Lance and Justin.
Nice problem to have!
Here ya go, Jim:
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This probably decreases the odds of getting the Castro-Stroman Astros battery that I’ve been wanting to see.
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Good for JV. You should.
I hope he is working Carlos
Let’s get the band back together.
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Odorizzi and Javier are both needed to provide length and depth to the rotation and pen. The Astros will be counting on their rotation to be led by a 39 year old coming off TJ surgery who hasn’t pitched in two years and an oft-injured pitcher who should be ready in time for opening day. If they trade away starting pitching depth I hope it’s for a very important return.
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I am hoping Kent Emanuel (sp?) comes back healthy and puts himself in the rotation mix with his performance. A LHP starter might be useful.
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Absolutely. That would be a great story to root for too.
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You cannot count on McCullers being your ace because of his injury history. He pitched very well last year but every time out I was holding my breath hoping he wouldn’t break down.
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Semantics:
The best pitcher on a team isn’t necessarily an ace.
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Signing Verlander puts the roster at 39.
Tomorrow is the day (5pm eastern I believe not sure) it needs to be set.
Jeremy Pena and Shawn Dubin are no doubters.
I really expect them to protect Jonathan Bermudez too.
Michael Papierski would not surprise me based on what I have heard and read.
Joe Perez and a couple more pitchers are tough decisions.
I’m anxious to see what happens.
My guess is that we have seen the last of Garrett Stubbs ( if they add Papierski), Nova, and some pitchers that are curreny on the 40 man but have not developed as hoped or are hurt ( Scrubb? Solis? Paredes?)
Truer words were never spoken.
I’m going to disagree with you regarding Perez. He and Pena seem like the only locks to be protected.
I can see Dubin and Bermudez also being added, but less likely - i.e. not sure whether they’re better than any of the pitchers already on the 40 man.
I also can’t imagine them making room for Papierski for as good as a defender as he is.
Of course, I could be very wrong about all of that. The Astros may far different ideas about who’s worth protecting in the Rule 5 draft.
I’m wondering about the health of Baez and whether or not they might just cut bait and release him?
I guess we’ll know tomorrow?
Baez is guaranteed $5.5M this season and another 2M in 2023 if the Astros decline his third-year option. It doesn’t make sense to eat that money by releasing him.