Can’t really win here. Players leave and they’re labeled greedy. Players want to stay and they’re divas.
RP was on track to earn a massive payday as the closer for a regularly competitive team and was money in the postseason. He has earned the right under the existing rules to do exactly what he’s doing.
If he remains an Astro I’ll be happy. If he becomes the closer on the Cubs and the return doesn’t suck, I’ll be happy for him and happy for the astros.
I don’t think this needs to be any more complicated than that.
Especially since he signed a contract to play for the Houston Astros. The Astros, due to poor decisions post-Click and pre-Brown, need salary relief and have decided that they want to trade Ryan. I don’t blame him for wanting the right situation and dictating where he wants to play. He’s going to be a free agent again after the 2025 season and is looking at what will likely be his final contract. Closers get paid more than set-up relievers, so I don’t blame him for wanting a guarantee to start the season as a closer (if he remains the closer remains to be seen). Dude has been a loyal Astro for his whole career, so I’m not sure what makes him a diva.
His wanting a trade was reported here and on other baseball sites. Obviously, my saying “diva” ruffled more than a few OWA feathers. I likely won’t sleep a wink tonight. Someone yesterday called him a prima donna, and I guess I agreed with that.
I am obviously in the minority, but I thought his attitude may a been a part of his dramatic decline last year. His pay was not cut, was it, when he returned to a setup role?
Outs are outs wherever you get them, and the 8th is an important inning. Why should one pitch poorly in the 8th but be lights-out if only he could pitch the 9th instead? I am not anti-Pressly by any means, and I understand his wanting to be a closer, but I do not like the “I need guarantees from the other team if you do what I asked you to do.” Yes, I do know what 10 and 5 means in negotiations. I know he will want $ to waive that right Has anyone suggested the Astros are not paying for his waiver?
I greatly appreciate his valuable contributions in both roles he has had since his trade to Houston to be a setup man. He has been great. He is a close friend’s SIL.
No feathers ruffled, mere curiousity. I just have not seen it reported by any reporter with local ties, like Rome or Tags, or by any national guys. I did see it mentioned based on a post from a guy on the ClutchFans message board, so take that for what it’s worth.
As far as decline being from attitude, it’s possible. Looking from 2023 to 2024, his K rate dropped from 27.6% to 23.8% and his walk rate increased from 6.0% to 7.4%. His batting average on balls in play increased from .272 to .333. His home run rate ticked down, so that’s unlikely to be the casue. So, allowing more free passes and perhaps bad luck on balls in play could be a major factor. Is it a trend or a blip? Who knows, but it’s unlikely that the Astros are going to have to be the ones who will find out.
The Cubs need a closer and Pressly fits that bill. Do they want a player that demands to be the closer without having to earn it? If so, what can the Astros get in return?.
According to many of the talking heads, they already have one, which is why they might be reluctant to promise the role to Pressly. They have Porter Hodge who saved 9 games last year. Was 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA and K’d 52 across 43 innings.
As I understand it he asked for a trade before the trade deadline last season, and the team didn’t trade him. To me at least that doesn’t seem particularly relevant now.
The posts from Jim’s friend on the other forum indicate it was early-ish last season when the team was a dumpster fire, the bullpen in particular. Things settled down, tempers calmed, and they got their heads right and started winning. I have seen nothing indicating Pressly still wanted to be traded at the deadline or by season’s end, which isn’t to say he didn’t, I just don’t think anyone has reported as much.
Can’t find the exact post but Jim’s friend said this past week that it was “less than a year ago” that Pressly had asked to be moved, the implication being that it was not an ongoing situation.
I don’t have much of an opinion on the personal dynamics. Pressly has been an excellent closer, a true ice-in-his-veins kind of guy in the biggest moments, but the front office would rather have the payroll space than have him on the ‘25 roster and I don’t think that’s irrational of them. It’s a harsh business sometimes.