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.
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.