I thought that was interesting because it was recorded so long ago.

If that was now it's be easy to pin Machado and Bregman as villians and maybe even Harper as a hero.

I also thought it was cool to hear them bltch about restrictions MLB has on them.

Again just a really good listen and thought they were both great. I'll certainly be listening in the future. #3-2bangers

Anything to see here or no? It's at least interesting he is hanging out with the owner.

I'm going with no. Where would Marwin fit in on this team? DH & back up everywhere?

18.25 M

Realmuto or bust?

bearkatag15 said:

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Realmuto or bust?

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I know catcher is a need, but I just feel like I'd rather shore up DH and the rotation more than anything.

I'm going with bust. I think the major adds to the roster will be on the pitching side.

Farmer1906 said:

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I'm going with bust. I think the major adds to the roster will be on the pitching side.

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Honestly, at this point I'm not really expecting major adds to any part of the roster. I think Luhnow is a little over-confident and is going to roll with this pitching staff, maybe a bullpen addition.

I don't want to overpay and good on him for having discipline on his valuations, but really doubting we make a significant SP addition right now because of the market.

Farmer1906 said:

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astros4545 said:

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How much does he have to pay back?

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Probably nothing, at least not yet.

03_Aggie said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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How much does he have to pay back?

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Probably nothing, at least not yet.

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Looks like $4.66MM

Quote:

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Entering the draft doesn't necessarily mean that Murray will forgo his commitment to the Athletics, but Slusser and Schulman report that one source indicated to them that Murray is indeed leaning toward selecting football as his profession rather than baseball. Should Murray go that route rather than pursuing his career as an outfielder in the Athletics organization, the A's would get his $4.66MM signing bonus back, but they wouldn't receive a compensatory selection in the 2019 draft. That reality, as noted by Baseball America's Teddy Cahill at the time (Twitter link), made the selection of Murray one of the riskier draft picks in recent memory.

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Farmer1906 said:

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I'm going with bust. I think the major adds to the roster will be on the pitching side.

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I think you are right that the adds will be to pitcher. But I don't' know if any will be truly "major" - unless it's a starter.

Pretty sure the Astros think they have the west in the bag. I suspect any major additions will happen at the trade deadline before the playoffs start.

I don't know that it's overconfident as opposed to correctly confident. I have joked around about rolling out of bed and winning the division, but the truth is we are the prohibitive favorites.

Obviously he thinks Tucker is a winning lottery ticket so it's smart to let that play out. Let's see how ready James & Whitley are, see if Framber and White were flashes in the pan or the real deal, see if someone can step up at catcher.

Some of the things will work out and some won't and there will be plenty of players available before the trade deadline at a cheaper price and we can address actual areas of need rather than speculative areas that might not even be weaknesses by the time things play out.

If we think we have enough ammo to get to the playoffs regardless.

Harry Dunne said:

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Some of the things will work out and some won't and there will be plenty of players available before the trade deadline at a cheaper price

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I'm not sure if this stands true.

Not only are there fewer teams looking to buy, but most of the buyer's leverage is gone. Sellers know what you need and know that you need it for a playoff run. I think the time to make a deal would be now.

Seems like every trade deadline that passes we are always saying 'Oh well I think we're waiting for the offseason when the price comes down'.

With that said I think JL is going to stand pat and honestly that makes a bit nervous as far as the rotation is concerned.

W said:

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the A's buyer's remorse is growing by the day

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The move didn't make sense at the time and now it's backfiring. I didn't think he was a first round talent to begin with and add in the fact he's shown in the past he values football more than baseball, it was a dumb pick for that high in the draft. I for one have no sympathy for them.

Why not go after Marwin for DH? its apparent he is not getting the offer he wants or else he would have signed already.

This would give us a great clubhouse guy with a decent bat that can spot fill in the field when needed.

It doesn't look like we have many other options right now at DH other then White, Reed, Diaz, etc. I'd trust Marwin way above any other current option.

getting drafted in the NFL makes more sense for Kyler if he's a surefire first round pick. I think if you're a mid first round pick you're looking at a signing bonus of $8,000,000 and total contract of $14,000,000 or so.

Compare that with a 4.66 million dollar signing bonus and bumming around rookie ball and high A for a few years, and the NFL is no question.

Farmer1906 said:

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We should be nervous about the rotation. We have two high ended aces but after that it's scarce. I think Colin can be a fine back end type and the bullpen can afford to lose him. Maybe 1 of the young guys works out. I'd like to add something here. I think it's important we do if we want to win another WS. We're not playing to win the west. We're playing to win it all.

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agreed, that's why I think they add a starter and maybe a reliever; then make a trade/acquisition as the playoffs get closer and the picture opens up about who we will face. But were also playing the long game, and not trying wreck the financial model of the franchise chasing guys like Harper.

