The problem is Brantley is a big question mark as far as health. They won't sign him until he clears medically and they won't know that until closer to spring training.

So what if you settle now and put all your eggs into the Brantley basket then he hits a complication and can't clear a physical. Now you're SOL

Brantley will be 36 on May 15 and just missed 100 games with an injury. he wasn't a good LF to start with so who knows what he'll look like now. Yordan has a cannon in LF, but his range and instincts are probably average to below average. You need to find someone who can at least platoon in LF with Brantley, and he gets spot starts at DH when Yordan needs a day off. Yordan going 145 games at DH is a Yordan who probably gets hurt a whole lot less.

Everything I've read says Abreu has turned into a good 1B, although it's hard to imagine anyone being as good as Yuli the last few years. Regardless if you find a good glove for LF, you're talking about a spectacular defense, maybe the best in the league.

Ag_07 said:

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The problem is Brantley is a big question mark as far as health. They won't sign him until he clears medically and they won't know that until closer to spring training.

So what if you settle now and put all your eggs into the Brantley basket then he hits a complication and can't clear a physical. Now you're SOL playing Dubon in LF

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And nobody wants that

Ag_07 said:

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And nobody wants that

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SOL would be better.

Any thoughts on Julks long term?

JDUB08AG said:

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With Brantley, I don't understand why we need to explore another LF. He and Yordan can platoon LF and DH. This is where I want Yuli too bc he can backup 1B and DH to give these guys a rest.

Save our money and lock up Tucker and Framber and see how our minors progress.

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I think that's what they're doing. Nothing wrong with exploring options while you're at it. You're trying to minimize Yordan playing more than half the season in LF while banking on Mike being healthy all season. Nothing wrong with exploring all feasible options.

I have to think that to some degree, the hesitance surrounding signing an OF has to be dependent on the current prospects.

Here are the Astros top 11 prospects per MLB.com

1. Hunter Brown, RHP, already in majors
2. Drew Gilbert, OF, ETA 2025
3. Yainer Dieaz, C/1B, ETA 2023
4. Pedro Leon, OF/2B, ETA 2023
5. Colin Barber, OF, ETA 2023
6. Jacob Melton, OF, ETA 2025
7. Korey Lee, C, already in majors
8. Ryan Clifford, OF, 2026
9. Joe Peerz, 3B, ???
10. Forrest Whitley, RHP, ETA 2023 (lol)
11. Justin Dirden, OF, ETA 2023

Sure these guys won't all pan out, but you gotta like having that much talent relatively on the cusp

Booking my trip to spring training. I think we are going for the first 3 games (feb 25-27) Any reason to think that some guys won't be in camp by then?

amercer said:

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Booking my trip to spring training. I think we are going for the first 3 games (feb 25-27) Any reason to think that some guys won't be in camp by then?

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Check the box score of the last few seasons and see if starters were playing yet.

This is also why we over spent on Montero.

With a solid/shut down 6-9 inning bullpen, we have titles in 17, 22 and 2019.

Possibly even in 21. We learned that the hard way.

Farmer1906 said:

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amercer said:

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Booking my trip to spring training. I think we are going for the first 3 games (feb 25-27) Any reason to think that some guys won't be in camp by then?

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Check the box score of the last few seasons and see if starters were playing yet.

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With the WBC happening, that might change when some guys you may care about start to show up in games. I think WBC teams have their own version of spring training prior to the tournament.

Looks like it in '21 (although Covid weirdness probably), for '22 they started later and the box scores from the first few games seem incomplete.

I don't even care if the stars are playing much. I think what will blow the kids minds is to see them walking out to the practice fields and hanging out etc.

This organization has shown us their ability to develop its prospects. I'm personally loving the model of both having the money for a sizeable payroll, and running it like we don't have it (to a degree). It's savvy. Early extensions to the studs you want around. Short-term higher AAV to the quality veterans you want. And trusting the development of the talent you've acquired in the draft/trades. It's been beautiful to watch thus far.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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amercer said:

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Booking my trip to spring training. I think we are going for the first 3 games (feb 25-27) Any reason to think that some guys won't be in camp by then?

