tjack16 said:

---

BadAggie said:

---

Is Leon close to being ready? If the Madris and Hensleys get shots why not him?

---

I havent understood some of the call ups this year. Bannon, Kessinger and Madris have gotten shots over Lee, Dirden, Leon, Singleton and Shay Whitcomb (who has 25 HR this season at AAA)

---

Maybe has to do with service time/extending year(s) of control? Of course, maybe those guys were the best? If so, yikes.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/white-sox-trade-kendall-graveman-astros.html

"The addition of Graveman and his remaining salary takes the Astros' payroll north of $195MM, per Roster Resource. In terms of luxury-tax calculations they're now over $220MM, which still leaves them with plenty of breathing room underneath the $233MM first tier threshold. Houston now has $149MM in guarantees on next year's payroll, before considering that option on Neris or what figures to be an expensive slate of arbitration-eligible players. Cy Young candidate Framber Valdez and star outfielder Kyle Tucker headline an arb class that also includes Jose Urquidy, Blake Taylor, Mauricio Dubon, Chas McCormick, Luis Garcia and the aforementioned Abreu. Valdez will be due a raise on this year's $6.8MM salary. Tucker will get a bump from this season's $5MM figure"

maca1028 said:

---

Not Astros related but I'm going behind enemy lines and passing through Seattle in a couple of weeks and want to catch a ballgame while I'm there. Anyone been to T-Mobile? Any recommendations on the best section/bang for my buck?

---

Great park. Top thing you have to do is get the garlic fries. I sat left field second deck when I was there a few weeks back but honestly you can get decent sight lines from most sections and the real fun is going to the CF party deck.

They also have a Din Tai Fung in there, which is sick.

Couple bars and brewpubs along the street near the two stadiums.

A JV return would put the Astros into lux tax territory, which would might have the double whammy of paying more, losing out on distributions from tax paying teams, and losing draft position, iirc. On top of that the Astros have several core players progressing through arbitration years and set to get raises the next 2 offseasons.

We'll find out just how aggressive Crane wants to be by next Tuesday but will not be surprised if additional trades are not splashes but pickups of players with some years of control or lower cost rentals.

A JV return would be expensive given that he's likely to vest the 2025 option for $35 mil. At least he'd be off the books before Altuve, Bregman hit free agency in 2025 and Tucker in 2026.

Seth Brown?

"Now, the Astros are targeting a left-handed bat and a starting pitcher. One name that has been linked to Houston by rival executives is Oakland A's slugger Seth Brown, who has hit a mere .197/.278/.394 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI, and could benefit from a change of scenery. He has hit 20 and 25 home runs in his last two full seasons."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-rumors-targets-for-orioles-astros-plus-mets-calculation-on-justin-verlander/ar-AA1evnDL

JV and Snell are both scheduled to pitch Sunday.

The Cubs understandably are said to be rethinking their earlier inclination to sell thanks to a 6-game winning streak that has lifted them to .500 and 4 out for the Wild Card. That could remove two key pieces — Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman — from the trade market.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 29, 2023

As we wait to see how this year’s Trade Deadline plays out, I asked a number of club executives what they’re expecting in the next 96 hours. https://t.co/b1cghuxG9A

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 29, 2023

BadAggie said:

---

A JV return would put the Astros into lux tax territory, which would might have the double whammy of paying more, losing out on distributions from tax paying teams, and losing draft position, iirc. On top of that the Astros have several core players progressing through arbitration years and set to get raises the next 2 offseasons.

We'll find out just how aggressive Crane wants to be by next Tuesday but will not be surprised if additional trades are not splashes but pickups of players with some years of control or lower cost rentals.

A JV return would be expensive given that he's likely to vest the 2025 option for $35 mil. At least he'd be off the books before Altuve, Bregman hit free agency in 2025 and Tucker in 2026.

---

The penalty for going over the first time is minute. 20% tax on overages. My opinion is you deal with next year next year. Maybe you dump an Abreu or reload a bit by trading a guy you can't extend long-term. There are options.

Seth Brown would be interesting. A bit Chris Carter ish with really high k's but strong batted ball metrics. He might also open up dumping Abreu next year.

Does anyone have any tickets for sale tonight? Looking for two

Thanks! I was eyeing left field just above the bullpen.

Astros first-round pick Brice Matthews should make his affiliated ball debut tonight in Fayetteville. https://t.co/UkrNembYOy

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 29, 2023

maca1028 said:

---

Thanks! I was eyeing left field just above the bullpen.

---

That may put you in the sun, depending on the time of day. If you care. First base line upper deck gives you a view of the city.

Great ballpark, but don't wear any Houston gear. Fans are worse than New Yorkers.

Trains drop you off close to the stadium. Something of a bottleneck getting in and out.

The Chicago #WhiteSox, who have already traded five pitchers, have just one more remaining pitcher who could also depart:
Keynan Middleton.
Teams keep asking for ace Dylan Cease and left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer, but the White Sox are keeping them.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 29, 2023

Bummer

tjack16 said:

---

Drew Gilbert went 3-for-5 with 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI in win for @cchooks #Astros

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 29, 2023

Alex Bregman got called up within a year of being drafted. Is Gilbert a September call up or 2024 debut?

