What do we need? Is the window closed? If not, how much longer is it open. If it's closed, do we trade a piece or two, fallback for a year or two, then make another run?

Concerned about starting pitching. Cole is gone. Verlander and Greinke are going to hit a wall very soon and fall off a cliff production wise. The offense is good, but too streaky...need a few (gnats) guys like Brantley that hit for average.

Altuve is fine, Springer is great...Correa is injury prone and starting to regress.

SP- we need one or two more. As good as starting pitching was this season, we really only had 3, plus Greinke later. Miley has fallen apart and can't be counted on

Verlander
Greinke
McCullers
? Aaron Sanchez? don't think so
? Cy Sneed?

Batters:
1B: Yuli
2B: Altuve
SS: Correa?
3B: Bregman
OF: Springer
OF: Brantley
OF: Reddick?/Tucker
C: ??

Reddick has one more year on his contract, it would be good to trade him and move forward with Tucker, but he'll be hard to unload 13M on to any team. Still, he's going to surrender playing time to Tucker next year I think, as we groom him to be the long term outfielder. My guess would be by mid-May Tucker is the starter and Reddick is a bench guy, if he's still on the team

I don't think Correa is our long term SS. He has stated many times he won't sign any contract until he's a free agent, he probably has eyes for other teams. Honestly it would be good to deal him this offseason and bring in somebody else. This breaks up some good chemistry in the infield, but that can be remade.

We need catchers. Chirinos and Maldanado are both free agents. I don't know if they're the guys we want, probably Chirinos for Verlander, he improved a lot this season, and he and JV have a good connection. Maldanado is probably not the guy we want moving forward

Diaz? in arbitration the next two years, maybe he's our best bet at shortstop
Marisnick? That's a big spot to keep a bad hitter around for, no matter what his defense looks like

For RP, I can't even begin to think about it except to say we need to keep Osuna, Harris, Joe Smith, Josh James, and I still like Peacock as a long middle inning guy who can also start if needed

the window is open for 2-3 years.

No mention of Bregman or Alvarez. Yeesh.

Must be one of those postseason only fans who will forget about them after a few days until next postseason.

Bregman of course is a mainstay. Alvarez?. I'm very excited about his potential....but he's got to get a better handle of breaking pitches and the strike zone. He can't continue to be a .230 or .240 hitter even if he has great power.

Corea decesion doesn't at have to be made. But if he has another injury filled year I move him next off season or at the deadline if we are just missing on piece to get back to the WS.

-Verlander/Grienke/LMC 1-2-3 starters
-Urquidy has put himself in place to be the 4/5 guy.
-Whitley has got to figure it out and make a move to the bigs
-Straw and Tucker need to get regular time to get where they need to be for the MLB level. They can be huge in keeping our window open longer
-Alvarez needs to learn how to play 1st/LF better for NL games (Yuli was a defensive liability a few years ago and he has owned the 1st base position now)
-Cut Reddick and save the cash, hopefully for Tucker to take his spot
-Reliable bullpen guys (could be James if he gets some command)


I have no idea what the FA market looks like but I would imagine another SP and role players. Not sure on contract situations of Diaz, bullpen guys, Chirinos/Machete so you gotta fill the spots vacated with reliable veteran guys with pop and ability to pick up when the other guys falter or get hurt

Quote:

---

Starting pitchers
Gerrit Cole (29 years old, 7.4 WAR)
Stephen Strasburg (31, 5.7) -- can opt out of 4 years, $100 million remaining on contract
Hyun-Jin Ryu (33, 4.8)
Zack Wheeler (30, 4.7)
Jake Odorizzi (30, 4.3)
Jose Quintana (31, 3.3) -- $11.5 million club option for 2020 ($1 million buyout)
Madison Bumgarner (30, 3.2)
Homer Bailey (34, 2.9)
Michael Pineda (30, 2.7)
Yu Darvish (33, 2.6) -- can opt out of 4 years, $81 million remaining on contract
Kyle Gibson (32, 2.5)
Cole Hamels (36, 2.5)
Adam Wainwright (38, 2.2)
Tanner Roark (33, 2.0)
Wade Miley (33, 2.0)
Brett Anderson (32, 2.0)
Ivan Nova (33, 2.0)
Martin Perez (29, 1.9) -- $7.5 million club option for 2020 ($500,000 buyout)
Andrew Cashner (33, 1.8) -- $10 million club option for 2020
Jason Vargas (37, 1.8) -- $8 million club option for 2020 ($2 million buyout)
Rick Porcello (31, 1.8)
Julio Teheran (29, 1.6) -- $12 million club option for 2020 ($1 million buyout)
Gio Gonzalez (34, 1.4)
Jake Arrieta (34, 1.1) -- can opt out of 1 year, $20 million remaining on contract unless Phillies exercise 2-year, $40 million option
Rich Hill (40, 0.9)
Dallas Keuchel (32, 0.8)
Chris Archer (31, 0.7) -- $9 million club option for 2020 ($1.75 million buyout)
Corey Kluber (34, 0.6) -- $17.5 million club option for 2020 ($1 million buyout)
Matt Moore (31, 0.5)
Clay Buchholz (35, 0.1)
Tyson Ross (33, 0.0)
Felix Hernandez (34, -0.1)
Jhoulys Chacin (32, -0.1)
Jeremy Hellickson (33, -0.1)
Odrisamer Despaigne (33, -0.1)
Michael Wacha (28, -0.2)
Alex Wood (29, -0.2)
Edinson Volquez (36, -0.2)
Marco Estrada (36, -0.2)
Shelby Miller (29, -0.2)
Clayton Richard (36, -0.2)
Drew Smyly (29, -0.3)
Wade LeBlanc (35, -0.3) -- $5 million club option for 2020 ($450,000 buyout)
Matt Harvey (31, -0.3)
Hctor Noesi (33, -0.3)
Ervin Santana (37, -0.4)
Trevor Cahill (32, -0.8)
Derek Holland (33, -1.0)
Edwin Jackson (36, -1.1)
Relief pitchers
Aroldis Chapman (32 years old, 2.0 WAR) -- can opt out of 2 years, $30 million remaining on contract
Yusmeiro Petit (35, 1.4) -- $5.5 million club option for 2020 ($1 million buyout)
Will Smith (30, 1.2)
Kenley Jansen (32, 1.2) -- can opt out of 2 years, $38 million remaining on contract
Will Harris (35, 1.1)
Sergio Romo (37, 1.0)
Chris Martin (34, 1.0)
Jake Diekman (33, 1.0) -- $5.75 mutual option for 2020 ($500,000 buyout)
Brandon Kintzler (35, 0.9)
Drew Pomeranz (31, 0.7)
Sean Doolittle (33, 0.7) -- $6.5 million club option for 2020 ($500,000 buyout)
Brad Brach (34, 0.7)
Yoshihisa Hirano (36, 0.5)
Collin McHugh (33, 0.5)
Juan Nicasio (33, 0.5)
Craig Stammen (36, 0.4)
Fernando Rodney (43, 0.4)
Joe Smith (36, 0.4)
David Hernandez (35, 0.3)
Jeremy Jeffress (32, 0.3)
Tony Sipp (36, 0.3)
Cory Gearrin (34, 0.3)
Steve Cishek (34, 0.2)
Tommy Hunter (33, 0.2)
Josh Tomlin (35, 0.2)
Dellin Betances (32, 0.1)
Darren O'Day (37, 0.1)
David Phelps (33, 0.1) -- $5 million club option for 2020
Luke Gregerson (36, 0.1)
Aaron Loup (32, 0.1) $2 million club option for 2020
Chad Bettis (31, 0.1)
Matt Albers (37, 0.0)
Mike Dunn (35, 0.0)
Pedro Strop (35, 0.0)
JC Ramrez (31, 0.0)
Greg Holland (34, -0.1)
Hector Santiago (32, -0.1)
Nate Jones (34, -0.1) -- $5.15 million club option for 2020 ($1.25 million buyout)
Tony Barnette (36, -0.1) -- $3 million club option for 2020
Tyler Thornburg (31, -0.1)
Arodys Vizcaino (29, -0.1)
Dan Otero (35, -0.1) -- $1.5 million club option for 2020 ($100,000 buyout)
Shawn Kelley (36, -0.2) -- $2.5 million club option for 2020 ($250,000 buyout)
Hector Rondon (32, -0.2)
Pat Neshek (39, -0.3) -- $7 million club option for 2020 ($750,000 buyout)
Seunghwan Oh (37, -0.3)
Trevor Rosenthal (30, -0.3)
Tony Watson (35, -0.3) -- $2.5 million player option for 2020 ($500,000 buyout)
Miguel Del Pozo (27, -0.3)
Wily Peralta (31, -0.4)
Zach Duke (37, -0.4)
Jonny Venters (35, -0.4)
Nick Tropeano (29, -0.4)
Jared Hughes (34, -0.5) -- $3 million club option for 2020 ($250,000 buyout)
Luis Garca (33, -0.6)
Anthony Swarzak (34, -0.7)
Cody Allen (31, -0.7)
Adam Warren (32, -0.8) -- $2.5 million club option for 2020 ($500,000 buyout)
Brandon Morrow (35, N/A) -- $12 million club option for 2020 ($3 million buyout)
Josh Fields (34, N/A) -- didn't appear in MLB in 2019
Bud Norris (35, N/A) -- didn't appear in MLB in 2019
Addison Reed (31, N/A) -- didn't appear in MLB in 2019
Tony Cingrani (30, N/A) -- didn't appear in MLB in 2019
Brian Duensing (37, N/A) -- didn't appear in MLB in 2019

---

ATM9000 said:

---

For some reason... what gets lost in translation about Correa is that he is a ****ing great shortstop. Yeah he gets hurt a lot but he's outstanding at... really everything as a ball player.

