Ag_07 said:

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WTF does Luhnow have working?

With the holes we have and players that are out there both FAs and trades I find it hard to believe that he doesn't have something cooking.

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He's got rice cooking in the microwave

And a 3 day beard he don't plan to shave.

None of our moves so far prove that we're signing Harper, but I think the moves we've made (and not made) so far are consistent with a team that has Harper in the bag.

-Fill catcher hole with vet on cheap one year deal
-Replace Marwin with cheaper infield utility player
-"Miss" on Goldschmidt
-Fill at least one rotation vacancy from within (McHugh)

Plus Crane announcing he'll increase the payroll for the right guy. Plus we had a large all star contingent in DC last season. Plus we almost had him at the deadline.

It kinda reminds me of KD to the Warriors. After he signed, everything added up in hindsight. It makes too much sense for him to want to play in Houston if we come up with the money (net state taxes). He'd get to hit between JOSE ALTUVE and ALEX BREGMAN.

I think the longer Harper goes unsigned the better our chances become.

Deluxe said:

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None of our moves so far prove that we're signing Harper, but I think the moves we've made (and not made) so far are consistent with a team that has Harper in the bag.

-Fill catcher hole with vet on cheap one year deal
-Replace Marwin with cheaper infield utility player
-"Miss" on Goldschmidt
-Fill at least one rotation vacancy from within (McHugh)

Plus Crane announcing he'll increase the payroll for the right guy. Plus we had a large all star contingent in DC last season. Plus we almost had him at the deadline.

It kinda reminds me of KD to the Warriors. After he signed, everything added up in hindsight. It makes too much sense for him to want to play in Houston if we come up with the money (net state taxes). He'd get to hit between JOSE ALTUVE and ALEX BREGMAN.

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I'm starting to feel this way as well

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I like fans who shine sunlight on my parade!

I was in this boat even last week but with no clear cut favorite and the the moves so far and it's starting to make me wonder.

Not saying it is happening but I'm now kinda sitting here thinking...Hmmm.

That's kinda how I feel. Still wouldn't bet on it, but if somehow it does, it wouldn't be crazy out of the blue. We'd look back and say "that kinda makes sense".

Would give him a chance to opt out after the new CBA too...

Farmer1906 said:

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Hate to rain on everyone's parade but Harper isn't happening. Don't get your hopes up.

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You're doing the Tyler White thing, right? Right?

If by the Tyler White thing you mean bring everyone back down to earth after outrageous expectations then yes. Harper wants 12 years of 30 M. He's probably going to get it. It won't be from us.

I don't want Harper getting in the way of the future Goat TED.

Deal Reddick to shed $12 million after signing Harper... then you got GOAT Ted in LF, Springer in CF and Harper in RF.

There is no way a team would pay 30 mil/12 years. He would be 38 at the end of that and no where near worth that money. I think he is going to go with a higher shorter contract and try to jump on a team that he could win a couple with and then get another deal afterwards. Go 36/4 or something. He would still get paid after that and maybe have a couple of championships to go with it.

n_touch said:

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There is no way a team would pay 30 mil/12 years. He would be 38 at the end of that and no where near worth that money. I think he is going to go with a higher shorter contract and try to jump on a team that he could win a couple with and then get another deal afterwards. Go 36/4 or something. He would still get paid after that and maybe have a couple of championships to go with it.

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See Puljos, Cano, Stanton, Arod, Miggy, Jacoby, and I could probably keep going.

All got significant deals into the mid to late 30s, some to 40s.

He already turned down 300 over 10. He didn't do that because he's going to sign for less.

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See Puljos, Cano, Stanton, Arod, Miggy, Jacoby, and I could probably keep going.

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This is why I think teams may not do it again. Look at the Angels right now. I know it probably won't happen, just a pipe dream.

n_touch said:

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Quote:

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See Puljos, Cano, Stanton, Arod, Miggy, Jacoby, and I could probably keep going.

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This is why I think teams may not do it again. Look at the Angels right now. I know it probably won't happen, just a pipe dream.

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I'll believe it when I see it. As of now history shows these bad deals keep happening.

I don't think Harper had any intention of returning to Washington, so I wouldn't gauge anything off him turning down that deal. He's still going to sign a very big contract somewhere.

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The Chicago #WhiteSox have meetings with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado but don't view themselves as the favorites

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Let's see... He can go to a team in the middle of a rebuild and pay 10% state tax, or he can come to Houston and hit between Altuve and Bregman.

Don't be state tax guy.

Frok said:

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I'm in on Harper. I'll take the last 5 years of him being old and useless if it gets us another title in the next couple years.

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I agree. Plus he's so young that he is further away from that old and useless stage than the typical Pujols type.

Also, just to be real it's not likely the Astros are competitive for the length of the entire contract. JV will retire in a few years and we won't have enough money to keep everyone. I'd say the odds of us trading him for prospects while he is still in his prime is greater than the odds of him playing out the entire contract in Houston, theoretically.

But like you said, if it gets us a title it's all worth it.

We're officially on Uncle Charlie watch

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Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton could decide on his new team as early as today, according to Fancred Sports' Jon Heyman (Twitter link). Morton has received several two-year offers that could be worth as much as $30MM.

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I think this is huge. With Charlie on board we can fill that last 2 spots with McHugh and a young arm but with him out of the picture I think we're in a tough spot to make a move for a pitcher.

two year contract for charlie scares me.

If the Astros somehow landed Harper (which needless to say is incredibly unlikely), you can kiss a Springer deal goodbye, and quite possibly the same for Correa.

Doesn't rule out signing one of the two. Keep in mind, there's a chance either JV's or Cole's contract is off the books after next season.