irish pete ag06 said:

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W said:

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yep, that's why it's great thing the Astros finished the deal and won the World Series. Not going to be able to hold the team together much past 2018 & 2019

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It's also why the farm system hasn't been absolutely pillaged beyond repair. And don't forget that this is the front office that is one of the best in the league on salvaging players (Peacock, Morton, McHugh, etc.)

There are arms galore in the farm system (with John Sickels blurbs about each one):

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1) Forrest Whitley, RHP, Grade A/A-: Age 20, first round pick in 2016 from high school in Texas, outstanding 2017 season at three levels with combined 2.83 ERA, 143/34 K/BB in 92 innings, 78 hits; Texas League observers at end of season were full of praise, noting excellent command of mid-90s fastball and better secondary stuff than most pitchers his age, with slider, curve, and change-up all looking very good; mature mound presence as well; main issue now is building up workload and proving durability; possible top-of-the-rotation arm, may go with a straight Grade A when all the lists and rankings are complete. ETA 2019.

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3) J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, Grade B+: Age 21, first round pick in 2017 from University of North Carolina; threw 10 innings in pro debut; strong spring with 9-1, 2.53 record with Tar Heels, 116/37 K/BB, just 62 hits; plus fastball in mid-90s, good slider, threw strikes in college; main question is 6-0 size and change-up development impacting ability to remain a starter but most seem optimistic that those issues will resolve in his favor; ETA 2019.

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6) David Paulino, RHP, Grade B: Age 23; lost most of the season due to elbow problems and PED suspension; posted 4.50 ERA in 14 innings in Triple-A, 13/9 K/BB; 6.52 ERA in six major league starts, 34/7 K/BB in 29 innings before suspension; still has one of the highest ceilings in the system, fastball can hit 98 and secondary pitches (curve, change) have improved, usually throws strikes; questions about durability and role remain in play. ETA 2018.

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7) Cionel Perez, LHP, Grade B: Age 21, signed out of Cuba in 2016, posted combined 4.13 ERA with 83/27 K/BB in 94 innings between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A; scouting reports are better than the numbers, focusing on low-90s fastball, both curveball and change-up flash plus; I think his general "throw strikes" control is ahead of his "hit spots" specific command but a breakthrough in 2018 seems plausible; durability the main concern. ETA 2019.

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8) Rogelio Armenteros, RHP, Grade B: Age 23, signed out of Cuba in 2014; posted 2.04 ERA in 124 innings between Double-A and Triple-A with 146/38 K/BB, 91 hits combined; usually not rated this highly on other lists but I think he is under-estimated by many since he doesn't throw a zillion MPH; fastball in low-90s this year but plays up due to excellent change-up, two different breaking balls, sharp control; looks like he has a strong, durable physical build; he's a pitcher. ETA 2018.

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Also don't forget about Martes and Musgrove who are by no means finished projects yet (although I think Musgrove is a good bet to stay in the pen)


I am all but expecting Dallas to sign for big $ somewhere next offseason and that team be trying to get rid of that contract after 3-4 years.

Losing Marwin will suck, but I really think a big sleeper for a guy that will be really productive next year is Colin Moran. He's been extremely unlucky with his injuries, he had made real Marwin type changes to his swing last year and the early returns were great. He's my offensive sleeper for next year.

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coastalAg said:

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irish pete ag06 said:

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W said:

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yep, that's why it's great thing the Astros finished the deal and won the World Series. Not going to be able to hold the team together much past 2018 & 2019

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It's also why the farm system hasn't been absolutely pillaged beyond repair. And don't forget that this is the front office that is one of the best in the league on salvaging players (Peacock, Morton, McHugh, etc.)

There are arms galore in the farm system (with John Sickels blurbs about each one):

Quote:

---

1) Forrest Whitley, RHP, Grade A/A-: Age 20, first round pick in 2016 from high school in Texas, outstanding 2017 season at three levels with combined 2.83 ERA, 143/34 K/BB in 92 innings, 78 hits; Texas League observers at end of season were full of praise, noting excellent command of mid-90s fastball and better secondary stuff than most pitchers his age, with slider, curve, and change-up all looking very good; mature mound presence as well; main issue now is building up workload and proving durability; possible top-of-the-rotation arm, may go with a straight Grade A when all the lists and rankings are complete. ETA 2019.

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3) J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, Grade B+: Age 21, first round pick in 2017 from University of North Carolina; threw 10 innings in pro debut; strong spring with 9-1, 2.53 record with Tar Heels, 116/37 K/BB, just 62 hits; plus fastball in mid-90s, good slider, threw strikes in college; main question is 6-0 size and change-up development impacting ability to remain a starter but most seem optimistic that those issues will resolve in his favor; ETA 2019.

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6) David Paulino, RHP, Grade B: Age 23; lost most of the season due to elbow problems and PED suspension; posted 4.50 ERA in 14 innings in Triple-A, 13/9 K/BB; 6.52 ERA in six major league starts, 34/7 K/BB in 29 innings before suspension; still has one of the highest ceilings in the system, fastball can hit 98 and secondary pitches (curve, change) have improved, usually throws strikes; questions about durability and role remain in play. ETA 2018.

