I'm feeling like the only moves we'll make on the FA market is for Vasquez (or nothing at all for Catcher if we don't land him), and MAYBE some starting pitching depth.

I am in the camp that we already have a handshake deal with Brantley that if he clears medical he's signed for a certain amount. I really don't feel like signing someone like Nimmo, Benintendi, etc. is worth our time.

There's just not much else out there that will make a substantial improvement to our roster without overpaying either in prospects or $$$.

We can address any shortcomings before the trade deadline if necessary. I would even be down to trying to throw some young guys opportunities in the big leagues at C/LF.

We have more starting pitching depth than any team in MLB. I don't see us adding there. Catcher, Of, utility

Farmer1906 said:

---

You do. Relax. He's a legend. Can you really expect anyone to take ~50 M less just to stay in Houston?

---

Is that how much less Houston offered?

Harry Dunne said:

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

You do. Relax. He's a legend. Can you really expect anyone to take ~50 M less just to stay in Houston?

---

Is that how much less Houston offered?

---

Nothing was reported. Crane said it was a number we couldn't match. I think 2/70 is something we'd do. I think most would think similarly. He got 3/121.

Springer I totally understood. The Astros screwed him and he needed to get paid.

And I obviously understand JV too. We have all left jobs for other jobs that pay more money. Let's move on.

AustinCountyAg said:

---

That's absolutely idiotic to think we wouldn't bolster our roster because we have a handshake deal with a veteran outfielder coming off injury who can't pass a physical at the moment hoping he will be able to in March.

Guarantee the Astros are out shopping for another outfielder. I'd love to have Bennetindi on this current team.

---

The handshake deal is going to get you Michael Brantley for a much cheaper, and less long term commitment, than anyone on the FA market.

That's why it's preferable and certainly not idiotic, even if he ends up not being healthy. We have plan B options in the minors or can deal before the trade deadline.

Benintendi is going to command a longer commitment and average annual value for a guy that doesn't hit for a whole lot of power.

MAROON said:

---

We have more starting pitching depth than any team in MLB. I don't see us adding there. Catcher, Of, utility

---

We're one injury away from being in a less than ideal scenario. Pitchers get injured. LMJ is pretty fragile. As Crane said, you can always use more pitching.

Our depth was the primary reason we won the WS and now we are without JV. We're still fantastic, but one injury is going to hurt us a lot more than last year.

Agree to disagree. I don't think we would have even considered a 3rd year.

Maybe, maybe not. pure unsubstantiated speculation on your part. There's just no way you could possibly know. Especially with Make it Rain Jim Crane at the trigger.

AggiEE said:

---

MAROON said:

---

We have more starting pitching depth than any team in MLB. I don't see us adding there. Catcher, Of, utility

---

We're one injury away from being in a less than ideal scenario. Pitchers get injured. LMJ is pretty fragile. As Crane said, you can always use more pitching.

Our depth was the primary reason we won the WS and now we are without JV. We're still fantastic, but one injury is going to hurt us a lot more than last year.

---

We're 1 injury away from 5 good starters which is still pretty ideal.

I don't hate the idea of having another veteran body. Someone like Q would have been ideal since he can pitch out of the bullpen too but the Mets snagged him. I just don't want to stunt Brown's growth to do it.

Harry Dunne said:

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

You do. Relax. He's a legend. Can you really expect anyone to take ~50 M less just to stay in Houston?

---

Is that how much less Houston offered?

---

I think Farmer is including the mutual vested 3rd year.

I don't disagree with how you feel. But that's modern sports. It sucks. College sports with NIL is doing the same at light speed to catch up. The days of Bags and Bidge playing for one team their entire career are quickly going away. Let's hope Altuve sticks it out.

Sorry, my comment probably came out a title more forceful than I intended. Not something really directed at you either.

Was more of a statement that I've just gotten to the point where I just feel all of this stuff really is business and I don't care too much anymore.

And agree with you that Springer and JV are different situations.

Most guys are JV. There aren't many Trouts out there who will take an extension on a team not really serious about winning instead of getting paid more by hitting the FA market and going to a team that will actually make the postseason.

I will say I do respect the way JV did it more than some of these guys who say they really want to stay with the team because they love the city when it's just about the money. I find the honesty refreshing and I believe him more when he makes a statement that he enjoyed his time with the team and the fans or whatever.

All good, I took it as you intended it and I agree with all that.

But Baggy only structured his contract to be able to keep Biggio around. He still got his money. At least that's how I remember it.

I could be convinced to sign Benintendi. He's still so young. He'll be entering age 28 season. I would expect similar results moving forward. A very solid LF. Good avg. not great power. Another Chas level player with a little bit higher ceiling.

