My opinion, that 7-8-9 is only a problem come playoff time. However, I feel like 1 of those young OF will become a respectable major league hitter with time. I do agree that relying on one of them + a rookie to replace Carlos every day is not ideal. If that's the plan, I want pitching to offset whatever drop in run scoring results.

Fair enough. It seems we should have enough resources to do both. The Reds are cutting costs, but I suspect Castillo will cost more than we are willing to give up. Sonny Gray might be a more realistic option. He has 2 years left at a reasonable amount and is someone we have gone after hard in the past. The Reds also have Lucas Sims as a bullpen piece, who seems like a target similar to Pressly when he was with the Twins. Production hasn't always been there, but elite velocity and spin.

MaxPower said:

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https://www.mlb.com/news/seiya-suzuki-posted

He could be an interesting target, especially since he's only 27.

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This guy at Minute Maid Park with his power to LF would hit 35 homers a year.

SIAP but Dusty is coming back. Just turned on 790 and they're having the presser.

Edit: 1-year deal.

No definitive information about anything else other than no surgery for Lance and the earlier announced picking up of Yuli's option year

They are trying to bring all coaches back. Other than Strom obviously.

You don't turn the page on coach that just made it to the WS.

The players wanted him back and when we get redemption with Dustys first title, will be sweetest moment in Astros history imho.

Get the starting pitching right and CC is just icing on the cake. Will solid starting pitching, this team can still easily be right back in WS.

texasaggie2015 said:

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I'm shocked with how many on here think there's a chance Correa comes back

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MaxPower said:

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Jake's OBP was heavily aided by a BABIP of .392 in AAA. The major league average is typically around .300. I think he can be better than the average because of his speed and he makes a lot of hard contact, but .392 is totally unsustainable. He also had a minor league average OBP of .353, even with that monster season last year boosting him up.

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He had a monster year because he's been working hard and getting better. BABIP is heavily influenced by the type of contact you make. His hard hit% was around top 100 and his barrel% was top 15 if he had enough to qualify. I am not saying he'll continue to have a .392 BABIP, but as you already mentioned his speed and add in his power, I think its safe to assume he can consistently produce above league avg in BABIP. I agree strike outs are an issue, but I wouldn't totally discount the CF production because they have a flaw. He's already shown a propensity to improve. If he were a stock, I would buy.

When you compare his production to the rest of the league CFers, he's more than serviceable. In the 2nd half our CF production was above league avg for all positions.

If you want to be concerned about a position SS is the issue. Diaz will likely get first crack, but there is a reason he's not an everyday player. We have Pena and Leon, but neither will likely hit the ground running and give up above-average offense.

When you're the top offense in baseball, you can probably survive losing another bat. We just can't continue to. We have to add more than just rookies eventually. I think 23 (or 22 deadline) is when that happens.

In a vacuum I agree SS is preferable to CF. The main issue is that it's much harder to find a SS than OF. You either pay $100M for a stud or take a flyer on someone who might not be much better than Peña. There's more of a middle market in the OF where you can get a very good bat for $40-60M. Of course you might have to be willing to move Tucker to CF to accommodate which has some defensive impact.

texasaggie2015 said:

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I'm shocked with how many on here think there's a chance Correa comes back

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There's a chance. It may not be a high one, but there is a chance. Unless it is nothing but lip service from Correa and now matter what Crane and Click offer it does not matter.

There's no chance. I mean, sure, anything is possible. But he's gone.

What has Correa said that leads you to believe he'll be back?

From my perspective, it's more likely he's gone bc the Astros won't do what is necessary to keep him. Whether I agree or not with that philosophy, it sucks to lose a player like him bc of the organization's unwillingness to pay.

redline248 said:

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From my perspective, it's more likely he's gone bc the Astros won't do what is necessary to keep him. Whether I agree or not with that philosophy, it sucks to lose a player like him bc of the organization's unwillingness to pay.

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Eh, I look at it like the Astros unwillingness to handcuff the team in years 7 & 8 with a potentially declining player getting paid more than they are worth.

Crane on Correa: “We’re going to give him something we think fits into our formula and hope it fits into his formula.”

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) November 5, 2021

Jim Crane: "If we have to make a move to compete and close out something, we've always done that and we've got the resources."

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 5, 2021

"We're not afraid to spend the money if we think it makes the team better," Jim Crane said. " ... Everyone knows what we need. We need a shortstop and we need some more pitching."

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 5, 2021

It's about time

What's he supposed to say? "No we're not going to pay him"?

Well it seems like Crane and Click are on the same page. pic.twitter.com/jkRSNxSrnM

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) November 5, 2021

bearkatag15 said:

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Crane said the area where the Bus at Union Station and Home Plate Bar and Grill will become an entertainment venue like Ballpark Village in St. Louis and The Battery in Atlanta. That will start in next 12 months.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) November 5, 2021

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Loved Ballpark Village in St. Louis. Not sure it can be that good with no sightlines into the stadium (Houston would be closer to Atlanta's setup as I recall), but anything is better than nothing... which is what we have now.

I am not familiar with those other two places, but in early September I was in Denver and if this is anything like McGregor Square right next to Coors Field then I will be ecstatic.

Yeah I don't get how that would work. Seems like it would be more like what they have on Landsdowne St at Fenway.

Coby said:

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I am not familiar with those other two places, but in early September I was in Denver and if this is anything like McGregor Square right next to Coors Field then I will be ecstatic.

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Here's a stock photo, if I did it right. Lots of bars, inside and outside access. The 'main street' is along the outside of left field. The upper areas of the Village have seating for game watching. Just a great mix of bars, restaurants and people watching.

My brother and I went to St. Louis in 19 for the Astros series. Their ballpark village was awesome. It was a really cool pregame place

texasaggie2015 said:

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There's no chance. I mean, sure, anything is possible. But he's gone.

What has Correa said that leads you to believe he'll be back?

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honestly...market conditions (i.e. so many other shortstops available) is the number one reason Correa could be back

He is by far the best option though. Think there will only be one factor. Money

Jim Crane said Justin Verlander's golf game is good. He stopped short of confirming Verlander will get a qualifying offer — the deadline is Sunday — but said "I wouldn't count him out."

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 5, 2021

Is there a chance JV would accept? I assume he'll get more and longer elsewhere. But he'll be 39 before the start of next season coming off of TJ. Maybe he won't get more.