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Check the box score of the last few seasons and see if starters were playing yet.

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With the WBC happening, that might change when some guys you may care about start to show up in games. I think WBC teams have their own version of spring training prior to the tournament.

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Interesting thought. Venezuela is supposed to have an exhibition against the Astros on March 8th.

According to the internets team Venezuela will be having its training camp at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Good post. It's been a wild offseason so far. First the Click termination and corresponding faux media scolding. Then we spent to keep Montero and grab Abreu. At the time, it seemed like "oh sh*t, maybe Crane is about to put together a super team with no GM to govern his moves". Now it seems like we've normalized back into Astros status quo.

In hindsight, I'm guessing we spent big quickly on Abreu and willingly tacked on a third year because he was our #1 target this offseason. He does so much to round out our lineup. Montero's third year was interesting, not because it's a bad contract, but because we've been reluctant to give third years to veteran relievers in the past. Hopefully he lives up to it.

It seems like we were willing to spend on another higher profile free agent but the contracts given out by other teams were too much for our blood. Glad we didn't give Contreras a fifth year. Nimmo was never realistic. $44mm per is too much for JV. Not signing these guys could also be considered "good moves" and offer up good evidence that good balance still exists in the organization.

I've been noodling for the past few weeks if "going for it" over the next 3-4 seasons at the expense of developing guys beyond 2026 is worth it. Things can change quickly in baseball but we've got a wide wide open window with basically our entire pitching staff signed through 2025 and playing in an extremely weak AL. But I've also always been a fan of our tempered approach. We're not afraid to spend and make win now moves, but never at the expense of the longer term good. Give yourself a lotto ticket every year for 10-15 years, some are gonna cash.

With that in mind, as much as I would have liked transitioning catcher duties to Vazquez, I'm also perfectly content with Maldy and Lee/Diaz back there. Lee/Diaz could be nice pieces that help carry our window beyond 2026. Even though it would be fun to trade for Varsho or Reynolds, I also like keeping our prospects in tact. It also gives Chas/Meyers a chance to develop into another window-extender. And signing Brantley to a one year deal helps keep LF open for someone like Gilbert, Melton or Daniels to emerge and take the position in 24/25. Leon could develop into a nice utility piece.

All in all, happy with the direction things are headed. In my "worst case scenario", we enter the 2023 season with our entire pitching staff back minus JV, and a lineup that makes us easy AL favorites and among the World Series favorites.

Altuve 2B
Bregman 3B
Yordan DH
Abreu 1B
Tucker RF
Pena SS
Brantley LF
Chas CF
Maldy C

- The Astros wanted Vasquez back, but the two sides were never that close to a deal. Wonder if the difference was financial or related to PT

- They will add a catcher. They don't see Lee or Diaz as being close to ready. Omar Narvez, Mike Zunino, Jorge Alfaro are all names to watch. Curious to see what we do here. I want Diaz/Lee to get as many reps as possible behind Maldy, but we'd be in scramble mode if Maldy got hurt. Safe play would be to bring in a super cheap vet.

- They are still going after Conforto and Benintendi. They aren't aggressive offers, but I do expect one of them to sign with Houston. Seems like it all depends on price. Brantley as a fallback option makes it less urgent that we sign either.

- They would love to add a veteran starter. They've made offers to a few of them. Corey Kluber is one. I think it would be smart to bring in a vet innings eater. Brown will be limited innings this year. LMJ is hard to count on for a full season. We also don't want to stretch Javier in the regular season.

- Don't read too much into the Daulton Varsho rumors. The Astros have checked in but the only player on Arizona who they have legit interest in is Alek Thomas. I think the asking price will be too steep, but Houston has had their eyes on Thomas for a while now. This still doesn't make much sense. Wonder if the AZ side is just throwing out rumors to see if anyone is willing to overpay. I remember the Brewers used to do that with Hader and the Reds with Castillo for many years before they actually traded them. Hype up some guys as trade candidates and see what bites you get.

