The rivers will run red with Manfreds blood is he forces Luhnow out

City of Houston will have their vengeance, in this life or the next

Crane isn't gonna fire Luhnow.

Hell if that's what all this comes to then rather he get a lifetime ban from MLB so no one else can hire him.

Back to reality though...Maybe he gets a suspension but I think any penalties are gonna be in the form of fines, draft picks, and international pool limitations.

astros4545 said:

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This is actually interesting in the context of the rumors that the Brewers were doing it too

Deluxe said:

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astros4545 said:

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This is actually interesting in the context of the rumors that the Brewers were everyone was doing it too

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FIFY

Well played

Updated Astros top 30 prospects list released yesterday. I suspect we'll drop from top tier to middle of the pack when the new MLB rankings are released. We still have some potential elite guys at the top but our depth took a big hit with the Greinke trade.

Freudis Nova will become our new No. 1 prospect when Whitley gets to the show. He was an international signee as a 16 year old back in 2016 and has huge upside at SS. He's only 19 and is probably still a couple years away from being ready for the show, but that could be just in time if our current SS decides to test the market after 2021.

Among our 2019 draftees: Korey Lee (catcher) already up to No. 3, Jordan Brewer (CF) at No. 7 and Grae Kessinger (SS) No. 12.

Here's the scouting report on Nova:

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 65 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

The Marlins were prepared to sign Nova, one of the best all-around talents in the 2016 international class, for $2.5 million until he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs that February. After he passed several subsequent drug tests, the Astros gave him a $1.2 million bonus when the signing period opened in July. He drew comparisons to Hanley Ramirez and Edgar Renteria as an amateur in the Dominican Republic, and he did nothing to dispel them in his first two years in Rookie ball.

Nova has a higher offensive ceiling than most shortstops and grades very well in Houston's analytic measures of strength, speed and conditioning. He makes repeated contact with his quick right-handed swing, and his high exit velocities and the loft in his stroke portend average or better power in the future. His plus speed could make him a 20-20 player and his only obvious need at the plate is to develop more patience.

Nova has all the tools to remain at shortstop. He has quick feet and hands as well as one of the strongest arms in the system, clocked at 97 mph across the diamond. He has seen a lot of action at second and third base in 2019 and would profile well at either position if he outgrows shortstop.

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Signing Madison Bumgarner and Didi Gregorius a year after giving huge deals to Jake Arrieta and Bryce Harper would be such a Phillies thing to do. It seems like their front office looks for the players with the worst WAR/$ ratios.

I heard earlier (maybe here) that they were wanting to make a serious run at Cole. Apparently ready to throw stupid money at him.

I feel like having Harper and not making the playoffs has pressured them into just shelling out to win. Kinda like they're pot committed and need to win (ie sign everyone) to justify Harper and his contract.

Totally agree. Signing someone like Harper to a huge deal is sort of a double wammy of pain for the franchise. Not only are they owe $300 million plus to a ~4 WAR/year player, they also have the pressure of having to put solid pieces around him, which means they'll have to overpay in the FA market.

Honestly, shelling out $300 million for Cole wouldn't be the worst idea for them. At least he will produce. Didi/MadBum just seem right up the Phillies' alley to me. Both guys have big-ish names and will excite the fan base but both are past their primes.

Source: MLB Investigating If Astros Used Modified System to Steal Signs During 2017 Postseason

I'm still more concerned about MLB finding evidence that we continued the sign stealing practice into 2019. All of 2017 (including the playoffs) falls into a much grayer and more difficult area to punish IMO.

I would be thrilled if Cole ended up in the national league.

it would be something if the Phillies take on another $250+ MM contract.

they already have 7 players on the books for 2020 making over $10 MM per year; and a couple of really bad contracts to old players.

the Phillies' front office does get credit for getting Aaron Nola to sign a 4-year extension last year. He's a potential bargain thru the 2023 season (only $16 MM).

I guess Nola was not willing to bet on himself. He could have been a free agent after 2021 and commanded much more on the open market

hypeiv said:

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https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/mlb-plans-to-end-blackouts-of-in-market-games-for-cord-cutters/amp/

Hopefully this means I can watch the stros on mlb.tv without using a vpn

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As someone who just cut the cord, this is great news.

We really need some news to discuss

Harry Morton of Morton's Steakhouse fame, has passed away at 38. He was the founder of Pink Taco.

Wonder what his specific relation is to Charlie Morton.

Interesting

32 year old who in 2019 played 35 games split between OAK and LAA slashing .244/.350/.407

Ag_07 said:

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Interesting

32 year old who in 2019 played 35 games split between OAK and LAA slashing .244/.350/.407

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8 homers, 38 RBI and a .207 average... in 5 years. Just for organizational depth I assume.

Hmmm

We did the same thing last year with Chris Hermann, who didn't end up sticking on the 40 because we non-tendered him.

