Provided Correa's foot isn't about to fall off (if long-standing issue Astros know all about it) I'd have no problem with a 3 year deal. Astros have plenty of young talent locked in through these years, championship winning talent, so add a little extra firepower.

Bligh Madris is Palauan for Robel Garcia.

The Astros, for example, were absolutely terrible.

Farmer1906 said:

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He'd only need too 4/125 to top the offer. I think he'll get that no problem with or without an ankle.

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I thought Crane was offering in the 6/7 year window.

I heard Rosenthal make a good point. Another aspect of this is how the Mets wanna handle it. Yeah they have all the leverage but do they really want a guy they're about to sign to what will still be a decent size contract start off all pissed off at them and unhappy?

Again such a precarious situation for both sides.

Before Foster hit 52 HR In 1977 nobody had reached 50 since Willie Mays went for 52 in 1965. After Foster's season, nobody hit 50+ again until Cecil Fielder had 51 for Detroit in 1990. That's a 25 year gap where he was the only one with a 50+ HR campaign.

The Reds watching Foster emerge was like the Astros suddenly having the current version of Yordan come out of nowhere. Foster played bits of seasons for the Giants in his youth then got traded to the Reds 2 guys I've neer remotely heard of in 1971. HE finally got a full season in 1975 and hit 23 HR and batted .300.

His next three years (76-78) were:

1976: 29 HR, 121 RBI (led the league), 17 SB, .306 / .364 /.530

1977: 124 R (led the league), 52 HR (led the league), 149 RBI (led the league), .320/.382/.631 (led the league),

1978: 40 HR (led the league), 120 RBI (led the league), .281/.360/54.

He hit 30 HR, drove in 98 and hit .302 in 1979, 25 HR, 93 RBI, and .273 in 1980 and had 22 HR and 90 RBI in 108 games of the strike season, but didn't lead the league in either category because MIchael Jack Schmidt had 31 and 91!

The next year, the Big Red Machine turned into a scrap yard. Only Bench, who moved to third, Driessen, and Concepcion were left from the glory years and they lost 101 games.

Ag_07 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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He'd only need too 4/125 to top the offer. I think he'll get that no problem with or without an ankle.

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I thought Crane was offering in the 6/7 year window.

I heard Rosenthal make a good point. Another aspect of this is how the Mets wanna handle it. Yeah they have all the leverage but do they really want a guy they're about to sign to what will still be a decent size contract start off all pissed off at them and unhappy?

Again such a precarious situation for both sides.

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5/160 was the largest offer ever made public.

https://www.mlb.com/news/best-mlb-free-agents-remaining?partnerId=zh-20230104-794769-mlb-1-A&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20230104-794769-mlb-1-A&bt_ee=nBDdYgESik3eKuppqppTJ6f89n%2FQ49d%2BhfKiZAIfPsiHX0V7dvBUFcvoBF5nICKI&bt_ts=1672839651674

"Starting pitcher: Michael Wacha

After a stellar start to his career in St. Louis, Wacha went through some difficult times, including a 5.39 ERA with the Mets and Rays from 2020-21. But the right-hander rebounded significantly with the Red Sox in 2022, going 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts. Wacha still hasn't reached the 130-inning threshold in any season since '17, and his expected ERA (4.56) wasn't nearly as shiny as his actual mark. That could give some teams pause, but at 31, Wacha also offers more upside than some of the older pitchers remaining on the market, such as Zack Greinke or Wade Miley."



Any thoughts on Wacha as a "veteran" arm? with that expected ERA, makes me think we could get him for a very decent price. and with our pitching department, I think we could see his best years right here in Houston. can't hurt to have a little more depth right?... I mean, if we aren't looking to upgrade at any more positions.

Eh...He doesn't seem like a upgrade to anything we already have. I just don't see the upside especially with no room anywhere on the pitching staff.

Unless they move a pitcher via trade the BP and rotation (6 man at that) are both locked in.

I would love to have another Aggie since we didn't keep Raley. I wouldn't expect him to produce like he did last year (11-2, 3.32 ERA). The underlining #s are pretty pedestrian. He doesn't strike guys out, he gets barrel up too often, he doesn't get enough chase, he isn't particularly nasty, and he doesn't have a flamethrower. He can induce soft contact at a decent rate and doesn't walk guys.

If he were to sign, it would be as a back-end innings eater. Kind of like what Odo was for us last year.

Crazy thought, what could Wacha be out of the bullpen? His change-up is his only real plus pitch. He pairs it with a faster fastball (bump from 93 to 95+) vs lefties then continues to increase usage with the cutter vs righties. I would see something working out. But then again, we don't need another bullpen arm.

