The Void: 2023-24

BillyD · December 4, 2023, 6:15pm

Seattle dumping Salary and Braves seeing something they like in a young controllable player that has been the one weak link in their lineup.

Idstrosfan · December 4, 2023, 9:46pm

FTR according to Forbes, the Mariners (+ $83.8M) were the most profitable team in MLB in 2022.

FWIW: A’s were 5th (+ $62.2M) and Astros 11th (+ $44.3M)

MusicMan · December 4, 2023, 9:54pm

Fucking unconscionable

SoonerJim · December 5, 2023, 5:06am

Turning a profit could very well happened to us when the payroll was $32 million and we lost 100 games.

Doyce7 · December 5, 2023, 5:20am

It’s not the profit that is the issue, profit is to be expected. It’s the crying poor, so poor that the team “has to move” to survive. The A’s also claimed to lose something like 20 million this year and last.

MusicMan · December 5, 2023, 2:59pm

SoonerJim · December 5, 2023, 4:05pm

The story states no trade, clarifying the discordant post above

moriarty · December 5, 2023, 4:13pm

Those numbers just don’t pass the smell test. If the path to the highest profitability is building the cheapest team possible and alienating your fan base in every way you can, I think we’d see more owners taking that approach. I’m sure there are some surprisingly profitable teams out there—but there’s just no way Forbes’ methodology is getting that right.

austro · December 5, 2023, 4:24pm

I seem to remember a story about the Dodgers running a ridiculously profitable parking business but somehow keepng that off of the baseball club’s books entirely. I’m sure there are other similar arrangements that would provide a very different profitability picture if one looked at the entire picture.

moriarty · December 5, 2023, 10:12pm

MusicMan · December 5, 2023, 10:21pm

That’s awfully surprising

moriarty · December 5, 2023, 10:23pm

I’m surprised at the commitment not to trade him, but I think Chas LF/Jake CF is the best outfield alignment available with the current roster (at least when Yordan’s at DH).

MusicMan · December 5, 2023, 10:28pm

“With the current roster” being the key phrase.

I know the discussion has been bullpen and backup catcher, but there may be no upgrades beyond that, and I’m not convinced that team wins the division.

Idstrosfan · December 5, 2023, 11:02pm

I like Jake quite a bit. Probably more than most people.

That said, I hope he has a Chas type breakout and we aren’t even talking about this in 11 months, but thats not what I expect.

I wish the team would find a corner OF/1B type that hits RHP very well. Ryan O’Hearn is my current idea.

Then I would:

1B: Abreu 75% new guy (25%)
2B: Altuve (80%) Dubon (20%)
LF: Chas (55%) Yordan (25%) new guy (20%)
CF: Meyers 55% (all LHP/25% RHP) Chas (45%)
DH: Yordan (70%) new guy (15%) Altuve (15%)

It just feels like having that extra bat, giving Abreu rest, DHing Altuve more, and having a safety net for Meyers is the best option.

AstrosFanInBigD · December 6, 2023, 12:15am

Jake came back from a tough injury and had to get up to speed in-season. Not an easy task for a youngster.

This season will tell his tale. I hope it’s a good one.

Col.SphinxDrummond · December 6, 2023, 3:31am

I am a big fan of Jake when it comes to catching anything hit to CF. I hope his bat and arm are up to the task but regardless, he can flat go get it with the very best.

RTB · December 6, 2023, 4:12am

Agree. He’s an excellent defender. Hopefully, with regular at bats, he can develop in a similar fashion as McCormick.

RTB · December 6, 2023, 4:24am

Astros are signing Victor Caratini as the backup catcher according to Rome and Rosenthal. He’s coming off one of his best years where he hit .259 with 7 homers. He a switch hitter which I like and his career K rate is an acceptable 24%. Deal is pending a physical and terms not disclosed at the moment.

AstrosFanInBigD · December 6, 2023, 10:21am

‘If we play like we did last year’ is no longer a comforting thought.

LarryTheGM · December 6, 2023, 1:37pm

Let’s focus on WHY Victor Caratini is that perfect match for Diaz I said he was. Let me give you some reasons the #Astros signed free agent Victor Caratini as their backup catcher.

“I think Caratini is almost the perfect match for Diaz as a backup Catcher that could step up if he had to. He is 30 and has over 6 years of service time which makes him just right as a not too old veteran. Caratini is a better framer than Diaz but is worse at everything else. Yet his Defensive WAR per inning number is good.”

“The Astros will either have a projected 117 wRC+ hitting catcher or a projected 98 wRC+ hitting catcher starting almost every game. The Astros had a 66 wRC+ catcher starting 116 games last season.”

“I cannot be more pumped. This is the move I wanted, and it has happened.
The Astros project to have the NINTH best WAR from catcher now with 3.7 WAR. Before opening day the Astros projected to have the 29th WAR from catcher. Diaz was able to surprise to get them to 25th in WAR from catcher in 2023.”