If he hadn't made such a big deal about his renewed love of the game I wouldn't be so bitter but I should have known better that it was all BS. Plus going to a team with Scherzer on it, who he doesn't like...whatever though, I'm done talking about it.

Did the Ags get a new OC yet?

Once again, I'm super appreciative of both JV and CC. I wish him the best as a a Met and that he can finish out his career strong.

I don't not support his number being retired and hung in the Juice Box though. There are other Astros I support for that before him that also were contributors to this team in my short 33 years of life.

We don't know for sure what the Astros offered. Maybe we decided to give a halfway competitive offer but at the end of the day knew that he would walk. I love him for what he did for us. Seeing him move on doesn't bother me one bit. I don't think that us losing him changes our chances all that much for next year. Might have some growing pains with Brown but that was going to happen at some point no matter what. Framber, Garcia, Javier, Urquidy, Lance and Brown are gonna eat up a ton of innings for us and probably net us close to 80 wins on their W/L records.

Alek Thomas from Arizona is a name to watch. Astros have had eyes on him for a while and have inquired before. Still in talks.

texasaggie2015 said:

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Alek Thomas from Arizona is a name to watch. Astros have had eyes on him for a while and have inquired before. Still in talks.

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Why would AZ even consider that?

They've been getting calls about Varsho, Thomas and McCarthy. Not sure the reasoning from their side and I'm not sure we would be willing to pay what it would take to get him.

I would love to get him, but he's their #2 prospect who just played his rookie season. He's got 5 years left of control (assuming) with lots of plus tools.

Varsho seems more realistic. His versatility would be awesome and he's got room to continue to develop. Then it makes sense to move Diaz or Lee.

I'm assuming when you say buy low you're inferring that SD would cover a huge chunk of that albatross of a contract.

I assume that is Profar? I think that is worth a shot as well. He turned down a $7.5mm option so he may think a little higher of himself than we do. Maybe 2 years $16mm would do it. MLB TR says 2 and $20/mm.

That's Tatis

Ah, never mind.

In light of all the JV and CC shaming, we should definitely pass the time with everyone's Top 10 favorite Astros of all time. Maybe include the year you started following the team as well. My real purpose here is that I like this thread to be 10x longer than the Rangers' off-season thread, but they're all so excited about Syndergarden that they've got like 475 posts and we've "only" got like 4250, so let's pick it up!



I'll start
Been rooting for the Astros since the late 70s

1. Jose Cruz
2. Jose Altuve
3. Mike Scott
4. Alex Bregman
5. Craig Biggio
6. Nolan Ryan
7. Kevin Bass
8. Jim Deshaies
9. Justin Verlander
10. Danny Darwin

Bregman flew up my list during September and the playoffs. His bat control and patience at the plate are going to make him a HOFer if he can stay healthy.

Otherwise, I'm very aware of my 1980s bias shining through.

I became a fan in 1980 when I was just 3 years old.

My top 10 list:

1. Jeff Bagwell
2. George Springer
3. Lance Berkman
4. Craig Biggio
5. Nolan Ryan
6. Altuve
7. Roy O
8. Mike Scott
9. Ken Caminiti
10. Bill Spiers

Astros fan since late 70s:

1. Alex Bregman
2. Bill Doran
3. Jose Cruz
4. Jose Altuve
5. Craig Biggio
6. Jeff Bagwell
7. George Springer
8. Nolan Ryan
9. Mike Scott
10. Cesar Cedeno

Baseball is a business. "It's not show-friends, it's show business." That goes both ways--when a free agent heads to another team for a longer/more lucrative contract, or when the GM decides to DFA a veteran in the middle of the season.

I would have loved to have JV back on the 'stros for another year. I understand JV taking a fat 3 year contract in NY. I also get Crane not wanting to match or beat that contract.

I do find it funny that some people that will cry that JV showed no loyalty will welcome Abreu with open arms, or would be screaming to DFA the utility guy that's only hitting .150.

Born in 85...

1) Bagwell
2) Biggio
3) Altuve
4) Bregman
5) Oswalt
6) Caminitti
7) Berkman
8) Spiers
9) Springer
10) Wagner

Since the early 80's

1. Altuve
2. Roy O
3. Biggio
4. Nolan
5. Scott
6. Bregman
7. Berkman
8. Yordan
9. Springer
10. Glenn Davis

The Astros are involved here, multiple people with knowledge of their plans said this week. https://t.co/RtRm4OatCY

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 8, 2022

These salaries are asinine. Absolutely, ridiculous.

Quote:

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There appears to be no shortage of interested parties when it comes to outfielders Daulton Varsho, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy.

According to sources, perhaps a third of baseball's 30 teams have checked in on at least one of the Diamondbacks' outfielders, with two new clubs reaching out for the first time on Tuesday. Sources say the interested teams include the Astros, Athletics, Blue Jays, Brewers, Marlins, Reds, White Sox and Yankees, among others.

As for what the Diamondbacks could get in return, a number of possibilities remain in play. Talks are said to involve players at a variety of positions, with second base, third base, shortstop and catcher looking most likely. The club is focused primarily on right-handed hitters.

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I think we know a few right-handed catchers they may be interested in. Hensley at SS too.

Jet Black said:

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These salaries are asinine. Absolutely, ridiculous.

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Why?

$40 million a year to play baseball. Dumb imo.

Born in '90.

1. Altuve
2. Biggio
3. Berkman

4. Yordan
5. LMJ
6. Bregman

7. Verlander
8. Correa

9. Bagwell
10. Springer

Inflation is a thing. Current and future values aren't exactly convergent.

At the same time, owners are not constrained in their ability to spend. The treatment of the luxury tax as a cap is meant to suppress salaries.

Salary levels themselves don't concern me. If the sport can sustain them that's between the owners and players. What does concern me for baseball is the structure of the league and lack of revenue sharing and caps mean you can have significant imbalances and un level playing fields between owners. I'm afraid we are about to see a period in baseball that has a significant imbalance.

I will say soccer and specifically the monetary sportswashing by petro monarchies isn't a fair comparison for anything. The Saudis doesn't have to answer to anyone on a bottom line or shareholders. It's the royal family and the financial backing of a country.

Seth Brown and Anthony Santander are two other names the Astros have at least made phone calls on

texasaggie2015 said:

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Seth Brown and Anthony Santander are two other names the Astros have at least made phone calls on

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Meh. Santander is interesting because he can hit from both sides of the plate. Neither player wows me.