theSCHW4B said:

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GarrettL_15 said:

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Being an Astros fan in DFW sucks
FIFY

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also big true

mathguy86 said:

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I believe Jake is out of options. Its either keep him or lose him, because someone is taking him. White may be close to it as well.

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I just read that Jake has an option remaining, but he's only 40 days of MLB service time away from 5 years of service, which gives him the right to decline an MiLB option and Kemp is out of options.

Does that mean that if Kemp doesn't make the team out of spring training, he goes through waivers? I just don't think there is any chance that we are going to let a player as valuable as Kemp who is making $575k and is under team control through 2022 walk.

That makes me think he gets Marinick's roster spot...but there is a lot of time between now and then. Injuries happen.

BMX Bandit said:

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Ag_07 said:

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If Tucker isn't on the Opening Day roster then it really is time to trade him. He needs regular reps in the bigs or to be flipped for ML talent.

He's useless smashing AAA pitching.

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No matter how good Tucker does during spring training, he will not be on the opening day roster.

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We'll see but that to me sounds crazy.

Give the kid a fresh start when there's less pressure (as opposed to a September call up) get him the ABs and see what he's got.

Is there really anything more for him to show at AAA?

Agree

If Tucker is one of your best this spring training, he will start with the team

First off I'm not writing him off. I want to see him start the year in LF. We know what hell do in AAA. Can he make the adjustments needed to hit big league pitching? AAA won't answer that question.

Secondly Tucker and JD Martinez are completely different situations. JD had ample opportunity to prove himself at the big league level and was cut. Tucker hasn't had that chance and he won't be cut.

Agreed. No reason to rush Tucker. He's still young. If he needs to develop a little more then so be it.

It's going to be interesting to see what hinch does with kemp, jake, white and reddick as I think reddick might really slow down this year.

I love jake but if it's between him and kemp...for me personally that's a pretty easy decision to keep kemp. Tyler white does nothing for me but I understand he has power potential and yuli is slowing down as well.

I just think our lineup is at its best when you can plug Tony in at the 8 or 9 spot to roll over to springer. While he's not your standard DH slugging power hitter, we are an unconviental lineup anyways with a quasi power hitter hitting lead off...I think kemp hitting DH ocassionally is a good thing.

Again just my 2 cents but I think white and Jake are the odd men out. I just want to see what kemp can do with consistent daily playing time.

bullard21k said:

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I think reddick might really slow down this year.

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Didn't this already happen in '18? If there's another step-change decline this year, ugh...

Yep.

Reddick 2H18: .222/.301/.389
Marisnick 2H18: .263/.368/.509

I think its premature to say Yuli is slowing down. He came off the hamate injury and that has proven to be an injury that you don't just bounce back from quickly. I think we see a much closer to 2017 version of Yuli this year. Also, Reddick is absolutely on the downside of his career and could be the expendable piece to make everyone else fit into our OF this year.

TREX01 said:

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I think its premature to say Yuli is slowing down. He came off the hamate injury and that has proven to be an injury that you don't just bounce back from quickly. I think we see a much closer to 2017 version of Yuli this year. Also, Reddick is absolutely on the downside of his career and could be the expendable piece to make everyone else fit into our OF this year.

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2017 and 2018 Yuli are nearly identical.

bullard21k said:

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It's going to be interesting to see what hinch does with kemp, jake, white and reddick as I think reddick might really slow down this year.

I love jake but if it's between him and kemp...for me personally that's a pretty easy decision to keep kemp. Tyler white does nothing for me but I understand he has power potential and yuli is slowing down as well.

I just think our lineup is at its best when you can plug Tony in at the 8 or 9 spot to roll over to springer. While he's not your standard DH slugging power hitter, we are an unconviental lineup anyways with a quasi power hitter hitting lead off...I think kemp hitting DH ocassionally is a good thing.

Again just my 2 cents but I think white and Jake are the odd men out. I just want to see what kemp can do with consistent daily playing time.

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Jake has more versatility. You can use him almost nightly as a late inning defensive replacement. He can also pinch run and make a spot start versus lefties.

Kemp is much more limited because you're never going to insert him for his defense and there's already two lefties penciled into the starting outfield.

Based on the role, I think Jake is the obvious choice.

