*****Official Houston Astros Offseason Thread*****

499,809 Views | 3879 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by AstroAggie15
college of AG
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8:23p, 12/17/18
AG
My opinion after reading some end of season pieces lead me to believe that the front office wants to compete for a decade instead of all in for a year or 2.

MLB playoffs take odd twists and turns. You have to get lucky to win the crown. Being the best team doesn't win you the title- being the luckiest team of the best teams means more.

The more years you are in the playoffs, the more chances you get to get hot and win it all.

JL knows the cards and odds and will play the odds knowing that he has to have a seat at the table to win- not necessarily the best hand.

My guess is we keep adding low cost options, keeping prospects. I thought Brantley was a front office target in Nov. My surprise is we didnt offer CFM to get the market down and get a pick.
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TonySoprano
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In reply to college of AG • 8:29p, 12/17/18
I agree. At least it feels this way!! I'd love to be in contention for a decade.
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Frok
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8:36p, 12/17/18
AG
I'll be curious to see what Marwin goes for. This isn't exactly a cheap contract although its only 2 years.

But I'd rather have Marwin.

But good signing IMO
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CFTXAG10
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8:41p, 12/17/18
AG
Lance on Brantley....

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Ag_07
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8:54p, 12/17/18
AG
If there's one thing this FO nails it's identifying injury early and avoiding injury prone guys.

That and 143 games last year gives me quite a bit of confidence that his DL woes are over.
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AustinCountyAg
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8:58p, 12/17/18
I personally do not want Cruz. He reminds me of Carlos Lee. Too many swing and misses. I say get rid of tucker if that means a solid catcher.

Great catchers are a heck of a lot harder to find than a great outfielder.
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Ag_07
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9:07p, 12/17/18
AG
Maybe he Ks a bit much but Cruz hit .256 with 37 bombs, 97 RBIs, and a .850 OPS.

That's an astronomical improvement over the DH spot last year and putting that in the middle of this lineup would be dangerous. I think he'd be great protection for Correa.

As long he doesn't want some long term insane contract I'd be happy with Cruz at DH.
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iBrad
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9:16p, 12/17/18
AG
I'm not sure what to think about the DH spot. You could obviously fill it with a good hitter who would be the full-time DH. Or you could use it to play matchups and give other guys a day off so to speak. Over the grind if the season, the latter seems like the better option. But come playoff time, it's nice to have that big bat in the lineup.
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Wiggletrace
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In reply to college of AG • 9:24p, 12/17/18
AG
college of AG said:
My opinion after reading some end of season pieces lead me to believe that the front office wants to compete for a decade instead of all in for a year or 2.

MLB playoffs take odd twists and turns. You have to get lucky to win the crown. Being the best team doesn't win you the title- being the luckiest team of the best teams means more.

The more years you are in the playoffs, the more chances you get to get hot and win it all.

JL knows the cards and odds and will play the odds knowing that he has to have a seat at the table to win- not necessarily the best hand.

My guess is we keep adding low cost options, keeping prospects. I thought Brantley was a front office target in Nov. My surprise is we didnt offer CFM to get the market down and get a pick.


This is a common theme in the Astroball book if any of you read it, and it is spot on in my opinion.
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Farmer1906
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9:29p, 12/17/18
AG
2018 Astros DH
.243 AVG
.308 OBP
.480 SLUG
.788 OPS
.334 wOBA
115 wRC+
21.8 K%
8.3 BB%

2018 DH Nelson Cruz
.256 AVG
.342 OBP
.509 SLUG
.851 OPS
.361 wOBA
134 qRC+
20.6 K%
9.3 BB%
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TREX01
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9:35p, 12/17/18
I do not care to go after Cruz. I'd like to have some flexibility at the DH spot in terms of someone capable of giving the regulars some days off in the field.
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bearkatag15
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In reply to TREX01 • 9:37p, 12/17/18
AG
TREX01 said:
I do not care to go after Cruz. I'd like to have some flexibility at the DH spot in terms of someone capable of giving the regulars some days off in the field.
I'd rather have 40 home runs and 100 RBIs from my DH spot...
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AustinCountyAg
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9:43p, 12/17/18
I'd like to have 40/100 as well but Cruz just scares me. I'd love to be proven wrong if we end up getting him, but I have a gut feeling he would turn into a fat Carlos Lee type of strikeout hitter with the occasional bomb.

I guess I'm just old school in the sense that I love seeing the ball put in play (Kemp) instead of go for broke hitters. Not to mention Correa struck out enough last year in big situations I'd hate to have to watch another guy bat next to him that strikes out as well when Bregs and Tuve are sitting on second base.
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Ag_07
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9:52p, 12/17/18
AG
Not only do you look at the production Cruz would bring to the lineup but the protection he would give to Correa can't be ignored.

That to me is a huge need. Whether it's Cruz or someone else Carlos needs someone better than Tyler White behind him.
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Deluxe
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9:53p, 12/17/18
AG
Lee was pretty good the first few years of his contract. The issue was that we gave him a six year deal. We won't be signing Cruz for more than a year or two, so it's pretty low risk.
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Ag_07
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9:55p, 12/17/18
AG
And here's a good read on the Brantley addition



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college of AG
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10:08p, 12/17/18
AG
Speaking of Marwin- while I think Astros have moved on, I don't hear much of anything about interest from other clubs on Marwin.

