Maybe so, but I guess I don’t see Meyers as a defensive liability, Why would they bother unless they get a real step up at bat?
3 Likes
Meyers is a late inning defensive replacement. He’s one of the worst hitters in the league.
1 Like
If you can find a lefty to platoon with him, it would make him and that player better by only putting them in a position to succeed
You just answered the question.
Because it would be a real step up at bat.
Meyers’ OPS was .646 last year and Fangraphs projects him for .688 this year.
But if you platoon him with Mullins:
Mullins: .766 @70%
Meyers: .757 @30%
Thats = a CF with .763
6 CF had at least 300 PAs last year and an OPS of over .763
But even if you just look at total OPS, and not splits, Mullins was .710 and has never had a full season under .700.
You’re already looking at a significant downgrade in RF, probably LF and 3B too. You’re an abject disaster at 1B. At some point you have to get some offense from somewhere. You don’t have the luxury of Jake Meyers in your starting outfield.
4 Likes
Someone mentioned Randal Grichuk earlier, and I like him as an option for the OF. I remember following him during his draft year and liked him: a hometown kid who tried imitating Bagwell’s swing growing up. Hard to believe he’s been in the league for over a decade.
His defense doesn’t grade out well, but he’s got some pop, particularly against lefties.
You fill your up-the-middle defensive positions with the highest caliber defense you can. Offense is gravy for those positions, not a key construct element.
1 Like
Typically, yes. But when you’re as bad offensively on the corners as the Astros are, you can’t give up everything up the middle. You have to squeeze every drop of offense you can from anywhere you can get it.
3 Likes
Cut to clip of Aaron Judge in the ALCS
1 Like
I agree about everything you are saying except Jake Meyers.
He absolutely should not be an everyday starting CF on a contending team.
But he is perfectly good as a platoon option vs LHP.
38 CFers had at least 100 PAs vs LHP last year. Jake was the 8th best hitter among them @19% above MLB average.
This team needs a CF who can hit against RHP. If he also hits against LHP even better, but for a team that has so many other holes to fill, and a position like CF that has so few complete players who hit both L and RHP well, its a good option to just find a platoon partner.
And if they have the ability to trade Jake, Chas can play CF and has a similar skill set where he is much much better vs LHP.
Then find an everyday starter at 1b, LF, and RF where there are more and better options.
That’s like saying in golf you don’t need a short game if you just drain those 80-ft putts. If you can do that, it opens up a whole world of options. This is true in the theoretical sense. Reality is a real bitch sometimes, however.
2 Likes
I’m looking for Brown to effectively spend Crane’s $$ to fix that. Hope he gets on that pronto. :winking emoji:
Apparently Crane talking directly to Boras could be having an effect.
Still have no idea what the offer is, but it has almost cetainly gone up since last report.
I read that Bregman is currently “wrestling with what he wants to do”
Astros options:
#1 Bregman
#2 hope Arrenado waives no trade.
#3 Walker
I would be surprised if one of them are not Astros. Likely by the end of the year.
Nothing happens until Bregman chooses.
If they get Arrenado they will have more money for the OF so they are waiting on that, but expect to add at least 1 bat first OF on short term stop gap type contract.
Yankees acquire Bellinger from the Cubs for Poteet and cash.
Bellinger to the Yanks
The cash is going the other way—Cubs are sending NYY $5M over two years.
Just wasn’t going to be a fit for the Astros at that salary.
The team receiving Bellinger needed to get at least $15M + value for whatever prospect they gave up.
Terrible deal IMO.
Yankees gave up a pre-arb AAAA SP (basically J.P. France ) to have the honir of paying Bellinger $25M in 2025.
If he is good and healthy, they pay him $2.5M to leave.
If he is bad or injured they pay him $22.5M for 2026.
Not a Bellinger fan. Glad he’s not on the team.
5 Likes
Channeling Cashman’s spin on the trade, “Yeah but Bellinger’s a former MVP, Soto never won a MVP. So I’ve upgraded the team, from a guy who has never won a MVP, to a guy that did, once.”
3 Likes
Word is Boston has offered Wiler Abreu in a deal for Framber. I assume it would be filled out with prospects but I haven’t heard anything else.
Not much noise publicly, but apparently Framber’s market is heating up like Tucker’s did.
Stay tuned.
3 Likes