E said:

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Why not go after Marwin for DH?

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Because a DH that hits .245 with 16 HRs and 68 RBIs isn't worth what he would demand.

Tyler White can put up those numbers and he's way cheaper.

If Tucker can produce I'd look for Brantley get DH ABs or maybe even some reps at 1B and Yuli DH.

Ag_07 said:

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E said:

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Why not go after Marwin for DH?

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Because a DH that hits .245 with 16 HRs and 68 RBIs isn't worth what he would demand.

Tyler White can put up those numbers and he's way cheaper.

If Tucker can produce I'd look for Brantley get DH ABs or maybe even some reps at 1B and Yuli DH.

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Yes, I think we might need to realize that 2017 Marwin was an aberration. I can handle Marwin numbers for a utility everywhere player, but for DH I'd like to get a fat slow guy who hits a lot of dingers.

Farmer1906 said:

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We should be nervous about the rotation. We have two high ended aces but after that it's scarce. I think Colin can be a fine back end type and the bullpen can afford to lose him. Maybe 1 of the young guys works out. I'd like to add something here. I think it's important we do if we want to win another WS. We're not playing to win the west. We're playing to win it all.

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I think our bullpen is much better than last year entering the season

If Devo can get back to his normal self, we should be elite

I do agree we need someone to step up in the third spot if the rotation to win WS, but then again, Boston didn't have a third starter either, Eovaldi was a playoff sensation

Evening Time Joke Man said:

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Ag_07 said:

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E said:

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Why not go after Marwin for DH?

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Because a DH that hits .245 with 16 HRs and 68 RBIs isn't worth what he would demand.

Tyler White can put up those numbers and he's way cheaper.

If Tucker can produce I'd look for Brantley get DH ABs or maybe even some reps at 1B and Yuli DH.

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Yes, I think we might need to realize that 2017 Marwin was an aberration. I can handle Marwin numbers for a utility everywhere player, but for DH I'd like to get a fat slow guy who hits a lot of dingers.

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Moustakas

https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-inbox-will-kyle-tucker-play-in-19/c-302548704

Tucker expected to waste more time in the minors with guys like Jake on the big league roster.

astros4545 said:

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Evening Time Joke Man said:

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Ag_07 said:

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E said:

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Why not go after Marwin for DH?

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Because a DH that hits .245 with 16 HRs and 68 RBIs isn't worth what he would demand.

Tyler White can put up those numbers and he's way cheaper.

If Tucker can produce I'd look for Brantley get DH ABs or maybe even some reps at 1B and Yuli DH.

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Yes, I think we might need to realize that 2017 Marwin was an aberration. I can handle Marwin numbers for a utility everywhere player, but for DH I'd like to get a fat slow guy who hits a lot of dingers.

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Moustakas

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that's the value candidate right there for sure.

astros4545 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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We should be nervous about the rotation. We have two high ended aces but after that it's scarce. I think Colin can be a fine back end type and the bullpen can afford to lose him. Maybe 1 of the young guys works out. I'd like to add something here. I think it's important we do if we want to win another WS. We're not playing to win the west. We're playing to win it all.

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I think our bullpen is much better than last year entering the season

If Devo can get back to his normal self, we should be elite

I do agree we need someone to step up in the third spot if the rotation to win WS, but then again, Boston didn't have a third starter either, Eovaldi was a playoff sensation

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They went and traded for him from TB.

Evening Time Joke Man said:

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Ag_07 said:

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E said:

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Why not go after Marwin for DH?

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Because a DH that hits .245 with 16 HRs and 68 RBIs isn't worth what he would demand.

Tyler White can put up those numbers and he's way cheaper.

If Tucker can produce I'd look for Brantley get DH ABs or maybe even some reps at 1B and Yuli DH.

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Yes, I think we might need to realize that 2017 Marwin was an aberration. I can handle Marwin numbers for a utility everywhere player, but for DH I'd like to get a fat slow guy who hits a lot of dingers.

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The backend of our bullpen will be the best it's been since Lidge-Dotel-Wagner. And we have enough quality arms in the system to fill the holes left be McHugh, Sipp, etc.

We are starting this season with a better rotation than what we started 2017 with. Yes, the addition of JV helped us win the WS, but he wasn't a huge part of winning 100 games. We will be fine if we don't make another move.

I wouldn't be surprised if we wait until the break to add another starter, if needed. There might even be guys available then that aren't available now, especially some half season rentals that fit the longer term plans better.

Ag_07 said:

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Harry Dunne said:

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Some of the things will work out and some won't and there will be plenty of players available before the trade deadline at a cheaper price

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I'm not sure if this stands true.

