bearkatag15 said:

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E said:

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James Paxton and Mitch Haniger... only because they seem to eat our lunch

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Gues no on Haniger...

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Diaz is the prize.

W said:

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Mariners paying the price for the horrendous Cano contract.

GM's just can't do that. Still owe him $24 MM per year for another 5 years

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Watch Machado & Harper. They may each get their own terrible contract.

The biggest difference between the albatross mega-contracts and Harper (and maybe Machado) is the age of the player. Harper just turned 26. A 12 or 13 year deal for Harper is much different through 38 is a lot different than a 10 year contract at 31 for a Cano, Miggy, Pujols. The market is so crazy for these big bats that to just get in the conversation you have to accept the fact that the last several years may hamper your club for the potential benefit of a Harper/Machado in their prime. That's why I like the approach of much higher AAVs on shorter contracts or option years. Even with the option it's a gamble - see Hayward declining his option and the Cubs still owe him $100MM over the next 5 years.

Except for the projection, I saw for both were 14-year deals. That would make them both 40 in the last year of it.

I like the idea of Cruz being DH for us, give him a 2 yr deal.

I think this team needs another veteran bat like Beltran was.

If the price is right, I would do 1 year at 16 M (Beltran deal), but I think he'll get more from someone else. I'd rather go in big on someone else.

Farmer1906 said:

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Except for the projection, I saw for both were 14-year deals. That would make them both 40 in the last year of it.

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I just can't see Lunhow ever overextending us like that. I would rather completely miss out on the very top of the FA market than have to give someone a contract that will pay them $25 million plus in their late 30s and early 40s.

bearkatag15 said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I like the idea of Yuli playing the Marwin role only if we get a legit plus hitting 1B.

Not sure what the 1B market is like but maybe via trade.

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I wonder what the Astros would have to give up to get Goldy.

I'd be willing to part with Alvarez, Martes (or a pitcher of that caliber), and two low level prospects.

But, honestly, that's probably not enough for Goldschmidt. The D'Backs world likely want Tucker or Whitley as part of the deal, and I'd say no way to that.

What's goldy's contract status? If we would have him for a little while, Tucker would be packing his bag for me. One and done, not worth it.

Bulldog73 said:

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What's goldy's contract status? If we would have him for a little while, Tucker would be packing his bag for me. One and done, not worth it.

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$14.5 this year, then FA.

Bulldog73 said:

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What's goldy's contract status? If we would have him for a little while, Tucker would be packing his bag for me. One and done, not worth it.

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one and done

With Yuli becoming Marwin's Replacement I'm guessing we'll be seeing White full time at 1b?

as mentioned below...Cano was already 31 when he got the deal. Similar to the Angels' mess with Pujols.

ultimately though, those deals are great from the Astros standpoint

and yes, any team that gives Harper or Machado 10 years is crazy.

in today's era of professional sports...things can go south in a hurry between a player and a franchise

Luhnow is smart. He won't do that.

he knows it's better to pick off the veteran player with a big contract (like Verlander & McCann) from another team...when there are only 1 or 2 or 3 years left

I was never suggesting he would or that I wanted him to. I think there are plenty of GMs out there that still will. Stanton still has 10 years left on his 13-year deal. Miggy is 35 and has another 5 years left at about 31 M a year on his 8-year deal. Last year 32-year-old Darvish can stay in Chicago until 2023 making about 21 M a year. These aren't going away.

Teams have been looking for Harper to hit the market for years. Bryce turned down a 10 year 300 M dollar deal from the Nats already.

W said:

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Luhnow is smart. He won't do that.

he knows it's better to pick off the veteran player with a big contract (like Verlander & McCann) from another team...when there are only 1 or 2 or 3 years left

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And he makes Mexico the other team pay for some of it too.

This was asked on Matt Thomas's show today. Would you be okay with a rotation of Verlander, Cole, McHugh, Whitely, and James?

My initial thought was no, but I would be fine with a version of that if we make significant upgrades to the line up (Cruz+Realmuto, Goldschmidt+Ramos, or something along those lines).