---

He's got 58 games at AA this year. Batting .243/.348/.374, wRC+ 94.

IMHO he's nowhere close to ready right now. I'm not even certain he should move up to AAA.

tjack16 said:

---

Drew Gilbert went 3-for-5 with 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI in win for @cchooks #Astros

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 29, 2023

Alex Bregman got called up within a year of being drafted. Is Gilbert a September call up or 2024 debut?

---

Probably 2024. Breggy started 2016 in AA where he had a .975 OPS over 285 PA. Then he got called up to AAA where he had a 1.015 OPS in only 83 PA. He was called up in late July. He dominated at Lsu & in all levels of the minors. He was needed at the big league level and given the starting position.

Gilbert started year 2 in A+. He dominated then moved to AA where he has not dominated. He dealt with injury & struggled at the plate coming back from it. He's clearly behind Bregman's scorching pace. He won't be afforded a starting position if he's not producing.

Gotcha. I'd assume he's on the opening day 2024 roster especially if Meyers or Julks is gone.

An outfield of Chas, Yordan, and Tucker with Gilbert getting some ABs when Yordan DHs would be good.

Marvin said:

---

maca1028 said:

---

Thanks! I was eyeing left field just above the bullpen.

---

That may put you in the sun, depending on the time of day. If you care. First base line upper deck gives you a view of the city.

Great ballpark, but don't wear any Houston gear. Fans are worse than New Yorkers.

Trains drop you off close to the stadium. Something of a bottleneck getting in and out.

---

Just realized that the left field deck is bleacher seats so I went with section 115 down the first base line. I'm always amazed at how much cheaper other parks are compared to MMP, price of being the champs.

EastCoastAgNc said:

---

The Chicago #WhiteSox, who have already traded five pitchers, have just one more remaining pitcher who could also depart:
Keynan Middleton.
Teams keep asking for ace Dylan Cease and left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer, but the White Sox are keeping them.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 29, 2023

Bummer

---

another bummer...

the Rangers have 3 games vs. the now depleted White Sox next week

Beau Holder said:

---

They also have a Din Tai Fung in there, which is sick.

---

I did not know this. I flew into Orange County on Thursday and the first thing I did was go to Din Tai in Costa Mesa.

I don't expect Gilbert on the roster opening day next year.

Cristian Javier release points, his first 17 starts compared to his last 3.
Definitely some subtle changes to his release points. A bump in velocity also helps. pic.twitter.com/KDvL9Agp6f

— Astros Stats 📈 (@astro_numbers) July 29, 2023

texasaggie2015 said:

---

I don't expect Gilbert on the roster opening day next year.

---

I assume when he goes to AAA he plays CF. What are they going to do with Leon? He's shown no real improvement. Does he have any value as a throw this week?

EastCoastAgNc said:

---

Cristian Javier release points, his first 17 starts compared to his last 3.
Definitely some subtle changes to his release points. A bump in velocity also helps. pic.twitter.com/KDvL9Agp6f

— Astros Stats 📈 (@astro_numbers) July 29, 2023

---

That's a big difference. I wonder if the invisible is no longer invisible.

Deluxe said:

---

Beau Holder said:

---

They also have a Din Tai Fung in there, which is sick.

---

I did not know this. I flew into Orange County on Thursday and the first thing I did was go to Din Tai in Costa Mesa.

---

Yeah, I was very (pleasantly) surprised too.

BadAggie said:

---

Seth Brown?

"Now, the Astros are targeting a left-handed bat and a starting pitcher. One name that has been linked to Houston by rival executives is Oakland A's slugger Seth Brown, who has hit a mere .197/.278/.394 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI, and could benefit from a change of scenery. He has hit 20 and 25 home runs in his last two full seasons."if we're going to trade for Seth Browm hopefully we can get Tony Kenp thrown in as well.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-rumors-targets-for-orioles-astros-plus-mets-calculation-on-justin-verlander/ar-AA1evnDL

---

Leon isn't really a big prospect. He's older and still been very meh. K's way too much and power is inconsistent. I suspect Gilbert starts in AAA next year then makes the bigs in June or July. That's two years I'm a row he has gotten hurt and either missed a lot of time or his production dropped big time. He needs to show he can either avoid injury or play through it effectively. He's got a bit of Springer to him in his OF play, fun to watch until he's batting .200 playing through a sprained wrist for 6 weeks.

BCEDAg said:

---

BadAggie said:

---

Seth Brown?

"Now, the Astros are targeting a left-handed bat and a starting pitcher. One name that has been linked to Houston by rival executives is Oakland A's slugger Seth Brown, who has hit a mere .197/.278/.394 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI, and could benefit from a change of scenery. He has hit 20 and 25 home runs in his last two full seasons."if we're going to trade for Seth Browm hopefully we can get Tony Kenp thrown in as well.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-rumors-targets-for-orioles-astros-plus-mets-calculation-on-justin-verlander/ar-AA1evnDL

---

---

Eh....I don't like it. Marginal upgrade at best. Would rather roll the dice with an AAA callup or something