Ag_07 said:

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If Tucker isn't on the Opening Day roster then it really is time to trade him. He needs regular reps in the bigs or to be flipped for ML talent.

He's useless smashing AAA pitching.

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I 100% don't expect him to be on the opening day roster.

heavens11 said:

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oldschool87 said:

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heavens11 said:

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I love Marwin as a defender, so versatile. I don't like watching him as a hitter (while I know he's capable), because he takes so much time b/w pitches, steps out all the time, and routinely chases breaking pitches in the dirt.

He's an enigma to me, regarding whether I would want him to stay or let him go.

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Ummmmmm the Enigma won you a World Series. And played every position last year but pitcher and catcher...

Marwin is a wheel Dog!!!! He gets you to the post season! Maybe he doesn't play an inning in the post season, but he is invaluable for the other 162 games. Sign him now!!!!

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My post was from October glad to see you working your way through the thread.

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Well you know how TexAgs is... if I don't read every post you could get shot here.... I am on a plane with AA's super fast wifi... LOL. I could be posting from the 90's as far as I can tell...

Nothing intentional.

If marwin has been a free agent after 2017 he would have gotten a huge contract.

Jake would have too.

I can not understand why Kemp isn't playing the infield. He played 2nd and 3rd at Vandy

ChAg1799 said:

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I can not understand why Kemp isn't playing the infield. He played 2nd and 3rd at Vandy

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We have 3 superstars at 2nd, short and third. In the past Marwin was all of their backups. He gets more looks in the outfield.

Marwin's spot. I know we traded for a new utility, but when Altuve was out, I thought it was dumb to have Pina move over from 1st, when he never played 2nd before. I am not suggesting he take any of the starters spots...

ChAg1799 said:

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I can not understand why Kemp isn't playing the infield. He played 2nd and 3rd at Vandy

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Never understood why Preston Tucker isn't getting a look at first base

Seriously though, never made sense to me

Cole had his arb hearing today. Decision expected later in the week

ChAg1799 said:

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Marwin's spot. I know we traded for a new utility, but when Altuve was out, I thought it was dumb to have Pina move over from 1st, when he never played 2nd before. I am not suggesting he take any of the starters spots...

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And Kemp can play the outfield, too. Not WELL yet, but he can play it. The versatility to play 5-6 positions is valuable, especially in the specialized pitching era.

I still am not 100 percent sure I get the Aledmys Diaz add, but whatever. If he hits like he did in 16, sure, but his other years suggest something else.

Basketball and Chain said:

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Cole had his arb hearing today. Decision expected later in the week

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As quoted by Teddy KGB... "pay the man his money..."

Quote:

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@jonheyman Despite rumored offers/wishes of teams, word is Bryce Harper is not signing or even considering short-term deals.

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If he's still waiting for his magic Boras 10 year $400 million deal to come in, I'm starting to wonder if he's going to be unsigned going into the regular season.

I mean, hell, good for him I guess. His life. It bothers me, but I think it will be funny when the only team to offer something like that is the Marlins.

Deluxe said:

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Quote:

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@jonheyman Despite rumored offers/wishes of teams, word is Bryce Harper is not signing or even considering short-term deals.

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If he's still waiting for his magic Boras 10 year $400 million deal to come in

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If he is taking that hard of a stand then I could very easily see him going unsigned going into the season.

And Boras will bltch and cry about collusion when in reality it's his right to ask for what he wants and it's team's right not to give it to him.

Deluxe said:

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Quote:

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@jonheyman Despite rumored offers/wishes of teams, word is Bryce Harper is not signing or even considering short-term deals.

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If he's still waiting for his magic Boras 10 year $400 million deal to come in, I'm starting to wonder if he's going to be unsigned going into the regular season.

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What if he did what Clemens did at the end of his career and just played the 2nd half of the season? Demand a team pays you 25-30 million for 75 games.

Interesting idea. Wouldn't rule it out at this point.

Quote:

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What if he did what Clemens did at the end of his career and just played the 2nd half of the season? Demand a team pays you 25-30 million for 75 games.

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I don't think he'd do that. If it's the length and security he wants and not just a big pay day it seems to me taking a short term deal would be a better option.

So if he won't do that why do this?

Plus they will try and use the leverage of need for the 2nd half of 2019 into getting a long term deal they want.