Yes, for Trey Mancini.
Chayce actually started a game for Baltimore this year.
But as far as Santos and Taylor go, neither are top prospects. Certainly not near the level of the players they were compensation for.
Santos needs to be put on the 40 man or exposed to the rule 5 draft in December. He won’t be protected or drafted.
Santos was hurt most of the year but electric when healthy. Taylor also had injury issues and was solid. It may be that neither makes it, but they both still have potential; not Cole potential, of course, which is probably your point.
I don’t doubt they still have potential to be legitimate MLB pitchers.
But clearly history has shown that trading away star players before they are eligible for FA brings back much more potential than accepting the draft pick.
Its tough to only get 5 years out of Tucker and Framber instead of 6. I completely get that.
But if by doing that, you get 3 prospects who have a minor league track record instead of one dice roll who has never played pro ball, I think thats the best way to keep the window open for years.
Unless you have a REAL chance at resigning the player, then take a chance if he’s good enough.
You don’t compete without really good players. Signing or trading for bargains or cheap replacements for guys like Bregman now or Tucker next year is not going to make the Astros better.
There is plenty of payroll flexibility between now and the end of the 2026 for Dana Brown to reshape the team.
This offseason the Astros lose:
Bregman (28.5M)
Verlander (17.5M)
Graveman (7M)
After the 2025 season, they lose:
Pressly (14M)
Jose Abreu (19M)
Montero (11.5M)
Tucker (12M in arbitration this season)
Valdez (12M in arbitration this season)
After 2026, McCullers $17M annual salary is gone.
That’s $121.5M in payroll flexibility after next season, and $138.5M after 2026 once McCullers contract is off the books.
Bryan Abreu is in his second year of arbitration this offseason with Peña, Diaz and Hunter Brown entering arbitration either this offseason or next, but still. The Astros have plenty of payroll flexibility in the next few seasons. I didn’t mention the possibility of non-tendering players like Urquidy, either.
Apparently Gary Pettis will not return in 2025.
Need a new 3B and OF coach.
The windmill was sadly underutilized this season.
Hope he has a happy, HEALTHY retirement (if retirement is his plan).
It was a lot of fun watching him send Astros to the plate.
One of my favorite gifs I made. Gonna miss GP
This is a nice sentiment. I am fond of most people associated with the Astros glory years. I wish Pettis all the best.
Bob Nightingale reports that the Astros aren’t renewing Pettis’ contract. Have to place the blame somewhere I guess.
Weird given that he pretty much was the entire offense in the wild card series.
That’s a good pick up for the Astros.
A pro pos of nothing, Randal Grichuk declined his mutual $6m option with the Diamondbacks. Will get a $1.75m buyout after reaching PA incentives and become a free agent.
Happy Anniversary, my fellow Astros fans.
Astroversary, if you will
Unsurprisingly, Cole has opted out of his contract. Yanks can void it by adding another year @$36M
What a delicious game of chicken between a guy with a massively inflated ego and a team that deserves everything that he is.
If I am the Yankees and I have any trust whatsoever in my farm team or ability to scout existing talent on other teams and pry them away through trade or free agent, signings, I decline to play his game as fast as I can. I can’t believe he’s leaving $144 million on the table in the hopes of getting $180 million or more for his age 35-39 seasons. What a dummy. Who, in their right mind, would pay that kind of money for a best case scenario of three years at 30+ starts with a ERA between 3 and 3.50 And a couple of years of 10 to 15 starts at maybe the same?
Team Boras vs the Evil Empire
Root for injuries…