Have I just missed the news on Marwin?
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Thriller
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In reply to college of AG • 10:26p, 12/17/18
AG
I think I read the Padres were interested a few days ago.
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W
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In reply to Wiggletrace • 10:30p, 12/17/18
AG
yes, and when you look back at the Astros good run from 1997 to 2005...6 playoff appearances in 9 seasons...

it centered around 2 great position players (Biggio, Bagwell)...and other very good players mixed in at times.

Wagner, Hampton, Alou, et al in the first half of that stretch: 1997 to 2000.

then Oswalt, Berkman, et al in the second half of that stretch: 2001 to 2005
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Farmer1906
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10:46p, 12/17/18
AG
We kept a solid pitching staff. Hampton, Lima, Reynolds, Johnson were all important.
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bearkatag15
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10:54p, 12/17/18
AG
Brantley's spray chart for those interested...



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KTAG05
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5:48a, 12/18/18
AG
Am I the only thinking Brantley bats in the 2 spot to break up the right handed bats at the top of the lineup?
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bearkatag15
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In reply to KTAG05 • 7:50a, 12/18/18
AG
Maybe against a RHP.
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Marvin
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8:53a, 12/18/18
AG
Sign Cruz and land a 3rd guy in the rotation, and call it a day- and don't give up Tucker or Whitley in the process.

I think this, combined with a healthy Correa, will keep the Astros on par with last year, although with more offense than pitching. You're not going to replace DK, LMJ and CFM pound for pound on the mound, but you can compensate with more offense and some replacement pitching. I like but am not sold on McHugh or Peacock long term as starters, but I value them so much in the pen that I'm probably not being logical about it.

Also, Luhnow will have saved most of his young assets (depending on the cost of that middle-of-the-rotation starter if via trade) for a mid-season acquisition if the price is right.

I think we can roll with that and be settled in the divisional pole position through the summer.
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Farmer1906
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In reply to KTAG05 • 8:56a, 12/18/18
AG
Maybe lead him off.

Brantley
Altuve
Bregman
Springer
Correa
Cruz
Gurriel
Reddick
Stassi/Chirinos
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. . .
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9:14a, 12/18/18
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E
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9:14a, 12/18/18
AG
does anyone else think Diaz will have a bigger role on the team then we are projecting? The 2016 version of him would fit nicely in the everyday Marwin role.
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Ag_07
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9:16a, 12/18/18
AG
Would they Yankees have any interest in Reddick or Kemp?

They wanted ML talent in return for Gray and with the logjam now in the OF either of them would be candidates. Just not sure if the Yankees have a spot or need for another OFer.

Could be a way to get a middle rotation pitcher without moving any young top end pieces.
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Farmer1906
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In reply to E • 9:20a, 12/18/18
AG
E said:
does anyone else think Diaz will have a bigger role on the team then we are projecting? The 2016 version of him would fit nicely in the everyday Marwin role.


Guys are going to need days off, people are going to get hurt, and some match ups will favor Diaz. He'll get his shot. He'll be more in a true utility role and an everyday left fielder who could play other positions like Marwin ended up being at the end.
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Bobby Jimbo
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9:34a, 12/18/18
AG
If Luhnow can somehow trade for Realmuto without giving up Tucker or Whitley, that would make for an amazing starting lineup if Tucker puts up anything close to his minor league numbers.

CF - Springer
DH - Brantley
2B - Altuve
3B - Bregman
1B - Gurriel
LF - Tucker
SS - Correa
RF - Reddick
C - Realmuto
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E
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In reply to Ag_07 • 9:44a, 12/18/18
AG
They have Stanton, Judge, Gardner, Hicks and Ellsbury. Doubt they would want another OF.
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suburban cowboy
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9:53a, 12/18/18
AG
I'd deal Tucker, but that's just me.

I'm tired of him being regarded as the next Ted Williams by this front office. Go get me a Major League Baseball player that can help you win another World Series today, not some prospect. I'm reality, he's just that; a prospect.

We need ballplayers. NY, BOS, LA, the juggernauts doubled down on MLB talent. It's time for Crane to tell Lunhow to do the same.

I'm not saying sell the farm, but it's time to go to the market and sell some of your best of the crop.
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TREX01
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9:55a, 12/18/18
As far as Cruz goes, I'd like to be the team that let him go a year early than be the one that signs him a year late.
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Ag_07
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10:01a, 12/18/18
AG
The more I think about it I think I would prefer to sign Cruz as a DH and make a deal using Tucker for a starter.

A Tucker package should be enough to get Kluber or Syndergaard.

All I want for Christmas is this...

Springer
Altuve
Bregman
Correa
Cruz
Brantley
Gurriel
Reddick
Chirinos/Stassi

JV
Cole
Syndergaard
McHugh
James/Whitley/Framber
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ChAg1799
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In reply to Bobby Jimbo • 10:06a, 12/18/18
AG
Bobby Jimbo said:
If Luhnow can somehow trade for Realmuto without giving up Tucker or Whitley, that would make for an amazing starting lineup if Tucker puts up anything close to his minor league numbers.

CF - Springer
DH - Brantley
2B - Altuve
3B - Bregman
1B - Gurriel
LF - Tucker
SS - Correa
RF - Reddick
C - Realmuto


I don't think it is possible, but if it were I think the lineup would look more like:

Springer, Tuve, Brantley, Bregman , Realmuto, Correa, Tucker, Gurriel and Redding. Wow what a freaking awesome lineup!!!!
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