The Astros don’t win in 2017 without the homegrown talent of Altuve, Correa, Springer, McCullers etc…but they also don’t win without acquiring veterans like Verlander, Morton, Reddick, McCann, etc. it’s how you have to build a team. I agree…focus on the team you can actually put together, not the team you wish you could.
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McCann was an unsung hero of that team.
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Agreed. He was the right guy, in the right place, at the right time.
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The beards.
Loved McCann and Gattis on that team.
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I very much agree with your last sentence. For me, roster building is the intriguing, fun part of the offseason, and I always wanted to be a part of it while working for a front office. I came close once, but it did not happen, and I’ll always wish it had. This offseason will be especially interesting to watch Click build the roster, especially if Correa leaves.
I agree Jim.
To me baseball is a 365 day per year interest.
I enjoy looking at all the options and trying to make an opinion and see how close I get ( usually miles off)
Then when a transaction is made. I can look at the new players and try to figure out what to expect.
So far I have really enjoyed Click’s roster building and am excited to see how this Off-season works out.
I am particularly interested in how he sets the 40 man roster in the next 5 days, the deadline for rule 5 protection and if some trades will be made there.
And, Jim. Crane said the team will, once again, have one of the highest payrolls in MLB. So I am interested to see where they spend money when Correa, Verlander, and Grienke don’t come back.
I wonder if Ketel Marte can still play shortstop?
He hasn’t played much there the past couple of years, but played mostly there early in his career and is a dynamic player who is on a very affordable contract.
Arizona is looking for a young controllable third baseman and bullpen help according to the GM.
They also don’t want to completely rebuild but are willing to trade higher priced players to set them up for the near future.
Take that along with Strommy now the pitching coach and there may be deals for some of the younger Astro players.
It would take quite a bit to pry Marte away from them.
But maybe if the Astros were willing to take back Bumgarner’s contract it might work.
He is owed $79 over the next 4 years, but is not exactly old and still can be counted on for over 5IP per start at league average production. A solid rotation piece and proven veteran.
A return of Joe Perez, Jose Siri/Chas McCormick. Bryan Abreu ( Strommy favorite), and Enoli Paredes, might be enough to make it happen.
But it only works if Ketel Marte can play short.
I want no part of Madbum.
His wake is out of proportion with his displacement IMO.
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The biggest variable is what they think Peña can do and when.
My guess is if they bring someone in it’ll be a short term vet FA like Simmons.
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I think that might be a strong alternative to the pay-the-man Correa plan, get someone like Simmons or Jose Iglesias and continue to prepare Pena for, if and when he’s ready, an eventual takeover at shortstop.
I don’t know the character make up of those players but one better be a vocal team leader. Bregman and Altuve aren’t enough.
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I think that Pena may be ready defensively.
If they are serious about Starting Marte it may be so they have that additional run producing that they can count on in the middle of the lineup, and allow Pena to play with limited pressure offensively.
One of the things, I have heard mentioned many times, that made this Astros team so good was how deep the lineup is. Having run producers and no easy outs 7 deep .
If Marte is added then Pena only needs to be the 8th best hitter in the lineup, not one of the top 7.
And the run producing part of the lineup doesn’t shrink from 7 to 6.
I am kind of high on pena. He has had a fairly productive bat. I think he did fairly well in ST if I remember, until hurt.
No surprise, but Correa has reportedly turned down the QO: https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1460293045879021571
Sweet. High draft pick coming our way.
For varying definitions of “high”
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Jordan Schafer was a high draft pick.
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So was Jon Singleton.
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I thought he was traded for Pence? Dude had drug issues
Not hardly. He loved marijuana.
Pence was drafted by the Astros.