well, good luck justin

Farmer1906 said:

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I've went from lukewarm on Contreras to being all in and now going to be very disappointed if it doesn't happen.

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If we do sign Contreras, do you think we still try to add one more bat (likely LH hitting OF)? Or are we just focused on finding another depth starter at that point (ie Cueto or Kluber)?

Deluxe said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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I've went from lukewarm on Contreras to being all in and now going to be very disappointed if it doesn't happen.

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If we do sign Contreras, do you think we still try to add one more bat (likely LH hitting OF)? Or are we just focused on finding another depth starter at that point (ie Cueto or Kluber)?

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I know what I would do, but I have no idea what this team is thinking. I guess it's time to take Crane at this word. He mentioned catcher, outfield, and pitching during the Abreu presser.

Contreras
Brantley
...starter? or maybe a lefty bullpen arm?

That would put us right at the tax limit most likely.

If we do have a roster of Brantley, Contreras, Abreu, & Alvarez, those 4 guys all need time at DH. You can probably pencil each in for 30-50 games there. That means when it comes time to rest Altuve, Bregman, etc they're sitting and not getting a day at DH most likely.

I don't think he is going anywhere if Crane is stupid enough to play ball.

But JV is just posturing in order to get 2 years....$70 million. The Astros should not do it and could spend that money way more wisely. But Crane loves him some sexy JV.

Nobody not on some serious sauce would give him that 3-year deal...and he and his agent must have had a laugh when they came up with it.

Cobra39

Interesting thoughts this morning on MLB Radio about Tyler Glasnow being available. makes 5 mil this year and 25 mil next. no way he stays with the rays beyond the deadline this year. Urquidy and another young arm for Glasnow who says no. only 15 mil AAV for a very good pitcher.

sign Contreras, trade for Glasnow all for less than JV would want. I do wonder if all the increased Contreras talk is the Astros knowing JV is gone and have earmarked money to spend

JDUB08AG said:

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If he goes to Texas I will lose massive respect. Has nothing to do with the rangers, but they are clearly not a competitor now (or near term) for a WS title. Going to Texas would show he gives zero ****s about winning and cementing a legacy. Would be all driven by money.

That said, he is too much of a competitor so I don't think that would ever happen.

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His legacy is cemented. He just needs to pile up wins and strikeouts. The wins to get to 300 would be a heavy lift even with the Astros. He's already 12th in Ks, and this season, he will likely pass Niekro and possibly Maddux to get into the Top 10. He's top 3 in no-hitters. He's 5th on the list for total Cy Youngs.

He's already a HOF player. Again, he had nothing left to prove.

Get your money, JV.

Farmer1906 said:

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Deluxe said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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I've went from lukewarm on Contreras to being all in and now going to be very disappointed if it doesn't happen.

---

If we do sign Contreras, do you think we still try to add one more bat (likely LH hitting OF)? Or are we just focused on finding another depth starter at that point (ie Cueto or Kluber)?

---

I know what I would do, but I have no idea what this team is thinking. I guess it's time to take Crane at this word. He mentioned catcher, outfield, and pitching during the Abreu presser.

Contreras
Brantley
...starter? or maybe a lefty bullpen arm?

That would put us right at the tax limit most likely.

If we do have a roster of Brantley, Contreras, Abreu, & Alvarez, those 4 guys all need time at DH. You can probably pencil each in for 30-50 games there. That means when it comes time to rest Altuve, Bregman, etc they're sitting and not getting a day at DH most likely.

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If we sign Brantley, he and Yordan would split LF/DH duties on the ~50-60 days Contreras catches. This works out nice.

When Maldy catches, I'm less sure where Brantley plays because Contreras and Yordan would be splitting LF/DH duties. Unless Brantley works at 1B this spring and it's understood that on days Maldy catches, one of Abreu, Brantley, Yordan and Contreras will be sitting (which might be fine in the reg season).

From that standpoint, I was wondering if Conforto might make more sense than Brantley because of his OF versatility. It would probably depend on 1) how comfortable we are in his ability to play part time CF and 2) how good we feel about Chas as our long term CF answer. It could be that Conforto plays 60 games in LF when Contreras catches, then he and Chas timeshare CF and we trade Meyers (who was reportedly "Click's guy").

On that note, Conforto and Chas would be a killer CF platoon given their splits.

I would want to see a larger sample size from Glasnow coming off TJ. He only pitched 6 innings in 2022. And I love Urquidy

Well they know what he wants and that they're far apart.

I'm guessing at this point they're moving forward with other irons they have in the fire.

If JV realizes he's not gonna get that and circles back around with a lower ask I'm sure they'll reengage but at this point they can't wait on that to happen.

Quote:

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On that note, Conforto and Chas would be a killer CF platoon given their splits.

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Conforto is primarily a corner outfielder and a below average CF from what I remember

I still remember how reluctant JV was to leave Detroit and it took Dallas Keuchel to basically talk him into it. I wonder if he will perform the same due diligence.

If he goes to a winning team he will still have my respect but if he clearly is just chasing dollars to play for a crappy team then everything he said about his newfound love for the game was a crock of *****

texasaggie2015 said:

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Quote:

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On that note, Conforto and Chas would be a killer CF platoon given their splits.

