King Tuck is gone. I like him, but $5oo million dollars is a lot of money. He’s an introvert and (D.WARD knows) the Astros were 49-34 without Tucker. I’m fine with this move.
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I’m not quite sure how being an introvert is relevant to performance.
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I think it explains why some consider him aloof.
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Introverts are often criticized for being, well, introverted.
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I liked Tucker. He was a good Astro that produced starting in his Age 23 year and produced at an All-Star caliber level in ages 24-27 for them/us. An excellent run. I could care less how fiery he is or what his off-field actions are/were. I watch the Astros on the field with only a cursory glance into the dugout during down times. The McCullers and Bregmans of the world (game) are not better than Tucker. Just different. And, I think diversity of personality type and playing style would tend to lead to better on-field outcomes vs. 9 Carl Everetts…
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New post from " my friend" this morning.
- Astros are looking at adding another above average bat at a minimum, another bat after that - and also want a leverage reliever and possibly another starter.
The bat is almost guaranteed to be someone that plays either 1st or OF.
A lot of fans are upset about Arenado discussions - I have mixed feelings personally. Arenado was bad for 150 game stretch between 2023 and 2024. He was better in the second half, but didn’t set the world on fire even then. The glove is elite, he still can do somethings - his contract is only 3 years and the Cards would take on Astros contracts or pay down his contract. At 20 million a year for three years, he is probably an okay calculated risk but the concerns are justified.
Christian Walker is waiting on the fallout of the Bregman free agency to see if he can squeeze another year out of the Yankees, who so far have refused to budge. If the Yankees get Bregman, the Astros are likely in a better position to sign him. Walker quietly had a great first half with the bat, but a bad second half. He was playing hurt which could explain it. I personally think that a Walker/Paredes addition at 1st and 3rd more than off sets the loss of Bregman and puts the Astros in a pretty good spot because both Walker and Paredes stretch the line up and are solid to very good
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I think it contributed to some inconsistency / streakiness (and a bunch of foul balls off his right shin). Seemed like he was either carrying the team or killing rallies for weeks at a time. Luckily, it was usually more of the former than then latter.
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I understand that one should not let a single bad outcome dictate future decisions, but man has the Abreu signing really scarred me regarding the potential signing of an aging veteran moving forward. Arenado…Walker…Goldschmidt…they all worry me.
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Yuli was 32 when he made his Astros/MLB debut.
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“My friend” has posted some additional info about Bregman.
He does not know what the last offer was. Apparently it is on a need to know basis and only a very few do know.
It looks to be between the Yankees and the Astros with the Phillies still on the outskirts but not eliminated.
Crane has actually taken over and has been talking directly with Boras.
The belief is that the Yankees currently have the best offer and likely still have money in the budget to go higher but don’t want to (likely because they still need a first baseman at least).
Crane is hoping to get close enough to the Yankees offer that Alex is happy and stays.
Christian Walker is in a holding pattern because who gets Alex and for how much directly effects his offers and needs to be resolved before he gets real offers.
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They tryna trade me Arenado-
I say NO, NO, NO!
Arenado is the new Abreu.
This only makes sense for a contract of that magnitude.
Apparently they feel his defense has not regressed and is “special” and gives him a high floor.
They also feel that he recovered to have a better 2nd half last year which gives them some hope that he’s not toast and can maintain average MLB production, especially in MMP ( or whatever it will be) which is a park that fits his swing.
He will also not cost much as Col is already paying some salary and St.L will pick up more and they may be able to get rid of Montero’s contract in the deal.
But nothing will happen until/unless Bregman moves on.
While Arenado does nothing for me, if they are determined to move Pressly and he was part of that deal with his $14M fully offsetting some of Nolan’s money, it is a little more palatable…for me (I have no idea if the Cards need bullpen help). And the commitment to Arenado is only for 3 years and you are done.
I don’t view Nolan as an Abreu situation because Abreu was older, potentially MUCH older.
I’d rather go after Alonso or Walker to play first if Bregman doesn’t happen.
I like Santander, but his defense is a liability and I view him as more of a DH eventually and we have Yordan for that.
Just my useless thoughts……
I’m really worried about the OF, maybe even more than finding another corner IF.
We are staring an opening day OF of Dubon, Meyers, and McCormick right in the face right now.
Among FA there is Santander, Teoscar, Joc Pederson, and Profar. None of which are any good at all defensively. Santander is actually the “best” defender of the bunch and really the only one I’d be comfortable playing in the field at all.
As far as trade, I feel like there aren’t many options there either. Maybe you take a chance on Jesus Sanchez from the Marlins, who has some good under the hood numbers, but also has a huge hole in his bat.
The only team I can think of that has a surplus in the OF is, well, the Cubs. They want Happ, Crow-Armstrong and Tucker to be their OF in 25 but still have Bellinger and Suzuki still on the roster. I don’t want any part of Bellinger. Suzuki is owed 19 million each of the next two seasons. I think that’s the move if you don’t want to pay for Santander. That’s of course if you can get the Cubs to deal again and he’s willing to waive his no trade clause. Who knows if he would even do that.
I don’t like the OF at all, the Astros or the market.
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What I have pieced together. ( much of this is just my assumptions based on various reading)
Suzuki was supposed to be part of the Tucker deal but he would not waive his no trade. They were not willing to add the prospects it would take to include Bellinger. But they really wanted and needed to include an OF in that deal. Happ refused to waive his also, though I’m not sure he was considered in this particular deal.
They are stuck with Suzuki and Happ. Bellinger has negative value. But they need to trade him ( or Bush)
The Astros have trade options. They still may end up with Bellinger, and regardless of the history, he is a great on field fit for this team And he will cost basically no prospects. Its about how much money Chicago eats- not enough yet or he would be a Yankee already.
They have talked to TB about Brandon Lowe and putting him in LF. Apparently TB likes Chas as a rebound candidate, but he is now needed for RF.
Cleveland has Josh Naylor(1b) and Lane Thomas who are likely available.
Giants have a few pieces but they are looking for starting pitching.
Phillies are begging teams to take Nick Castellanos
The Mets are shopping Starling Marte.
The Orioles may agree to trade Mullins, but would want a piece that helps them in 2025.
There are options out there but most are just. eeehhhh.
The good news is with an outfield this bad, there are lots of players who are an improvement.
I absolutely love Naylor but I think if he starts being shopped the Guardians could get a lot more than what the Astros could offer.
I don’t love the idea of Brandon Lowe in the outfield, or how often he is hurt, but I do really like his bat
Lane Thomas and Mullins are the only true outfielders listed that I would be fine with targeting, but I’m not sure the Astros have what it would take to get them.
It’s a difficult puzzle to solve. I wish Brown all the best in trying to figure it out.
I know how some here feel about Bellinger, but I’d take him in a heartbeat. I wanted to sign him as a free agent when he was on the market.
Multins has really collapsed at the plate the last three seasons. I’m not sure he’s as good as people think he is.
Actually that plays into the Astros favor.
The Orioles have Cowser who can play everyday in CF and more hitters than they can find places for.
Mullins only has 2025 left before FA, so he would be reasonably cheap in trade cost, and the organization would not be saddled with a long term commitment to a regressing player.
He’s certainly not perfect. He’s unplayable vs LHP.
vs LHP: 506 OPS (667 career)
vs RHP: 766 OPS (788 career)
But thats one of the reasons Baltimore might be willing to let him go, and at a reasonable price.
The Astros need REAL and Legitimate MLB outfielders, and he is one.
Meyers can start in the 30% of games started by a LHP
vs LHP 757 OPS (759 career)