I read that in my Arnold voice.
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Props to Crane and Brown.
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Ok then, 0-5 with 4 K’s and 1 pop up with the bases loaded in the top of the 9th to end the game with an Astros win.
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So long Alex and thanks for all the fish!!
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Where does the payroll stand now, with the Walker signing? Any wiggle room left?
MLBTR says they’re now $3M over the tax line. I’m not sure what the penalties are, but trading any of Pressly/Caratini/Framber would get them back under and potentially allow for more acquisitions.
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Fangraphs has the same. Estimated 244M for luxury tax purposes. The thresholds are 241, 261, 281, and 301
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Pressly is 14M
Framber is estimated at 17.8M
Caratini is 6M
I think it is possible that one or more of the above is traded and Bregman is re-signed. I can see Crane abiding a big luxury tax for one season until Abrero ™ come of the books for '26.
Also possible: a meteor strike on Mar-a-Lago that saves us all.
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I absolutely want Caratini to come back, the other 2…
I really like the Walker signing. Sad to see Alex go (presumably), but this makes a ton of financial (flexibility) sense.
IF is better than last season. Now, Stros…do the OF (at least a little bit, please)
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They have to right?
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Bregman to RF!
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And btw, Walker isn’t just a good defensive 1B, he’s probably the best defensive 1B in baseball.
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This is the piece that sold me. He should be a great fit as long as he doesn’t topple off of Mt Abreu.
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Gold glove 3 years straight
Could always happen but it’s less likely here. Walker is two years younger at the start of the deal. If the Astros had gotten Abreu’s age 34-36 production instead of 36-38, that deal would have been a smashing success.
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The numbers for 1B who were late to become starters (like Walker) is not great, but his last three years have been good so maybe the chances are better.
Halfway threre Astros. Go do it
If Walker and Paredes can hold down the infield corners, Cam Smith could shift to the OF full time and might be ready to take over RF in 2026. That might have some influence on how they pick their outfield targets.
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No chance for Teoscar?