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Conforto is primarily a corner outfielder and a below average CF from what I remember

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Yea, I wouldn't expect him to be a top tier CF. The hope would be that he can adequately play there part time and the fact that Ted can cover alot of ground in RF would help. I don't have nearly enough insight to make that call though.

Personal opinion here. What if all of that discussion is 1. Seeing if the dodgers would actually offer it but mainly 2. Allowing crane to still spend 3/105ish and make it look like he really dealt it down.

After seeing 3/130 everyone will view JV favorably for taking less to come back Crane gets to look like a great deal maker etc. but all in all 35/year is higher than where most on here were willing to go and it's 10million more than his buyout

damn right

texasaggie2015 said:

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The sour grapes towards JV are hilarious

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My grapes will only go sour if he goes to a team like the Rangers, and well, ESPECIALLY the Rangers.

I like that angle. The more I think about it, the more signing Brantley in addition to Contreras makes sense.

1. It keeps Playoff LOD in tact

2. The "worst case scenario" is that Brantley, Yordan, Contreras and Abreu stay healthy all season and you have to get a little creative to get them ABs when Maldy catches. In reality, odds are that one will have to miss a little time due to injury. Uncle Mike may only need 110 games this year anyway due to platoon optimization and age/coming off injury, Abreu might get extra rest at his age to stay fresh for Oct and Contreras could use some rest given that he'll be catching. So the PT could work itself out naturally.

Say they all play the 60 games Contreras catches, that leaves 100 days off to go around when Maldy catches.

Brantley could get 50, Abreu 20, Contreras 20, Yordan 10.

JDUB08AG said:

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If he goes to Texas I will lose massive respect. Has nothing to do with the rangers, but they are clearly not a competitor now (or near term) for a WS title. Going to Texas would show he gives zero ****s about winning and cementing a legacy. Would be all driven by money.

That said, he is too much of a competitor so I don't think that would ever happen.

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I think you guys need to look at the Rangers a little more closely.

Their offense wasn't bad last year and their bullpen is halfway decent.

If they were to maintain Perez, and spend for DeGrom and Verlander, they look pretty salty. Not as good as the Astros, but they would be much, much better.

Lots of ifs there, but if they do spend to solidify their starting rotation, they'll compete with the Mariners for sure.

Cobra39 said:

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I don't think he is going anywhere if Crane is stupid enough to play ball.

But JV is just posturing in order to get 2 years....$70 million. The Astros should not do it and could spend that money way more wisely. But Crane loves him some sexy JV.

Nobody not on some serious sauce would give him that 3-year deal...and he and his agent must have had a laugh when they came up with it.

Cobra39

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but JV and his agent know it only takes one.

one GM or owner to fall for the greater fool theory

JDUB08AG said:

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If he goes to Texas I will lose massive respect. Has nothing to do with the rangers, but they are clearly not a competitor now (or near term) for a WS title. Going to Texas would show he gives zero ****s about winning and cementing a legacy. Would be all driven by money.

That said, he is too much of a competitor so I don't think that would ever happen.

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the situation is similar to J.J. Watt's a while back.

everyone thought he would go to a contender, but in the end...he just went for the most money...like most professional athletes do

W said:

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JDUB08AG said:

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If he goes to Texas I will lose massive respect. Has nothing to do with the rangers, but they are clearly not a competitor now (or near term) for a WS title. Going to Texas would show he gives zero ****s about winning and cementing a legacy. Would be all driven by money.

That said, he is too much of a competitor so I don't think that would ever happen.

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the situation is similar to J.J. Watt's a while back.

everyone thought he would go to a contender, but in the end...he just went for the most money...like most professional athletes do

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Wasn't he traded?

W said:

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JDUB08AG said:

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If he goes to Texas I will lose massive respect. Has nothing to do with the rangers, but they are clearly not a competitor now (or near term) for a WS title. Going to Texas would show he gives zero ****s about winning and cementing a legacy. Would be all driven by money.

That said, he is too much of a competitor so I don't think that would ever happen.

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the situation is similar to J.J. Watt's a while back.

everyone thought he would go to a contender, but in the end...he just went for the most money...like most professional athletes do

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Except the cardinals situation was a little different than the rangers. They appeared to be getting really close to competing for a SB. They were on a major upward trajectory until this year.

I like the versatility Contreras provides.

He's an elite hitting catcher that doesn't need to play catcher all the time in the regular season where rest is very important, but WILL likely get most starts at catcher when every game is more critical (playoffs) and we can have the much vaunted LINEUP OF DEATH. His offensive numbers would rank him very high on the Astros which have very strong offensive depth now with Abreu. So he's elite offensively without even taking into consideration that he's a catcher.

I think it's worth getting him here, even if it looks a little costly. Maldy is on the books for one more year. Use this next year as an opportunity to get Contreras some starts at catcher and even try and fit in some with our younger talent for when Maldy is gone.

Sign Brantley for cheap as the LH option on a short term deal. We have a lot of OF depth in the minors, so I don't see a big need to sign for a big OF contract.

The more I look at the Contreras situation the more I like it from a fit standpoint.