Farmer1906 said:

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This was asked on Matt Thomas's show today. Would you be okay with a rotation of Verlander, Cole, McHugh, Whitely, and James?

My initial thought was no, but I would be fine with a version of that if we make significant upgrades to the line up (Cruz+Realmuto, Goldschmidt+Ramos, or something along those lines).

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Yeah. Ask yourself this: Would you be OK with the rotation of 2 years ago and the offense of last year? Because the pitching with JV, Cole and 3 bodies is where we were two years ago.

mathguy86 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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This was asked on Matt Thomas's show today. Would you be okay with a rotation of Verlander, Cole, McHugh, Whitely, and James?

My initial thought was no, but I would be fine with a version of that if we make significant upgrades to the line up (Cruz+Realmuto, Goldschmidt+Ramos, or something along those lines).

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Yeah. Ask yourself this: Would you be OK with the rotation of 2 years ago and the offense of last year? Because the pitching with JV, Cole and 3 bodies is where we were two years ago.

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The offense of 2 years ago was pretty much the same guys we had last year. Correa, Altuve, Marwin, Reddick, and just about everyone not names Bregman got worse. I wouldn't be shocked if we see some bounce back for those guys without adding new ones. We get serious and add some more firepower and the offense could be all worldly again.

Farmer1906 said:

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This was asked on Matt Thomas's show today. Would you be okay with a rotation of Verlander, Cole, McHugh, Whitely, and James?

My initial thought was no, but I would be fine with a version of that if we make significant upgrades to the line up (Cruz+Realmuto, Goldschmidt+Ramos, or something along those lines).

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To start the year, sure. I think as more teams try to model the Astros, we are going to see the trade deadline slide more and more to a buyer's market. Let those guys go and see where you're at. Trade for a starter if you need one by mid-season.

irish pete ag06 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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This was asked on Matt Thomas's show today. Would you be okay with a rotation of Verlander, Cole, McHugh, Whitely, and James?

My initial thought was no, but I would be fine with a version of that if we make significant upgrades to the line up (Cruz+Realmuto, Goldschmidt+Ramos, or something along those lines).

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To start the year, sure. I think as more teams try to model the Astros, we are going to see the trade deadline slide more and more to a buyer's market. Let those guys go and see where you're at. Trade for a starter if you need one by mid-season.

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We've had success with both. Verlander & somewhat Fiers during the year and Cole during the offseason.

After 2019 you can add McHugh, Verlander, & Cole to the UFA with Keuchel & Morton. McCullers will be back after a year of TJ. I think it's important to go out and add a piece that'll be here for at least 2 years (Paxton fits this or a FA like Eovaldi) because if you will be losing a lot or having to pay for a lot very soon.

Farmer1906 said:

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irish pete ag06 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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This was asked on Matt Thomas's show today. Would you be okay with a rotation of Verlander, Cole, McHugh, Whitely, and James?

My initial thought was no, but I would be fine with a version of that if we make significant upgrades to the line up (Cruz+Realmuto, Goldschmidt+Ramos, or something along those lines).

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To start the year, sure. I think as more teams try to model the Astros, we are going to see the trade deadline slide more and more to a buyer's market. Let those guys go and see where you're at. Trade for a starter if you need one by mid-season.

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We've had success with both. Verlander & somewhat Fiers during the year and Cole during the offseason.

After 2019 you can add McHugh, Verlander, & Cole to the UFA with Keuchel & Morton. McCullers will be back after a year of TJ. I think it's important to go out and add a piece that'll be here for at least 2 years (Paxton fits this or a FA like Eovaldi) because if you will be losing a lot or having to pay for a lot very soon.

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I agree. Like someone said above, I nearly prefer trading for a starter or signing a bargain bin guy like the Astros did with Charlie Morton. This may be authority bias, but I wholeheartedly trust this front office on pitching evaluations whether that is finding diamond in the rough talent through the draft or signing undervalued free agents (Morton) or trading for guys who've been mis-utilized (Cole).

