Arenado already vetoed a trade to the Astros. Are they gonna ask him again?
Reporting was Arenado remained open to Houston after rejecting the trade, he was just worried that the Astros were taking a step back from contention (they’d just shipped Tucker to Chicago) and he didn’t want to join a rebuild. With Walker in the fold and the team not having taken any other steps back (Pressly aside), it sounds like he’d probably accept if the Astros came calling again.
Well, Brown said they’d get creative.
It sounds like Arenado, like Bregman, just wants Houston to remain an option while he searches for greener grass.
Personally, I do not understand it, or agree but. . .
Somebody within the organization thinks very highly of Arenado and thinks that, even with the current makeup of the roster, with Colorado paying some salary and whatever St Louis would pay, he is a good value and is still a very good player who makes this team better.
Apparently they like him better than any of the OF options and don’t see current positions as a deterrent.
This is another reason I really really want Bregman back - to put this to bed once and for all.
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Ditto
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I would tell Arenado to pound sand.
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Heyman is saying Alex doesn’t want to sign the current offer because the AAV is less than $28M.
I’d give his ass another hour to accept the offer and then I’d move on.
I wouldn’t mind Carlos Estevez in the bullpen.
Per Chandler Rome Sources: the Astros continue to pursue Jorge Polanco as the Alex Bregman sweepstakes drag on
I get it. He’s made $30+ million the last couple of years. He’s finally reached free agency and is looking at a pay cut. I’m sure it’s a bitter pill. But that’s the position he’s played himself into.
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A stark reminder that AAV really is a junk-measuring measure that MLB players really care about. "I made $60M over the last two years so I’m going to be unhappy about $160M over the next 6. Insanity.
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Dallas Keuchel did this. He turned down $18 million for a year in order to sign for $10 for half a year, claimed he was making more money because of “what it represented”. Which I guess is fine until you try to spend that representation.
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I have not one comment to combat such eloquence. I was hoping the OF would be sorted by 2026 personally - but I’d really like to see the best left handed hitter available in the 2 spot. It was more like if you have anything (realistic) question, what would it be. It did not occur to me that a functioning outfield might be realistic.
I’m not hopeful with the Verdugo, Polanco talk - I’d rather win in a different way, try to outhit everyone this year give our pitching staff less of a grind. Foolhardy I know, but its January and I am delusional. And if I have to Bregs pop up to 1st Base for 160M, I might lose my shit (unless he’s hitting 5th or 6th - then I don’t care as much).
Wish everyone well. See you in Spring Training! Heading to Florida in mid-march to catch some Baltimore, Houston games.
“My friend” posted about Bello:
Texted someone about him to find out more.
Astros tried hard to get him in the Paredes trade but Cubs said no.
He throws four pitches. His fastball is around 90-92 mph right now and his other pitches are inconsistent.
Really split opinions on his curve ball. The Astros think it potentially can be a dynamic pitch at big league level with refinement. A lot of scouts don’t like his curveball but Astros don’t agree.
They project 3-6 mph possible on his fastball when he gets stronger and after fixing his mechanics.
They are going to work oh his mechanics and arm slot. Lots of projection involved but the name brought up was Christian Javier when it comes to the arm.
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I think Polanco is interesting. From what I have read and heard he was hurt (knee) the latter part of the '23 season and all of the '24 season. It has been reported that he had successful surgery in the offseason and is good to go. Prior to the injury he was a pretty good offensive player and only entering his age 31 season, there should be some hope he could get back to that if indeed healthy. Plus I like that he’s a switch hitter. No OF experience but it’s been covered at nauseum that just about anyone can play LF so if Breggy sticks to his guns I’d be happy picking him up versus the few options that are left out there. I think he provides the most upside at the plate.
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I tend to agree. If this was 3-4 years ago, I would have been very happy to have Polanco. I love switch hitters and he’s always been effective from both sides of the plate and he’s got some pop in his bat. If the knee is truly fixed, then I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t return to something close to his prior form. He would give you positional flexibility across the infield and even though he’s never played outfield in the majors, I don’t doubt for a second that he couldn’t play left field. The Twins even considered putting him out there 3-4 years ago.
IF HE IS HEALTHY, I think I’d rather sign him than any of the outfielders left on the market. He might be cheaper. His bat will be just as good or better, he can play anywhere in the infield and he’d be a good bench bat from either side. He was always a great teammate and clubhouse leader in Minnesota. I think he’d add something to the room.
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Couldn’t agree more. At first glance he’s a puzzling target, but with his pre-‘24 track record, playing hurt last year, playing in a miserable park for hitters, he starts to make a lot of sense as the best bounce-back candidate on the market. And for whatever it’s worth—not that much, probably—his career numbers in Houston are outstanding.
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Seattle is where good hitters go to die. Anybody who is bad for Seattle, I just assume it’s Seattle’s fault rather than the player
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Stupid gravity…
That’s my cat’s opinion, too. Every time she pushes a pencil to the edge of the table it falls off. Every fucking time.
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Look, it’s only a theory.
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