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7) Cionel Perez, LHP, Grade B: Age 21, signed out of Cuba in 2016, posted combined 4.13 ERA with 83/27 K/BB in 94 innings between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A; scouting reports are better than the numbers, focusing on low-90s fastball, both curveball and change-up flash plus; I think his general "throw strikes" control is ahead of his "hit spots" specific command but a breakthrough in 2018 seems plausible; durability the main concern. ETA 2019.

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8) Rogelio Armenteros, RHP, Grade B: Age 23, signed out of Cuba in 2014; posted 2.04 ERA in 124 innings between Double-A and Triple-A with 146/38 K/BB, 91 hits combined; usually not rated this highly on other lists but I think he is under-estimated by many since he doesn't throw a zillion MPH; fastball in low-90s this year but plays up due to excellent change-up, two different breaking balls, sharp control; looks like he has a strong, durable physical build; he's a pitcher. ETA 2018.

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Also don't forget about Martes and Musgrove who are by no means finished projects yet (although I think Musgrove is a good bet to stay in the pen)


I am all but expecting Dallas to sign for big $ somewhere next offseason and that team be trying to get rid of that contract after 3-4 years.

Losing Marwin will suck, but I really think a big sleeper for a guy that will be really productive next year is Colin Moran. He's been extremely unlucky with his injuries, he had made real Marwin type changes to his swing last year and the early returns were great. He's my offensive sleeper for next year.

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Love the depth we have stockpiled in our system. We have all the pieces to continue to slide guys in around our core for the foreseeable future.

Unless there is an extreme value, I just dont see any reason to be active this offseason. Try to fill holes with the guys already in the system and take stock in June/July to see what trades need to be made to contend. This should be our model for the next two years.

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mathguy86 said:

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Yeah, I agree. Maybe instead of backup catcher you find a decent LH DH. Then Gattis is the RH DH and backup catcher again. Its a hole to plug, but its one and its not a massive one.

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coastalAg said:

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Some chatter that we may be close to a two year deal for Joe Smith

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Deluxe said:

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Looks like Joe Smith signing is official. Two year deal.

Yankees went 1/16 against Smith last year with 7 strike outs. Judge and Sanchez combined for 3 of those strike outs.

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Very Tolerant Nice Guy said:

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Close it out with a lefty specialist. Wouldn't mind bringing Liriano back if we didn't have to pay $16,000,000

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Very Tolerant Nice Guy said:

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anybody else really not feel satisfied going into next year with Giles as closer?

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Very Tolerant Nice Guy said:

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anybody else really not feel satisfied going into next year with Giles as closer?

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WES2006AG said:

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Very Tolerant Nice Guy said:

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anybody else really not feel satisfied going into next year with Giles as closer?

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Unless this postseason broke Giles mentally I think he will be fine. He was one of the top closers in the regular season last year.

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Ag_07 said:

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Frok said:

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Very Tolerant Nice Guy said:

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Close it out with a lefty specialist. Wouldn't mind bringing Liriano back if we didn't have to pay $16,000,000

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No thanks, dude is done

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Yes he had a horrible Aug when he first joined. His last rough outing occurred on 8/30 in which he gave up 3 H and 2 R in 1.0 IP.

In Sept he had 10 appearances with 5.2 IP and posted a 1.59 ERA, 2 H, 1 R, 7 Ks, .105 BAA, 0.88 WHIP, 0.158 SLG.

So after the trade he had a tough time adjusting but once he settled in he was pretty effective.

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Anthony Gose, who has converted from playing center field to pitching, made his pro debut on the mound for Class-A Lakeland yesterday, writes Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus tells Fenech that Gose's fastball sat at 97 mph, and the left-hander also touched 98 mph twice and 99 mph three times. Gose was a two-way prospect in the draft back in 2008, so pitching isn't exactly new to him, though he obviously hasn't focused on it in his nearly nine seasons of professional ball. Ausmus noted that due to Gose's age, he may not be progressed through the minors like a typical (i.e. younger) prospect would be. The implication there, seemingly, is that Gose may not need to stop at every level before the club decides to take a look at him in the Majors.

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WES2006AG said:

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Very Tolerant Nice Guy said:

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anybody else really not feel satisfied going into next year with Giles as closer?

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Unless this postseason broke Giles mentally I think he will be fine. He was one of the top closers in the regular season last year.

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Ag_07 said:

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I see we selected Anthony Gose in the Rule 5 pick.

Wasn't he with us for 1 day after we got him from PHI and was flipped in the Brett Wallace deal? I see he's making the move from CFer to pitcher.

From May 2017...

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Anthony Gose, who has converted from playing center field to pitching, made his pro debut on the mound for Class-A Lakeland yesterday, writes Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus tells Fenech that Gose's fastball sat at 97 mph, and the left-hander also touched 98 mph twice and 99 mph three times. Gose was a two-way prospect in the draft back in 2008, so pitching isn't exactly new to him, though he obviously hasn't focused on it in his nearly nine seasons of professional ball. Ausmus noted that due to Gose's age, he may not be progressed through the minors like a typical (i.e. younger) prospect would be. The implication there, seemingly, is that Gose may not need to stop at every level before the club decides to take a look at him in the Majors.

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