Farmer1906 said:

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I would love to have another Aggie since we didn't keep Raley. I wouldn't expect him to produce like he did last year (11-2, 3.32 ERA). The underlining #s are pretty pedestrian. He doesn't strike guys out, he gets barrel up too often, he doesn't get enough chase, he isn't particularly nasty, and he doesn't have a flamethrower. He can induce soft contact at a decent rate and doesn't walk guys.

If he were to sign, it would be as a back-end innings eater. Kind of like what Odo was for us last year.

Crazy thought, what could Wacha be out of the bullpen? His change-up is his only real plus pitch. He pairs it with a faster fastball (bump from 93 to 95+) vs lefties then continues to increase usage with the cutter vs righties. I would see something working out. But then again, we don't need another bullpen arm.

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Agree, but like you said, we WILL need an innings eater on an arm we don't care about over use.... (not that the team would ever admit to doing that).
Just can't see us putting 150 innings on Brown, and LMJ is still uncertain, and the others behind Valdez have never sniffed a 200 inning workload.

Which is why I'm still perplexed at why Solomon was DFAed

AggieNiebs said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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I would love to have another Aggie since we didn't keep Raley. I wouldn't expect him to produce like he did last year (11-2, 3.32 ERA). The underlining #s are pretty pedestrian. He doesn't strike guys out, he gets barrel up too often, he doesn't get enough chase, he isn't particularly nasty, and he doesn't have a flamethrower. He can induce soft contact at a decent rate and doesn't walk guys.

If he were to sign, it would be as a back-end innings eater. Kind of like what Odo was for us last year.

Crazy thought, what could Wacha be out of the bullpen? His change-up is his only real plus pitch. He pairs it with a faster fastball (bump from 93 to 95+) vs lefties then continues to increase usage with the cutter vs righties. I would see something working out. But then again, we don't need another bullpen arm.

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Agree, but like you said, we WILL need an innings eater on an arm we don't care about over use.... (not that the team would ever admit to doing that).
Just can't see us putting 150 innings on Brown, and LMJ is still uncertain, and the others behind Valdez have never sniffed a 200 inning workload.

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I agree. I think we're in a position to roll the dice a little. Let's find out what Whitley can do. Give JP France a shot. Maybe Tyler Ivey will be healthy. There is always Bielak too. We have some bodies in the minors who could fill that role most likely and potentially provide some upside.

Ag_07 said:

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Which is why I'm still perplexed at why Solomon was DFAed

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I was too, but he broke.

redline248 said:

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Lol at y'all making a big deal over a joke. Carlos will get no contract "without an ankle," let alone be able to play anymore

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I think Bielak is as good of an option value wise as anything left to sign. Crane has historically left cap room for a July deal, so this year is no different.

Fangraphs has us at $209,090,477 (12th). We could make a signing and still have enough room to take on some salary at the deadline.

Sure, but not as a starter. He hasn't started a game since 2017 in single A.

I'd love Cueto but again with a rotation of Framber, LMJ, Javier, Urquidy, Garcia, Brown where does he fit?

I guess you could move Luis or Urquidy to the pen but is there room there? At that point is Cuteo an upgrade over either of those 2?

AL Central sucks

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35372966/nationals-dominic-smith-agree-one-year-deal-source-says

$2mil?? wow, that seems cheap. I'm sure he was looking for somewhere he can be a full-time starter, but does seem like we could have sent a bit more money his way and he could have been a GREAT back up to Abreu and in LF.... I think given an opportunity, he could put up big numbers though

AggieNiebs said:

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https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35372966/nationals-dominic-smith-agree-one-year-deal-source-says

$2mil?? wow, that seems cheap. I'm sure he was looking for somewhere he can be a full-time starter, but does seem like we could have sent a bit more money his way and he could have been a GREAT back up to Abreu and in LF.... I think given an opportunity, he could put up big numbers though

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I mentioned Smith a while ago, but he is really inconsistent.

With the exception of 2019 and 2020, he really hasn't been that good.

His swing on MLB The Show however last year was awesome.

Marvin said:

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The Milkman said:

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Anybody going to be in West Palm for any spring training? A buddy and I are going to the game against the Cardinals in Jupiter on 3/2 and then vs Braves on 3/3 at home in WPB.

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Mrs. Marvin and I will be there 3/3 and 3/5. Short trip this year.

Let's be sure to meet up- beverage of choice on me!

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I'll take you up on that! Especially from one of the opinions I respect around here haha

Yep. He hit .194. We don't need that kind of hole in the lineup. Also, his DWAR is not good.