I went overboard thinking about MLB free agency..... and I just want everyone to know that I started an offline franchise in MLB The Show last night and I should be the new GM. Started with the Astros and spent like an hour making trades.

My minor leagues are looking tough... but the 26 man roster is legit.

SP - Justin Verlander
SP - Framber Valdez
SP - Christian Javier
SP - Lance McCullers
SP - Pablo Lopez

LR / 6th Starter - Sixto Sanchez
RP - Jose Urquidy
RP - Ken Giles
RP - Rafael Montero
RP - Bryan Abreu
RP - Hector Neris
CL - Ryan Pressly

1. Jose Altuve - 2B
2. Jeremy Pena - SS
3. Yordan Alvarez - LF
4. Alex Bregman - 3B
5. Kyle Tucker - RF
6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr - 1B
7. Oneil Cruz - DH
8. Tyler Stephenson - C
9. Cedric Mullins - CF

C - Christian Vazquez
1B - Yuli Gurriel
2B - Gavin Lux
OF - Michael Conforto
OF - Chas McCormick


Ok, back to real life free agency.

Deluxe said:

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It's kinda funny how the Tags article seems to contradict other recent reporting on Crane.

Tags article makes him sound more disciplined and measured about allocating free agent dollars. Similar to the "Astros-style" management we've become accustomed to during this run.

Other recent reporting paints Crane as a megalomaniac owner who wants to make big moves, take more control of baseball ops and make bigger splashes in free agency.

I'm still not fully convinced either way, which makes it hard to predict which direction we'll be headed over the next couple months.

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The fact that he's in no rush at all to fill the GM position makes me think more and more that Stearns will be the guy. They're probably working on legal measures behind the scenes to get him out of his Brewers contract right now. And if they're unsuccessful, they can just wait til his contract is officially up after the 23 season.

This is obvious but if JV really does want a Scherzer deal, see ya. A small part of me was hoping he'd want to return on a two year deal at "market but team friendly" rate. The Astros are the best place for him to pad his HOF resume and lurch him up the ladder of all time pitching greats. Behind the scenes, maybe he does want to return but his agent is posturing to try and extract value. But if he wants the third year guaranteed at $40 mil plus, no thanks.

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Didn't Stearns step down for personal reasons? Why would he want to get back into that role?

I don't see him being the guy

Astros pitchers who leave end up getting shelled in the playoffs

So if JV leaves, he leaves.

We have the luxury of saying no, and if the FA market is strong so does JV

He's going to get paid a ****load of money wherever he goes, but probably won't get another ring or wins with better odds than the Astros

Priorities

Farmer1906 said:

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Jim Crane tells Tags that Justin Verlander is seeking a Max Scherzer-type deal. Wrote here that, per multiple people familiar with his thinking, Crane has privately questioned that contract and doesn’t seem keen on giving a similar one https://t.co/Xk3gWI46p2 https://t.co/KARatorUzG

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 16, 2022

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Quote:

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[url=https://texags.com/forums/53/topics/3338514/replies/63558890][/url]



MAROON
11:12a, 11/12/22



Not upset with the Montero deal. Elite bull pen is a great advantage.

From what I've heard JV wants a monster contract. If that is the case I think we ride with our other six starters and use that cash to upgrade the offense.

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What choice do they have? They cannot succeed without going through Houston.

AggiEE said:

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Didn't Stearns step down for personal reasons? Why would he want to get back into that role?

I don't see him being the guy

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Yea, you're right that it doesn't sound like he wants to jump into another role right away. Maybe his desire to take a some time away from baseball is more of a "hindrance" to him taking our GM role than contractual stipulations with the Brewers.

He very well may not be the guy. We could wake up tomorrow with a list of interviewers and have our guy in the next week. I don't know. My inclination that he's the target derives from combining a few things:

-Pedigree and knowledge of Luhnow's operation
-Prior working relationship with Crane and understanding of his demands
-Recent smoke connecting him to us (speculative)
-Crane acting in no rush whatever to fill our vacancy, which may help fit Stearns' timetable (speculative). It sounds like Crane is fine going into the season with no GM.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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CoachRTM said:

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I went overboard thinking about MLB free agency..... and I just want everyone to know that I started an offline franchise in MLB The Show last night and I should be the new GM. Started with the Astros and spent like an hour making trades.

My minor leagues are looking tough... but the 26 man roster is legit.

SP - Justin Verlander
SP - Framber Valdez
SP - Christian Javier
SP - Lance McCullers
SP - Pablo Lopez

LR / 6th Starter - Sixto Sanchez
RP - Jose Urquidy
RP - Ken Giles
RP - Rafael Montero
RP - Bryan Abreu
RP - Hector Neris
CL - Ryan Pressly

1. Jose Altuve - 2B
2. Jeremy Pena - SS
3. Yordan Alvarez - LF
4. Alex Bregman - 3B
5. Kyle Tucker - RF
6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr - 1B
7. Oneil Cruz - DH
8. Tyler Stephenson - C
9. Cedric Mullins - CF

C - Christian Vazquez
1B - Yuli Gurriel
2B - Gavin Lux
OF - Michael Conforto
OF - Chas McCormick


Ok, back to real life free agency.

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Wait, did you intentionally trade *for* Kenny G?

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He was a FA and I needed someone to eat the innings where I'm up or down by a bunch. At that point he was just a familiar name that will be fun to use.

