Altuve is the best. The absolute GOAT. If Bregman is signed, I agree about experimenting with Parades out there first. While I don’t think Altuve would be the worst outfielder in the league, I’m just not sure he’d even be a league average outfielder defensively and I don’t think he has the arm for it (neither does Meyers though). But there is alot left to play out before we get there.
When you look at the batting order and you can write Alex’s name in there with what we have now, no doubt we look like a better team with Alex. But I’m still torn about this. Would it be wiser to take the $156M you have on the table to Alex, plus the Montero and Abreu money when it comes off the books at season’s end, and put that towards extensions of Brown, Diaz and perhaps Arrighetti?? See if you can get them to sign extensions like we did with Yordon and Alex when they were younger?
Per Tags and Rome: Neither Lance (not a shocker) or Garcia (this one hurts - I hope they didn’t fuck him up attempting to rush him back last season) will be ready on opening day. This tells me there is no way we see Javier in any capacity until ‘26 season.
Finding a way to add Alex to this lineup would be a good problem to have.
In 2025, with nobody playing 162 games anymore and multiple positions to work with, it should be workable.
Altuve is no spring chicken, give him 1 day off per week = 26 games at 2b for Paredes
Play Yordan in LF and Paredes DH, 40 games = 66 games for Paredes
Give Walker 1 day off every other week = 13 games at 1b for Paredes (79)
Give Alex 1 day off every other week = 13 games at 3b for Paredes (92)
Give Yordan 1 day off every other week = 13 more games at DH for Paredes (105)
So, if the goal is to give Paredes 1 game off every other week they only need to figure out 44 more games without considering injuries or moving an infielder to LF.
Its a very workable issue.
will be ready to take his place on the IL. That’s tough about Garcia.
McCullers needs to retire. The odds of him doing anything at the MLB level ever again are slim and none.
If he retires he forfeits the rest of his contract. Not happening.
Correct. And the Astros need to get something for their money. I hope he ends up in the bullpen as has been discussed. He will have a lighter workload and hopefully can stay healthy and in the lineup. That’s a lot of money to pay a bullpen arm that isn’t a closer, but if he can contribute and help there, it’s better than being on the IL.
He is less than 6 weeks from 10 years of MLB service which is a big deal.
He and the Astros both still have dreams of salvaging some of this contract. Maybe another setback may put retirement on the table, with some kind of negotiated buy-out like Stephen Strasburg. He still got paid, but it was deferred several years @1% interest, but that won’t happen unless he still can’t pitch after hitting the 10 year mark.
Last I read, the doctors were saying a regular routine with set days between pitching put less stress on his arm than random bullpen usage.
I’m aware he’s not going to retire right now, but at this point, he basically is retired but still collecting a paycheck. I wouldn’t count on him for anything.
Especially not payroll relief.
As much as we joke, he’s still only 31 and has always been good when he’s been able to take the mound. He’s not going to be pitching at Verlander’s age but we shouldn’t write his obituary yet.
The question is really whether he can be pitching at his age.
Pollyanna, is that you?
Can he play LF?
Yeah, I guess so, but with Lance, irresponsible optimism is about all we have left.
A Cubs site says Ryan Diva will waive the no-trade but only if they guarantee he is the closer.
That will certainly endear him to potential suitors.
This is pretty easy to do. 30 days in, if he is not performing like a Closer, then you demote him. That’s pretty much how baseball works. You earn a position and then you either keep it or not based on performance.
Pressly accepted a different role gracefully, and by all accounts genuinely loved living in Houston. Why would he leave if he would just be in the same role in Chicago? The CBA gives him the right to make that decision, and labeling him a diva for thinking over that decision is unfair.