2025 offseason

TalkZone
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Might as well start something for this.

MLBTR has their projected arbitration salaries for the Astros up:

Of these, Garcia is an obvious nontender, Chas is an almost certain nontender, and you would think either Dubon or Urias will be moved.

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Sure wish we had moved Chas for … something… a few years ago.

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Could see them flipping Sanchez for a bullpen arm. He’s a better player than he showed post-deadline, but also maybe won’t be the best use of $7M for the 2026 Astros.

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I think you might be right. Aside from being a below average defender (only going by what I saw, not actual new age scientific numbers) I think the powers that be fucked with his swing after we acquired him and unfortunately fucked him up. Maybe an offseason to work on said changes will bare more fruit…or maybe they tell him to forget it and just get back to the line drive hitter he was before we traded for him.

The below average defense is not a calling card of this club. Hindsight tells me we acquired him out of desperation and now with an entire offseason to work the problem, it’s time to move on.

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5

The Athletic (Chandler Rome) is reporting that both Brown and Espada are coming back next year.

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Fangraphs projects the Astros at 221 million in luxury tax payroll based on these arb projections. Nontendering Chas and Garcia, while keeping Dubon and Urias, would give the Astros about $26 million to work with while staying under the first threshold, $241M.

Not even looking at moves like trading Walker or Paredes to clear up the infield logjam, I see them needing a 2B/LF, at least 2 SP(probably need to add 3), and then always look to add where you can in the pen.

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Currently the 2026 rotation is

Hunter Brown
Spencer Arrighetti
Christian Javier
???Alexander???
???Blubaugh???
???McCullers???

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Very curious about the rest of the coaching staff.

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Rome said on his podcast that the Astros do not see Blubaugh as a SP, Alexander was great this year but I wouldn’t bank on that being real, and Lance, well, we all know the score there

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My first thought as well. I’d think Miller and Murphy are sure bets to return. Beyond that, quien sabe.

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And now the Athletic is reporting that Cintron is being let go.

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That doesn’t seem very surprising, given the hitters’ approach and results the last couple of years.

They probably ought to consider kidnapping the Brewers’ hitting coaches.

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The concept of having two hitting coaches always seemed a little odd to me. Did they each work with half of the team? Did they have the same methods and philosophies? Do any other MLB clubs employ two?

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I’d contribute gas money to the cause.

@juliogotay Off the top of my head, I believe the Orioles and Mets also had two hitting coaches.

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I think most teams have multiple hitting coaches these days

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So Cintron & Snitker (hitting), Collins (catching), and Randall (trainer) all gone. Can’t argue the Astros excelled in any of those areas this year.

I’m hopeful the Astros identify the Miller/Murphy of hitting and back up a dump truck of money onto their driveway. Pitchers come here and get better. Hitters come here and start tripping over their shoelaces. The whole organizational philosophy needs an overhaul.

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17

Until their elbows explode.

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Assistant GM Andrew Ball also out

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Let’s not bicker and argue over who killed who.

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whom

(Sorry, this will only be my recurring bit today)

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