Good stuff, thanks guys

Seems like a trade move

bearkatag15 said:

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Seems like a trade move

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I'd prefer not to. He's future cheap 1B from 2020 to 2025.

Alvarez is an intriguing prospect, seems unlike the Astros to make a move the week before the season. I keep thinking they will go into the summer looking at who becomes available. Really wish they would have given Homer Bailey a minor league deal and see what he had left.

TREX01 said:

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Alvarez is an intriguing prospect, seems unlike the Astros to make a move the week before the season. I keep thinking they will go into the summer looking at who becomes available. Really wish they would have given Homer Bailey a minor league deal and see what he had left.

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The Royals just announced that Bailey will start the season in their rotation, so we will see if he's got anything left, but he's been awful for about 5 years and I'm shocked he even earned a roster spot.

Whitley pitching in MMP Monday

He's battled injuries for sure but he's a mid 90's fastball guy if healthy and our track record with those guys is good. Charlie Morton coming to Houston wasn't much to write home about either

Hunter Pence made the Rangers roster. Looks like he will make some return visits to MMP.

I don't think we'd trade Alvarez unless we're getting someone pretty legit in return. Wonder who's on the market that we don't know about.

Deluxe said:

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I don't think we'd trade Alvarez unless we're getting someone pretty legit in return. Wonder who's on the market that we don't know about.

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Doesn't seem like a trade to me necessarily. There are other possibilities. Could also be family issues.

Fairly certain we traded him for Scherzer. How's that?

TREX01 said:

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Fairly certain we traded him for Scherzer. How's that?

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List of starting pitchers this trade could be for:

Tyler Bauer
Marcus Stroman
Corey Kluber

Feel free to add to this list

I figured it out.

Our first priority was to sign Cole to a long term deal this offseason, but that seems unlikely at this point and we don't feel good about our chances of retaining him after this year. So our next move is to hit the market and bring in a front line starter under team control through 2021. Corey Kluber fits that bill perfect.

Seems all but certain that JBB, Alvarez and a couple other prospects for Kluber will be officially announced shortly.

I'd be OK with Stroman or Kluber. Tyler...well, I don't know.

I do like that we bought a 3 year window with Bregman before we pay him big his final two years. Could we extend Verlander for 3 years? Cole? It's plausible.

Ag_07 said:

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Snell extended for 5/50

That seems like a steal for Tampa

Oh yeah...Keuchel still wants $100M contract

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Is DK's 100M over 2 or three.... damned delusional baseball player there.

Ag_07 said:

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Snell extended for 5/50

That seems like a steal for Tampa

Oh yeah...Keuchel still wants $100M contract

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Snell was on the same contract situation as Bregman

He was gonna be a free agent in 2023

How did he get $50M less than Bregman? Or is it that they just bought one free agency year with this deal

Think the Astros would be interested in him?

Hmmm...if I remember correctly, you also had Harper in the fold, too. But, that's okay. I like your thought process.

Ag_07 said:

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Snell extended for 5/50

That seems like a steal for Tampa

Oh yeah...Keuchel still wants $100M contract

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There's gotta be some huge escalators there, or else it starts with this year and only buys one free agency year. Snell seems to be selling himself short here.

Buck Compton said:

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Ag_07 said:

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Snell extended for 5/50

That seems like a steal for Tampa

Oh yeah...Keuchel still wants $100M contract

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There's gotta be some huge escalators there, or else it starts with this year and only buys one free agency year. Snell seems to be selling himself short here.

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he locked in $50mil for himself. Yes he might have made more if he waited it out, but you have to factor in the risk of injury or maybe last year was his peak.

dmtoney said:

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Think the Astros would be interested in him?

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Just saw his offensive stats. I hope not.

Finished up the spring training tour this afternoon watching the Astros and Tigers. This just in- Cabrera can still hit. Martin was not sharp but it was fun watching him in an Astros uniform. Kemp stopped on successive days to say hello to my wife. Good kid. Altuve stopped every single time I saw him and signed stuff. Very engaging. Can't say the same thing for Bregman or Springer.

If you make the trip next year, be sure to work in a day at Tigertown in Lakeland. Marchant Stadium is easily the best I've seen. I would warn against the ESPN complex, but the Braves are moving so no worry.

The early batting practice tickets ($5) are the best deal here. Also, unless the Yankees are in town, wait until an hour before first pitch to buy game tickets. Prices drop considerably- and don't skip on lawn seating. Great views in the little stadiums.

Fun week. Can't wait to come back next year!

Ok. I know nothing about the guy.

Hypothetical question for you guys.

What would it take for Verlander to go into the HOF with an Astros cap?

Five more years, a Cy Young award and another WS trophy... would that be enough?

I know I'm late to the party, but I LOOOOVE the Bregman deal! It had to be done - the dude is a player

Marvin said:

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Hypothetical question for you guys.

What would it take for Verlander to go into the HOF with an Astros cap?

Five more years, a Cy Young award and another WS trophy... would that be enough?

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That's about what I was thinking. It'd make it close at worst.

Marvin said:

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Hypothetical question for you guys.

What would it take for Verlander to go into the HOF with an Astros cap?

Five more years, a Cy Young award and another WS trophy... would that be enough?

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6.5 years total, 2 WS rings and a CY? That would be a no brainer, except I don't think MLB lets it be anything other than a Detroit cap.

mathguy86 said:

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Marvin said:

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Hypothetical question for you guys.

What would it take for Verlander to go into the HOF with an Astros cap?

Five more years, a Cy Young award and another WS trophy... would that be enough?

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6.5 years total, 2 WS rings and a CY? That would be a no brainer, except I don't think MLB lets it be anything other than a Detroit cap.

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Yep. The only way around it is for him to pitch effectively into his mid-40s as an Astro. Call it a Cy Young, another WS, and 7-8 more years.

Farmer1906 said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I think it's imperative to lock up Cole simply from a standpoint of bodies. After this season our 1-4 starters will be FAs.

That's scary

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We could build a nice rotation McCullers, Whitley, Peacock, James, & JB/Martin.

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Wanted to come back to this. Watching JBB this week- man, he is high effort in his pitching. I'm no expert, but how in the world would he be able to pitch 200 innings in a season? I see him as a stud closer in the future, sort of like Billy Wagner. Actually, in terms of watching them warm up in the bullpens this past week, his expended effort in delivery reminds me most of Will Harris. Just not much free-and-easy with him from what I saw.

Young guys nowadays aren't looked to or expected to pitch 200 innings anymore.

Was a general statement based on an idiot's observation. Name an above average starter's pitch count. I don't think that is a strong suit of Bukauskus long term.

JB could be the next Morton. He wasn't a workhorse but came in damn handy in the playoffs.

In general I can't help but wonder if we aren't moving more towards 4-5 inning starters. We have so many arms and both injury concerns as well as data on the 3rd time through the order leads you to believe it's a possible outcome. At the very least, it's a way of easing a guy into a starters role rather than having them throw 200 innings as a rook.