Not sure I agree with that at all. I’d put their odds about the same.
Don’t forget Gurriel.
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Eric Hosmer DFA. That’s a league-average lefty bat who can be had for cheap, and he might find his stride again on a winning team. Had a reverse platoon split in ‘22 but that’s not typical for him.
I could see him finding a good head space and being a valuable part-time player for a winning organization like Houston. He can still hit the ball fairly hard and he makes good swing decisions, doesn’t whiff or chase much. I could really talk myself into this idea. (the Padres are paying almost his whole contract, too)
I don’t think it’s an unreasonable assertion. Bellinger had a higher peak and is a bit younger.
I would love to see a tandem of Gurriel/Abreu at DH/1B.
Hosmer is actually an above average MLB player.
He has had an OPS+ under 100 only once (94 in 2019) since 2014.
He got a bad rap because he was paid like a star by SD, but is not a bad 7th or 8th best hitter in a lineup.
Left handed, low strikeouts, solid defense at 1B if Abreu is hurt or gets ABs at DH.
Would be extremely cheap now that he’s been DFAd
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Fucking crazy
You can make a decent case for Bellinger improving, I just think you can also make a better case for Gallo—even if the odds for both are poor. It’s really a response to the idea that there’s no hope for Gallo at all.
Gallo’s a bit older as you say but he’s only 28, still in his theoretical (very theoretical) prime. He’s come back from bad seasons before (‘21), still hits the ball extremely hard when he can find it, and was very solid just a year ago. Gallo also hated New York and while he was terrible in LA too, he could benefit a lot from the change of scenery. A chance of scenery could help Bellinger too, but the thing about him is he’s been awful at the plate for three years running and can’t hit the ball with any authority even when he manages to make contact.
I believe the strength of our offense, has been guys who work pitchers and preferably low strike outs. Brantley is a question mark, but he works pitchers.
But can he catch popups?
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That guy almost gave me an aneurism in '15. He has skills, but he’s no superstar. He can make consistent contact from the left side, why not have him to camp?
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I haven’t exactly done a deep dive on the potential Astros roster just yet, but how many 1B/DH/LF types do you need?
Yordan/Abreu + Another?
If you want Yuli/Hensley back as the UT guys…that’s your backup 1B.
And there’s still possible Uncle Mike?
This. The Astros have made an art of using guys like this to fit in the nooks and crannies of their very successful teams.
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Thought the Yankees would be all over this hire, based on ESPN speculation.
When will we learn the self-appointed pundits do not know any more than we do, which is nothing.
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I assume it all came down to who’d give him a fifth year. Yanks and other teams may have had plenty of interest at 3 or 4 but thought 5 was a bridge too far. But if you want to attract free agents as the White Sox you have to make some bold offers, I guess.
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Gallo will hit more doubles in the gap with no shift employed.
He’ll have to make contact first.
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Royals have made CF Michael Taylor available who contending teams would view as a 4th outfielder type. Rosenthal mentions the Astros had interest two years ago.
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Astros see the asking price on Daulton Varsho as “too high”.
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Astros along with Rangers, Mets, and Marlins still nosing around Michael Conforto.
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Uncle Mike’s return “remains possible”.
FIFY.