CoachRTM said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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CoachRTM said:

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I went overboard thinking about MLB free agency..... and I just want everyone to know that I started an offline franchise in MLB The Show last night and I should be the new GM. Started with the Astros and spent like an hour making trades.

My minor leagues are looking tough... but the 26 man roster is legit.

SP - Justin Verlander
SP - Framber Valdez
SP - Christian Javier
SP - Lance McCullers
SP - Pablo Lopez

LR / 6th Starter - Sixto Sanchez
RP - Jose Urquidy
RP - Ken Giles
RP - Rafael Montero
RP - Bryan Abreu
RP - Hector Neris
CL - Ryan Pressly

1. Jose Altuve - 2B
2. Jeremy Pena - SS
3. Yordan Alvarez - LF
4. Alex Bregman - 3B
5. Kyle Tucker - RF
6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr - 1B
7. Oneil Cruz - DH
8. Tyler Stephenson - C
9. Cedric Mullins - CF

C - Christian Vazquez
1B - Yuli Gurriel
2B - Gavin Lux
OF - Michael Conforto
OF - Chas McCormick


Ok, back to real life free agency.

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Wait, did you intentionally trade *for* Kenny G?

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He was a FA and I needed someone to eat the innings where I'm up or down by a bunch. At that point he was just a familiar name that will be fun to use.

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When you see someone in a Giles jersey at a game…

AstroAggie15 said:

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Marvin said:

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Boy, that 18-inning elimination game shutout really pissed the Mariners off.

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Still boggles my mind we basically played an extra game in the ALDS and allowed no run

So 18 innings of shut out baseball in ALDS then you think of the Game 4 WS no hitter and it truly shows how remarkable our pitching staff was in the post season

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Just another reason why we HAD to win this WS! Imagine getting only the second no hitter in WS history and then losing the series. Brutal.

The Astros wanted AJ Hinch as GM??? #astros #mlb #houston @michaelschwab13 pic.twitter.com/GeiKV0qXqZ

— ESPN 97.5 Houston (@espn975) November 15, 2022

I don't think it's a horrible idea.

Texaggie7nine said:

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The Astros wanted AJ Hinch as GM??? #astros #mlb #houston @michaelschwab13 pic.twitter.com/GeiKV0qXqZ

— ESPN 97.5 Houston (@espn975) November 15, 2022

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Someone on this thread called that. Sorry I don't recall who.

Deluxe said:

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AggiEE said:

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Didn't Stearns step down for personal reasons? Why would he want to get back into that role?

I don't see him being the guy

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Yea, you're right that it doesn't sound like he wants to jump into another role right away. Maybe his desire to take a some time away from baseball is more of a "hindrance" to him taking our GM role than contractual stipulations with the Brewers.

He very well may not be the guy. We could wake up tomorrow with a list of interviewers and have our guy in the next week. I don't know. My inclination that he's the target derives from combining a few things:

-Pedigree and knowledge of Luhnow's operation
-Prior working relationship with Crane and understanding of his demands
-Recent smoke connecting him to us (speculative)
-Crane acting in no rush whatever to fill our vacancy, which may help fit Stearns' timetable (speculative). It sounds like Crane is fine going into the season with no GM.

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Once you figure out 1B and maybe add 1 more piece, there isn't a ton to do for the next 2 years at the big league level. The real test is how they handle 2024 offseason.

However, we're gunna want someone in place to deal with draft, trade deadline, international signings, etc.

No rush but I hope they don't wait until next offseason.

JDUB08AG

https://texags.com/forums/53/topics/3338514/replies/63602792

I don't think I'd give JV 3/$130M.

JDUB08AG said:

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I mentioned this on the in-season thread, but a buddy of mine golfs with someone "in the know" and indicated that AJ Hinch has been tossed around as potential GM. Doesn't mean its going to happen, but it has been considered to some degree. It balances an analytic minded person, former player, and player centric individual.

I absolutely don't think it happens, but its offseason so I'm throwing this out there again.

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Sher Thing said:

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I don't think I'd give JV 3/$130M.

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I'd give Kate that much for 35 "starts" a season.

Sign Abreu, Brantley, and Yuli and call it an off-season. See how the season shakes out and address any concerns in-season or at the deadline. Unless they are going to make a run at Nimmo or something, I don't really see any FA's out there that move the needle.

Is Vazquez going to get a starting gig elsewhere? I would love to bring him back also but seems unlikely.

JV has meant a lot to Houston, but we are in a good enough position that we don't need to overpay him. If he had never played for Houston and was just a normal FA I don't think this board would consider him. We have other more pressing needs thst we can fill with his salary. This is more about emotion than logic to me. Me included.

BeaumontAg05 said:

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JV has meant a lot to Houston, but we are in a good enough position that we don't need to overpay him. If he had never played for Houston and was just a normal FA I don't think this board would consider him. We have other more pressing needs thst we can fill with his salary. This is more about emotion than logic to me. Me included.

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I would also argue that if we had not won this year that the board would not care either.

So why did Crane fire Hinch, again?

I think the max you go with JV is 80/2, and I think even that is overpaying. And I also think JV will want more than that, including a 3rd year. Some teams will give him that kind of money and a 3rd year. Let them, we have plenty of starting pitching.

Wabs said:

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I think the max you go with JV is 80/2, and I think even that is overpaying. And I also think JV will want more than that, including a 3rd year. Some teams will give him that kind of money and a 3rd year. Let them, we have plenty of starting pitching.

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hell no