SlimAG2 said:

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I think they extend Cole and JV

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I would be nervous extending JV. The late 30s have not been kind to most power pitchers not using PEDs.

I know JV is a different breed and I wouldn't be shocked to see him continue to be effective until he's 40 but it would be much more surprising to see him do better over the next 5 years than Cole, and I doubt we can keep both.

If I'm putting bets down on who I want for the next 3-5 years, I'll go with Cole. He's younger and going to cost more, but I trust his age range so much more than JV. I doubt we can keep both. Especially with how strong our pitching prospects are. We have 1-2 prospects work out, extend Cole, Lance comes back, and then find more Charlie/Miley type.

The Astros should extend Cole and Springer. JV may want to play the FA game. Correa may be gone in two years... but the team can slide Bregman over.

We need a 1st baseman....

I used to be part of the let Springer walk group, but now I think he's a guy you lock up long term if he's willing. I just love what he adds to the team outside of his production.

Correa is the guy you probably let walk. With comments he's made in the past, he seems like a guy focused on the money. Is that what he's playing for? Are you going to get the same drive from him after he signs his big deal? Can he live up to the hype?

Obviously, my opinion can change over the next two years, but that's how I see it now.

iBrad said:

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I used to be part of the let Springer walk group, but now I think he's a guy you lock up long term if he's willing. I just love what he adds to the team outside of his production.

Correa is the guy you probably let walk. With comments he's made in the past, he seems like a guy focused on the money. Is that what he's playing for? Are you going to get the same drive from him after he signs his big deal? Can he live up to the hype?

Obviously, my opinion can change over the next two years, but that's how I see it now.

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I'm leaning towards Bregman & Springer also.

We seem to overlook Springer with Altuve, Bregman, & Correa greatness.

Over the last 5 years his wRC+ of 129 is ahead of Correa, Lindor, Arenado, Cano, Cespedes, Machado, Beltre, and a who's who of great players.

Farmer1906 said:

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We seem to overlook Springer with Altuve, Bregman, & Correa greatness.

Over the last 5 years his wRC+ of 129 is ahead of Correa, Lindor, Arenado, Cano, Cespedes, Machado, Beltre, and a who's who of great players.

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Cause arenado sucks

I don't think drive and work ethic is the issue with Correa.

I think it's gonna be a question of is he good enough to pay as much as he'll command.

He's got to put up numbers worthy of his expectations. That's yet to be seen but it needs to happen before I say don't let Correa play anywhere but Houston.

He 100% lived up to crazy high expectations in 2017. However, he got hurt again.

If he sniffs what he did that year and gets to ~550 AB then he'll be in the MVP race.

W said:

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goal #1 for Correa in 2019 is to play 150 games

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This is why I personally believe he should switch with bregman to 3rd base.

Farmer1906 said:

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We seem to overlook Springer with Altuve, Bregman, & Correa greatness.

Over the last 5 years his wRC+ of 129 is ahead of Correa, Lindor, Arenado, Cano, Cespedes, Machado, Beltre, and a who's who of great players.

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He's been great, for sure, but I don't totally agree with the overlook part. I know that I tend to focus too much on his wild swings of hot and cold. He can get on fire for a while, and then slump for an extended time. HIs "standard deviation" is higher in my opinion (without any stats to back that up, but I bet there is one that you can reference, haha!!) and that might negatively reflect in discussion board conversations.

More to the point, I think we probably frame talk of Springer in terms of the future with respect to resigning this core group. Springer is the oldest and most likely the quickest to decline from his peak- with Correa's back as a potential caveat. That shouldn't detract from how good he's been. He and Keuchel were the foundation for the 17 title in many respects.

I agree. Performance wise and ceiling wise, Springer is probably the lowest of the stars, but he brings so much to the heart of the team that I think it's important to keep him around.

order of priority Lock down list for the future....