The AAV would have to be low enough to not break the bank. Something like we gave Reddick 4/52. Or on the high end what Chris Taylor got before 4/60.

You just have to be okay with that kind of production in LF. His lack of versatility kind of hurt too. He's pretty much only been a left fielder with some CF play early in his career.

AggiEE said:

---

True, but then you have guys like LMJ, Bregman, Altuve, Yordan, etc. that accept competitive deals that may not net them THE MOST money over THE MOST years. They are team friendly competitive deals.

Those are the most loyal players and seem to like where they play, the team mates they have, and the environment we foster for competitiveness.

On the pecking order of respect, those guys are at the very top, followed by honest mercenaries like JV and Mr. Dior Correa, and then finally dishonest "always been a pinstripes fan" Gerrit Cole.

---

I'm going to put Altuve in a different category because I do think he's more like Trout. LMJ may be in that category too. Jury is out for me on Yordan.

I think Bregman was just being business savvy. He realized he could get a good chunk of money upfront while being young, more than his peers gambling for arbitration and that first FA period (look at Atlanta doing it now) and still be young to go after that big, long term deal. I think he had ambition outside of baseball too that the money funded (Breggy Bomb Salsa). It would not surprise me if he's also investing said money in other ventures.

Just so happened it's team friendly too. I think Alex is not an Astro when his contract is up.

Farmer1906 said:

---

I could be convinced to sign Benintendi. He's still so young. He'll be entering age 28 season. I would expect similar results moving forward. A very solid LF. Good avg. not great power. Another Chas level player with a little bit higher ceiling.

The AAV would have to be low enough to not break the bank. Something like we gave Reddick 4/52. Or on the high end what Chris Taylor got before 4/60.

You just have to be okay with that kind of production in LF. His lack of versatility kind of hurt too. He's pretty much only been a left fielder with some CF play early in his career.

---

Wouldn't be opposed to it, even if I think it's kind of not necessary. Gives you a lefty bat in the lineup. Just really means that someone is the odd man out if we sign Brantley, or maybe we don't sign him at all.

If healthy, would prefer Brantley, but he's an injury risk of course. If he's injured, I don't see why we couldn't roll the dice with some AAA talent.

Both Brantley & Beni are heavy on the splits. Both would be ideal platoon type players.

Vs RHP I'd want TED in CF, Beni in RF, Brantley in LF, & Yordan DHing.

Vs LHP you really only need to keep TED & Yordan in the lineup.

I doubt Dusty would (or should with the defense) do the 4 in vs RHP and wouldn't sit them enough vs LHP.

The AGM can come up with these great ideas similar to Click did, but Dusty has to implement them correctly to work.

With all this talk of the JV 3rd year vesting option, I think especially with older guys that vesting option is a smart play. If he pitches 140 innings+ at age 41, he's probably doing well enough that you want him back. The Mets can be pretty cutthroat & keep him under that threshold if that 3rd year is going to be a bad deal for them. I don't think we'd do that out of respect to him, but if he's chasing the money there and he doesn't perform they certainly don't owe him anything.

I think a reasonable AB or PA threshold would be a great way to get an extra year on Brantley. If uncle Mike comes to the plate 400 times in a season, odds are that you are going to want him back the next season. I'm really surprised we don't see that option more often, but I guess it implies uncertainty about a guy's future performance which is probably a big blow to the ego.

Harry Dunne said:

---

With all this talk of the JV 3rd year vesting option, I think especially with older guys that vesting option is a smart play. If he pitches 140 innings+ at age 41, he's probably doing well enough that you want him back. The Mets can be pretty cutthroat & keep him under that threshold if that 3rd year is going to be a bad deal for them. I don't think we do that, but if he's chasing the money there and he doesn't perform they certainly don't owe him anything.

I think a reasonable AB or PA threshold would be a great way to get an extra year on Brantley. If uncle Mike comes to the plate 400 times in a season, odds are you going to want him back the next season. I'm really surprised we don't see that option more often, but I guess it implies uncertainty about a guy's future performance which is probably a big blow to the ego.

---

Yeah, I guess it depends. Maldy had a vesting option for this year based on games caught. The extra year vested for him and I think is causing some heartburn this year. At lest the way I read the situation. I'm not even sure why there as a vesting option for Madly in the first place.

I do agree from the team's perspective it makes sense for the older guys. I'm guessing the player is hesitant because of the injury factor happening prior to vesting.

I think he is. He has already stated he would like play his career here. He will make his money either which way, but I bet his wife being from here and her having family support as the grow the family will be huge.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on an 11-year, $280 million contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. A monster contract and the Padres, after missing Trea Turner and Aaron Judge, get the longtime Red Sox shortstop.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 8, 2022