The reason I say that is the Astros should still be really damn good in 2020 and 2021 and he's cheap as chips both of those seasons. I have no doubt they won't be able to afford him in 2022, but teams as good as the Astros don't come around everyday and you need to keep it as good as possible for as long as you can.

Trading Correa would be absolutely ridiculous with the current core they have.

---

I agree, but of course it depends on what we'd get in return for Correa

Maybe a team overpays to get him on the cheap next year. I think you have to be willing to entertain discussions, but yeah it would need to be a massive haul. And we'd be sacrificing SS for a lesser player...and we don't have any quality replacements at that position.

I'd only trade him for a Greinke caliber starter AND bullpen guy with club control for at least two years and a relatively cheap contract

I don't think you'd get that kind of haul, though.

So you gotta go with finding a diamond in the rough and trading other lesser players and prospects for him

AggiEE said:

---

ATM9000 said:

---

For some reason... what gets lost in translation about Correa is that he is a ****ing great shortstop. Yeah he gets hurt a lot but he's outstanding at... really everything as a ball player.

The reason I say that is the Astros should still be really damn good in 2020 and 2021 and he's cheap as chips both of those seasons. I have no doubt they won't be able to afford him in 2022, but teams as good as the Astros don't come around everyday and you need to keep it as good as possible for as long as you can.

Trading Correa would be absolutely ridiculous with the current core they have.

---

I agree, but of course it depends on what we'd get in return for Correa

Maybe a team overpays to get him on the cheap next year. I think you have to be willing to entertain discussions, but yeah it would need to be a massive haul. And we'd be sacrificing SS for a lesser player...and we don't have any quality replacements at that position.

I'd only trade him for a Greinke caliber starter AND bullpen guy with club control for at least two years and a relatively cheap contract

I don't think you'd get that kind of haul, though.

So you gotta go with finding a diamond in the rough and trading other lesser players and prospects for him

---

Possibly... but the odds of there being a market like that for Correa is slimmer than the Astros resigning Cole.

Correa could command Machado or better money when he's a UFA... so that means only a current contender would dare trade for him this offseason... and if they are a contender, they are going to only want to send you prospects and not Greinke level pitchers for cheap under club control for a couple of years.

End of the day is for the Astros situation, Correa is and will remain to be a hell of a deal for them even if he misses a lot of games. He's effectively untradeable this offseason and the only way that changes is if Verlander and Greinke show their ages in 2020 and the team ends up dropping off of a cliff. That's when you start entertaining shipping him for prospects.

Put it this way, if the Astros were so hesitant to ship Tucker at the trade deadline, that should be an indicator that they view Correa as untouchable. Tucker fits the mold of a player to trade to improve the team way more than Correa does.

bdgol07 said:

---

-Cut Reddick and save the cash, hopefully for Tucker to take his spot

---

contracts do not work like that....

AustinCountyAg said:

---

bdgol07 said:

---

-Cut Reddick and save the cash, hopefully for Tucker to take his spot

---

contracts do not work like that....

---

Cut in this case meant trade, but I do understand what youre saying. Time to move one from Reddick and let Tucker take his spot. A 13M bench player isn't ideal for a team looking to win it all

While the window is open, I would trade Correa, sign Rendon for 3rd base and move Bregman to SS. We'd sacrifice some defense at SS, but the gain offensively would far exceed that IMO.

bdgol07 said:

---

AustinCountyAg said:

---

bdgol07 said:

---

-Cut Reddick and save the cash, hopefully for Tucker to take his spot

---

contracts do not work like that....

---

Cut in this case meant trade, but I do understand what youre saying. Time to move one from Reddick and let Tucker take his spot. A 13M bench player isn't ideal for a team looking to win it all

---

gotcha....that what the Astros will have to ask themselves this year.

- Trade Reddick and prolly not get much in return, plus having to eat some of his salary
- Or keep him on the team and most likely have him platooning and taking bats away from Tucker

The starting pitcher from that list of free agents that may appeal to the Astros is Homer Bailey. He's a lot like Charlie Morton was when we signed him in that his stuff is better than his stats. He's roughly the same age as Charlie was, has a high K/9 and is from Texas so might offer a discount to come home. He's a 4 or 5 at this stage of his career, but maybe Strom can work his magic with him.

The only way we're unloading Reddick (and his $13m) is to eat part of the salary.

Reddick might be movable in a deal for another bad contract. Maybe Eovaldi, Wade Davis, Kimbrel, or part of a package for Darvish?

eATMup-Reveille said:

---

While the window is open, I would trade Correa, sign Rendon for 3rd base and move Bregman to SS. We'd sacrifice some defense at SS, but the gain offensively would far exceed that IMO.

---

I don't know how feasible this is, but I thought about it as well... I'd love it.

It all got a lot more complicated today.