1a. Cole
1b. Bregman
2. Correa (IF he can stay healthy, if he's out again for an extended time I let him walk when that time comes)
3. Springer
4. JV

edit: you pay Altuve. He should be considered a lifer

I'd say the following:

1. Bregman
2a. Cole
2b Springer
3. Verlander
4 Correa

(Based on age, injury-proneness)

How much is Bregman going to want vs the Machado like deal that Correa is going to ask for?

I could be wrong, but Bregman seems like the guy who would take a little less money because he just wants to win.

BCSGrubber said:

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How much is Bregman going to want vs the Machado like deal that Correa is going to ask for?

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Are there any guys like this? Pretty everyone is going where the money is. Sometimes the money happens to come from winners.

We're going to have to grow the payroll and we're going to have to let some guys walk. Just be prepared. Marwin & Dallas is just the tip of the iceberg.

I thought Altuve's contract was reasonable.

Farmer1906 said:

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BCSGrubber said:

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How much is Bregman going to want vs the Machado like deal that Correa is going to ask for?

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Are there any guys like this? Pretty everyone is going where the money is. Sometimes the money happens to come from winners.

We're going to have to grow the payroll and we're going to have to let some guys walk. Just be prepared. Marwin & Dallas is just the tip of the iceberg.

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Especially since most of them now have a WS ring.

If they hadn't won it, then I could see some willing to stick together to conitnue to chase one.

WES2006AG said:

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WelchAg said:

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I could be wrong, but Bregman seems like the guy who would take a little less money because he just wants to win.

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I highly doubt it. MLB salaries are a measuring stick for these guys. Bregs is going to want his money.

If it comes down to Correa or Bregman, I would have pick the SEC guy....

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Ag_07 said:

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Reading through this MLBTR bit on the projected payroll and I saw this

Quote:

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Yuli Gurriel has underwhelmed somewhat since arriving from Cuba, and at 34, there's not much reason to think he'll improve dramatically going forward. He's solid as a regular, though Tyler White's offensive prowess could render Gurriel susceptible to losing some playing time.

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What gives?

His first full season in 2017 he hit .299 with 18 HRs and 75 RBIs and got a smattering of ROY votes. Yeah last year his power was down but that was after his hammate surgery so it was expected. Still he hit .291 with 13 HRs and 85 RBIs and made a strong push to be an AS.

I think he's been about as expected or maybe even a bit more. I certainly wouldn't say he's underwhelmed.

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Writer doesn't know what he's talking about and just looked at some stats.

bearkatag15 said:

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Ag_07 said:

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Reading through this MLBTR bit on the projected payroll and I saw this

Quote:

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Yuli Gurriel has underwhelmed somewhat since arriving from Cuba, and at 34, there's not much reason to think he'll improve dramatically going forward. He's solid as a regular, though Tyler White's offensive prowess could render Gurriel susceptible to losing some playing time.

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What gives?

His first full season in 2017 he hit .299 with 18 HRs and 75 RBIs and got a smattering of ROY votes. Yeah last year his power was down but that was after his hammate surgery so it was expected. Still he hit .291 with 13 HRs and 85 RBIs and made a strong push to be an AS.

I think he's been about as expected or maybe even a bit more. I certainly wouldn't say he's underwhelmed.

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Lord help this team if Tyler ****ing White supplants Yuli at 1B.

Quote:

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Tyler White's offensive prowess

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

(deeply inhales...)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

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Good. There were a few things that worked last year, and I don't see any reason to stop doing them.

and what's interesting...is that often the decisions are easy ones, because the player's performance on the field declines. The Keuchel and Marwin situations pretty much took care of themselves.

it would be great for the 'stros if JV, Cole, Correa, AB, and Springer were awesome on the field in 2019. But more than likely 1 or 2 will have a down year and make the front office's decisions easier

Nevermind. Read that all wrong

Bearkat is not gonna like this but the sabernerds are bullish on Tyler White.

Yuli's problem areas last year were:

22 GiDP's and just 23 walks in 573 plate appearances