Not only are there fewer teams looking to buy, but most of the buyer's leverage is gone. Sellers know what you need and know that you need it for a playoff run. I think the time to make a deal would be now.

Seems like every trade deadline that passes we are always saying 'Oh well I think we're waiting for the offseason when the price comes down'.

With that said I think JL is going to stand pat and honestly that makes a bit nervous as far as the rotation is concerned.

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I think for some positions like SP you're right, because everyone needs more starting pitching at the deadline.

On the other hand, if the Marlins hold on to Realmuto and his level remains similar, he will be worth less at the trade deadline than he is now. Less team control remaining, fewer teams still in the playoff hunt with a specific need at catcher. I think the same is true for solid but non all-star DH/1b /corner OF types, although it seemed like we could have really used one last season at that time and couldn't pull a trade off, so maybe I'm wrong.

I think the main problem is that we aren't likely to get a huge return without giving up Tucker or Whitley and it's going to take at least until then to figure out what they are really worth. It's hard to know exactly what we are "paying" if we give them up.

I'm for trading Tucker for Realmuto because I think over the next 2 years Realmuto and Reddick/Kemp/Jake are going to provide better value than Stassi/Chirinos and Tucker. Based on how our pitchers have done out of the farm system, I'm pretty confident about Whitley. I'm a little more nervous that Tucker's value may never be higher than it is now. I'm not saying he will be a bust, but I have a feeling the results might not live up to the hype, where with Realmuto you have a much better idea of what you are getting.

Speaking of JT...

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Now that Yasmani Grandal has agreed to terms with the Brewers, the Marlins are ramping up trade talks surrounding J.T. Realmuto and are in "substantive discussions" with six teams, reports Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Frisaro pegs the Dodgers, Braves, Astros, Rays, Padres and Reds as the six teams still in the mix for Realmuto.

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Well I really hope Luhnow pulls it off. One thing that we have not really discussed and that I haven't seen anywhere is if Realmuto keeps being what he is for 2 years, how good would Tucker have to be for it to be considered a "bad" trade for us long-term?

I mean if you knew Tucker was going to have a Hunter Pence-like career (A few ASG, a few MVP votes...Hall of Very Good), wouldn't you pull the trigger immediately? And if he does end up having a Penceish career, wouldn't that still be the "over" on the O/U of what could happen with him?

Pence has a career WAR of 30, and Realmuto's WAR last season, which was his best of his career, was 4.8 (and Pence has had 3 seasons of 4+ WAR). Thus, in a vacuum, trading a Pence like player who is at beginning of career for two years of Realmuto is not a good value. Now, there are certainly other factors that come into play and may lead you to make a trade (ie, thinking this is the window to really win), but over the long run, you will be worse off by making these type of trades.

Harry Dunne said:

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Well I really hope Luhnow pulls it off. One thing that we have not really discussed and that I haven't seen anywhere is if Realmuto keeps being what he is for 2 years, how good would Tucker have to be for it to be considered a "bad" trade for us long-term?

I mean if you knew Tucker was going to have a Hunter Pence-like career (A few ASG, a few MVP votes...Hall of Very Good), wouldn't you pull the trigger immediately? And if he does end up having a Penceish career, wouldn't that still be the "over" on the O/U of what could happen with him?

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I would say I'd hold on to Tucker -- if I knew he would have a career like Pence. The Astros OF is going to change in the next few years, and it would be great to have that cornerstone to continue the winning.

Reddick will be gone soon. Springer's future will be up in the air. The Astros may really need Tucker in the next few years, and if he performed at Pence's level, I'd be really good with that.

I understand the delta between Realmuto and JAG at catcher is fairly big, but the Astros would only have JT for two more years of team control. I'm not sure two years would be worth sacrificing a career player who is Hall of Very Good. Again, all this hinges on knowing Tucker would have a career like Pence.

For the record, I was pissed when the Astros got rid of Pence, but it was clear the Astros weren't going anywhere, so I understood and accepted it.

Keep in mind this is all based on the far-fetched premise that Tucker is the next Hunter Pence, but...

If we had traded Pence (at age 22, same as Tucker is now) for a rental that helped us win the 2005 WS, would that have been worth it? Absolutely! There is no guarantee that the team will still be competing for titles by the time he is ready to help.

Also quoting Pence's career WAR isn't a really fair comparison. You're really trading 2 years of Realmuto for the time that Tucker is under team control, so what is that, 5 more years? Once he signs that first big contract he's getting paid for services already provided and is no longer a great deal. There's nothing stopping us from paying Realmuto in 2 years either. What we are talking about is team control. And even in those last couple of years of team control, the arbitration salaries are pretty big if they have played well.

So you're really trading 2 years of Realmuto for 5 years of Tucker. It doesn't seem as one-sided that way.