I suspect this is just a move to add some momentary depth at catcher and keep options open. Doubt this Garneau ever plays a meaningful role for us but I guess you never know.

How is his sign game?

The next accusation will be the Astros using mind readers in the dugout to know what pitches are coming.

So what is the potential downside of MLB using something like head coach and QB use in football. Put a microphone in the catchers helmet and something in a pitchers ear and let them talk to each other about pitch selection. Can use code words if there's a concern about batter hearing and stealing something.

I feel like it could eliminate the sign stealing issue and possibly speed things up too with less need for mound visits to change up signs.

I don't know if that's the ultimate solution to the issue but I tend to think there's 30 teams devoting resources to developing more secretive sign relaying tactics.

Possible Catcher Moves posted by Tags

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Exploring Astros' catcher options for 2020

By Brian McTaggart @brianmctaggart
37 minutes ago

HOUSTON -- The fast-moving catcher's market has seen a couple of notable names come off the board already this offseason, with Yasmani Grandal signing with the White Sox and Travis d'Arnaud with the Braves. The Astros, of course, are in the market for a starting catcher with Robinson Chirinos and Martin Maldonado both free agents.
The Athletic reported Tuesday the Astros had signed free agent catcher Dustin Garneau, a journeyman backup who appeared with the A's and Angels last season. He would be in the catching depth mix entering 2020, but he wouldn't satisfy the need for a starter. Astros president of baseball operations and general manager Jeff Luhnow said earlier this month catching is the team's top priority.
The addition of Garneau means he would join Garrett Stubbs as the only catchers on Houston's 40-man roster. The Astros drafted University of California catcher Korey Lee in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft and USC catcher C.J. Stubbs -- the brother of Garrett -- in the 10th round as they try to restock their catching depth at the upper levels.
Still, they have an immediate need for a starting backstop in 2020, so here are some names to keep in mind with the Winter Meetings approaching:

Free agents
Robinson Chirinos: Bringing back the popular Chirinos may be the safest and most logical move for the Astros. In his only season in Houston in 2019, Chirinos, 35, hit .238 with 17 homers and 58 RBIs while setting a career high for games played (114). He posted a respectable .790 OPS, including .915 against lefties, and hit two home runs in the World Series. Chirinos, who was slightly above average defensively, served as Justin Verlander's personal catcher and was respected and trusted by the pitching staff.
Jason Castro: A former first-round pick by the Astros who spent the last three seasons in Minnesota after six in Houston, Castro is one of the top remaining free agents on the market. Considering he's worked with several pitchers on staff, including Lance McCullers Jr., and lives in Houston, a return to the Astros would represent a comfortable landing spot for Castro. He posted a .767 OPS last year in 79 games, hitting .232 with a .332 on-base percentage and 13 homers. He wouldn't be the splashiest signing, but he can handle a pitching staff and will give competitive at-bats.
Austin Romine: A free agent for the first time in his career, Romine, 31, aims to land a starting job after backing up All-Star Gary Sanchez the past couple of years with the Yankees. He had one of his best seasons at the plate in 2019, hitting .281 with eight homers and 35 RBIs. He posted a 93 OPS+ in 2018 and 97 last season, so he's been about league average at the plate without consistent at-bats.

Possible trade candidates
James McCann, White Sox: McCann, 29, could be expendable after the White Sox signed Grandal to a four-year deal. The 29-year-old slashed .273/.328/.460 with 18 home runs and 60 RBIs last season in the best offensive season of his career. McCann has experience catching Verlander in Detroit, but defensively he ranked 104th out of out of 113 catchers in framing runs (-8.0), according to Baseball Prospectus.
Omar Narvez, Mariners: Narvez, a left-handed bat, had a solid offensive season for Seattle in 2019, slashing .278/.353/.460 with 22 homers and 55 RBIs in 132 games with a 120 OPS+. He's not a good defender, though. Narvez worked to improve his pitch framing and blocking last year, but is still a work in progress behind the plate. But he's still only 27 and just hitting his first season of arbitration eligibility, so he's relatively cheap and has three years of team control remaining.
Willson Contreras, Cubs: The Astros, whose Minor League depth has taken a hit in the last couple of years in trades to land Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke, might not have enough chips to pluck Contreras away from the Cubs. He's coming off two consecutive All-Star seasons and last season slashed .272/.355/.888 with 24 homers and 64 RBIs in 105 games with a 125 OPS+. Plus, he's only 27 years old with four years of control remaining, so the Cubs' asking price will be high. He was 109th out of 113 catchers in framing runs (-9.4), though, according to Baseball Prospectus.

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I'd prefer a left-handed catcher if Garneau is the backup. He was much better against righties. Given the 3 batter minimum it will be harder to use lefty specialist against a left-handed catcher, specifically if you surround him with good right-handed bats (as we should have). Castro is massively better against righties but I think he is the right fit for the forward thinking Astros.

MLB shutting Jomboy down