To me it’s a non-starter now if for no other reason than Crane would never consider it. I’d rather they go for it and sell at the deadline if the season falls apart.
As offseason moves these are extremely unlikely given the org’s apparent philosophy over the last decade. The Astros aren’t the postseason shoo-ins that they were in 2017-2022, and I can understand the frustration at letting free agents walk, but there’s no reason to think they won’t still be strong AL West contenders even with the current roster. If that holds true then the team will be looking to buy rather than sell.
That said, if the Astros are out of the postseason picture by July I’d have no problem dealing Framber and Tucker at the deadline.
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That’s the catch: teams are almost never out of it in July.
Look how hard the Astros tried last season to be irrelevant.
My armchair assessment is easy: the team needs infusions of talent in various spots.
My solution: no idea what the correct thing is. Great teams can unravel quickly.
I see zero chance that they resign either Tucker or Framber.
Because of that, I would consider trading either or both of them as long as the resulting roster’s ability to compete in 2025 was not reduced too much while the projected improvement for 2026+ is obvious.
I see no way that happens with Tucker. Even if they get a Glenn Davis type return for him, the results in 2025 are likely much worse. Gotta just ride it out with Tuck.
I don’t see the same thing with Framber.
I think another SP will need to be added for overall rotation depth if he’s traded, but a trade could be beneficial 2026+ with only minimal loss in 2025.
Framber is very similar in value to Burnes last year, especially considering the increase in value for healthy, dependable SP the past few months.
Milwaukee got
1)an inf. with 6 years of control ( MLB #63 prospect at the time) who had a very good rookie season as their starting 3b and projects to be their starting SS or 3b for 5 more years.
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a pitcher with 6 years of control ( MLB 2023 #97 prospect) who projects as a BOR starter or long reliever and currently expected to make the 26 man roster opening day in the bullpen.
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a Comp balance pick that ended up being #34 overall in 2024.
Oh, and they still won their division.
I think this type of return would help 2026+ while still giving a solid chance to contend in 2025.
That said, I have no illusions that they actually trade either of them
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That seems to be the M.O.: get production for the last full season (and hopefully postseason) then thank them for their time.
The exchange rate on prospects demands volume if you go that route.
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Maybe we could lure Josh Fields out of retirement and trade him to the Dodgers again.
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What’s Larry Andersen up to these days?
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I am not so pessimistic about Tucker. I hope I am not wrong. I’d throw money at him, but not Bregman.
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I would love for Tucker to be a life long Astro and I would offer him 10 /$300 today.
I just don’t see Crane going for that kind of increase from his past limits and I don’t think anything less than 10 years gets it done.
I could see Brown talking Crane into 8 years but not 10.
I REALLY hope I’m wrong.
No, please.
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If there’s anyone I’d give a 10-year deal to, it’s 28-year old Kyle Tucker. I sure as shit wouldn’t give one to 31-year old Alex Bregman.
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I agree with this.
I think Kyle is a perfect candidate for a 10 year deal.
He is on the younger end for a FA
He is well rounded so regression of 1 or 2 skills won’t completely kill his value
His body type looks to be one that will age well
As a good defender and base runner, his value isn’t predicated only on his bat.
He doesn’t play a position that requires a young person’s quickness or speed
The A’s just signed Luis Severino to a 3/67 deal. What?
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I guess it’s good to see them investing? Whatever deals they manage to ink are going to look pretty ridiculous, given the type of player who’ll sign with a minor league franchise, and the money it’ll take to land them.
Vegas, baby, Vegas
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The ability to scout and draft well has never been more important.
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Willie Adames just got 7/$182 from SF.
That definitely puts Bregman’s cost into the $200M+ range. And takes away one of the Astros’ options.
If they were considering Adames because they thought they could get him for 6/$156M or cheaper when Alex turned them down, they miscalculated this market.
I don’t know…Adames is also two years younger than Bregman. Might help the good guys.
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I don’t agree. I think Adames may project to have more power over the life of that contract, and that 7/$182 is exactly the same rate as 6/$156. It’s not clear to me that anything has changed (except that Adames is no longer available as an alternative, of course).
Plus Adames is signing with a team that wants him to stay at SS.