Quote:

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- Don't read too much into the Daulton Varsho rumors. The Astros have checked in but the only player on Arizona who they have legit interest in is Alek Thomas. I think the asking price will be too steep, but Houston has had their eyes on Thomas for a while now. This still doesn't make much sense. Wonder if the AZ side is just throwing out rumors to see if anyone is willing to overpay. I remember the Brewers used to do that with Hader and the Reds with Castillo for many years before they actually traded them. Hype up some guys as trade candidates and see what bites you get.

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My best guess- someone is leaking this from the Astros side and trying to pressure one of the free agent outfielders with an offer on the table to sign with us.

Yea, that's possible too. Thanks for posting what you know.

texasaggie2015 said:

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Here's what I've heard:

- The Astros wanted Vasquez back, but the two sides were never that close to a deal.
- They will add a catcher. They don't see Lee or Diaz as being close to ready. Omar Narvez, Mike Zunino, Jorge Alfaro are all names to watch.
- They are still going after Conforto and Benintendi. They aren't aggressive offers, but I do expect one of them to sign with Houston.
- They would love to add a veteran starter. They've made offers to a few of them. Corey Kluber is one.
- Don't read too much into the Daulton Varsho rumors. The Astros have checked in but the only player on Arizona who they have legit interest in is Alek Thomas. I think the asking price will be too steep, but Houston has had their eyes on Thomas for a while now.

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Curious- from whom or where did you hear all this? Love the info, and I like the mindset if true.

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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kegstand said:

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I have to think that to some degree, the hesitance surrounding signing an OF has to be dependent on the current prospects.

Here are the Astros top 11 prospects per MLB.com

1. Hunter Brown, RHP, already in majors
2. Drew Gilbert, OF, Starting CF 2023

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FIFY

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I really liked Vazquez and was hoping he would be Maldy's replacement, or at least replacement in waiting. He gelled almost immediately and came up big in the postseason. Oh well...

One fewer Catcher option.

Guardians agree to deal with catcher Mike Zunino https://t.co/jMNIa3HcOn

— NBC Sports EDGE Baseball (@NBCSEdgeBB) December 13, 2022

texasaggie2015 said:

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Here's what I've heard:

- The Astros wanted Vasquez back, but the two sides were never that close to a deal.
- They will add a catcher. They don't see Lee or Diaz as being close to ready. Omar Narvez, Mike Zunino, Jorge Alfaro are all names to watch.
- They are still going after Conforto and Benintendi. They aren't aggressive offers, but I do expect one of them to sign with Houston.
- They would love to add a veteran starter. They've made offers to a few of them. Corey Kluber is one.
- Don't read too much into the Daulton Varsho rumors. The Astros have checked in but the only player on Arizona who they have legit interest in is Alek Thomas. I think the asking price will be too steep, but Houston has had their eyes on Thomas for a while now.

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In regards to Thomas, AZ asked the Mets for Baty, #18 in baseball

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/top100/

He actually got that right.

Think he said they were contemplating it and then a while later it broke that it was actually floated within the organization.

Is it bilboag

Today's his day. #LaTormentaDay pic.twitter.com/bPkobT7xeP

— Houston Astros (@astros) December 13, 2022

texasaggie2015 said:

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Here's what I've heard:

- The Astros wanted Vasquez back, but the two sides were never that close to a deal.
- They will add a catcher. They don't see Lee or Diaz as being close to ready. Omar Narvez, Mike Zunino, Jorge Alfaro are all names to watch.
- They are still going after Conforto and Benintendi. They aren't aggressive offers, but I do expect one of them to sign with Houston.
- They would love to add a veteran starter. They've made offers to a few of them. Corey Kluber is one.
- Don't read too much into the Daulton Varsho rumors. The Astros have checked in but the only player on Arizona who they have legit interest in is Alek Thomas. I think the asking price will be too steep, but Houston has had their eyes on Thomas for a while now.

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We're getting Benintendi...I previsioned it.