I realize that money is currently a big issue.
There are reports that Crane is willing to cross the CBT “for the right player” but the team doesn’t look to have the young/prospect talent to compete with other teams for tradeable stars, and aten’t linked to any of the big FA currently on the market.
Therefore, to improve this team, I think Brown will need to get creative and I’ve been thinking about how that could go.
My idea (totally outside of the box and exceptionally unlikely, I know)
Step 1) sign Altuve to a 6 yr/ $105M extension that replaces his 2023 deal. He is likely to do it because of $80M in additional guaranteed money and keeps him in Houston through age 39. It may be a bad contract the last few years but thats the price for keeping him an Astro his entire career and payyoll flexibility this year.
It also frees up nearly $6M in CBT space for 2023.
Step 2) bring Neris back on a 3 yr/$18M deal. The projections I have are that he should get 2 yrs in the $15M range. As an older reliever the 3yr offer is likely very attractive to him. Its a gamble at his age, but he has been very durable and with Abreu the only established RP who is under contract beyond 2025 it adds some continuity at a reasonable price.
Step 3) trade 2 prospects in the 15-30 range to the Yankees for Kyle Higashioka. I think Dirden is perfect for them since he is a LH power hitting corner OF. The other guy would likely be a pitcher like Tamarez or Melendez.
Higashioka fills the need for a defense first veteran backup. He is currently on the trade block as 4th on their catching depth chart and a FA after 2024. His estimated arbitration salary is a very reasonable amount below $3M.
Strp 4) Trade Urquidy to the Orioles for Ryan O’Hearn.
Trading Urquidy hurts the rotation depth and means a gamble that the 5 other starters stay healthy and effective, or relying on Bielak, Blanco, Dubin, Arrighetti, and/or Whitley and possibly others as a #5/6 starter until Garcia and/or McCullers is healthy.
As for the Orioles, they are loaded with position players with more top prospects needing an opportunity. O’Hearn very well could be the odd man out but at very least is expendable as they need starting pitching very badly.
Neither guy is a star, and will get $3-$4M in arbitration with Urquidy’s estimate about $300K higher. O’Hearn is a FA after 24 and Urquudy has an additional year. Because of that, the Astros could potentially also get a prospect like their #21- catcher Creed Williams.
This deal is about both filling needs at the lower half of the roster and match up extremely well.
So this plan:
1)Extends Altuve
2)Fills b/u catcher
3) Adds Neris back to bullpen
4)Adds a corner OF/1B who hits RHP well.
5)Leaves about $5M in CBT space for trade deadline or a value pitcher they find.
At the cost of reducing the SP depth and risk of extending a couple of older players beyond their productive years.