My wish list would be to get Eovaldi through FA, then roll with JV, Cole, Eovaldi, McHugh and pick one (James, Whitley, Valdez). I'd be good with resigning Morton, if possible. That way you could keep McHugh in the BP. Regardless, I believe a FA pitcher should be signed.Worst case scenario, we don't sign anybody and go with JV, Cole, McHugh, and two of the following: James, Whitley and Valdez.

To continue my wish list, I want to sign Ramos. He's a career .273 hitter with occasional power. That's 50 points higher on BA than what we had last year.

Then, I'd try to trade for Goldy -- but he would need to come with at least a 2-year extension.

Imagine this lineup and rotation:

Lineup:
Springer CF
Bregman 3B
Altuve 2B
Goldschmidt 1B
Correa SS
Gurriel DH
Reddick RF
Tucker LF
Ramos C

Rotation:
JV
Cole
Eovaldi
McHugh
Whitley

The only question marks I see are Tucker and Whitley.

agproducer said:

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My wish list would be to get Eovaldi through FA, then roll with JV, Cole, Eovaldi, McHugh and pick one (James, Whitley, Valdez). I'd be good with resigning Morton, if possible. That way you could keep McHugh in the BP. Regardless, I believe a FA pitcher should be signed.Worst case scenario, we don't sign anybody and go with JV, Cole, McHugh, and two of the following: James, Whitley and Valdez.

To continue my wish list, I want to sign Ramos. He's a career .273 hitter with occasional power. That's 50 points higher on BA than what we had last year.

Then, I'd try to trade for Goldy -- but he would need to come with at least a 2-year extension.

Imagine this lineup and rotation:

Lineup:
Springer CF
Bregman 3B
Altuve 2B
Goldschmidt 1B
Correa SS
Gurriel DH
Reddick RF
Tucker LF
Ramos C

Rotation:
JV
Cole
Eovaldi
McHugh
Whitley

The only question marks I see are Tucker and Whitley.

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This is where your deal loses. Goldy is going to want to hit the FA market and get top dollar. A guy like him is going to get something like 7 years, 175 M. Unless we pay him 2 years 80 M, I can't see any type of agreement like that.

I still like a Jose Abreu trade. He can DH or play 1B if Yuli slides somewhere. And won't cost near as much as Goldschmidt.

And for the record I'd give a pitcher and a position player for JT.

Farmer1906 said:

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agproducer said:

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My wish list would be to get Eovaldi through FA, then roll with JV, Cole, Eovaldi, McHugh and pick one (James, Whitley, Valdez). I'd be good with resigning Morton, if possible. That way you could keep McHugh in the BP. Regardless, I believe a FA pitcher should be signed.Worst case scenario, we don't sign anybody and go with JV, Cole, McHugh, and two of the following: James, Whitley and Valdez.

To continue my wish list, I want to sign Ramos. He's a career .273 hitter with occasional power. That's 50 points higher on BA than what we had last year.

Then, I'd try to trade for Goldy -- but he would need to come with at least a 2-year extension.

Imagine this lineup and rotation:

Lineup:
Springer CF
Bregman 3B
Altuve 2B
Goldschmidt 1B
Correa SS
Gurriel DH
Reddick RF
Tucker LF
Ramos C

Rotation:
JV
Cole
Eovaldi
McHugh
Whitley

The only question marks I see are Tucker and Whitley.

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This is where your deal loses. Goldy is going to want to hit the FA market and get top dollar. A guy like him is going to get something like 7 years, 175 M. Unless we pay him 2 years 80 M, I can't see any type of agreement like that.

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I did say wish list.

If he was a one-year rental before FA, I'd be ok with that. But, I wouldn't trade top prospects.

Speaking of monster contracts...

I just saw that the word is that the Yanks may look to move Stanton to make room for Harper.

How much of that franchise crippler of a contract do they have to cover to even get someone to listen?

That wound be the most Steinbrenner thing ever. Old George is slow clapping for the grave just thinking about his boys pulling that stunt off.