Their luxury tax payroll is only 137 M now.

Could Manoah be included in a Soto trade? 👀 https://t.co/Gv92zYqYKQ pic.twitter.com/6Vx7d71D9C

— theScore (@theScore) December 4, 2023

After he didn't show up for his minor league assignment when he was demoted, you knew he wasn't gonna be on the team next year

Better speculation might be Paredes and/or Arozarena from Rays. @jonmorosi mentioned earlier that Tampa Bay and Seattle make a good trading pair. Soto would be big boost but at about $32M (arbitration estimate) hr might be rich for Mariners https://t.co/kLdoPRosdX

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 4, 2023

Brewers are moving closer to a deal with Wade Miley. Would be 1 year.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 3, 2023

Gross

Red Sox, Blue Jays, Astros, and a mysterious team are very interested in Domingo Germán, per @mikedeportes.

Germán posted a 4.56 ERA/4.65 FIP in 108.1 IP last season. 20 G/19 GS.

He left the Yankees in August due to alcohol abuse. Also been suspended for domestic violence. No… pic.twitter.com/zz8dbVvzci

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) December 3, 2023

Free Agent Catcher Tucker Barnhart is drawing interest as teams look to fill catching depth.

The #Astros and #DBacks are two of the teams interested, per source. pic.twitter.com/cQBnn1wr0l

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) December 4, 2023

Keep that trash far away from here

Didn't he have some domestic stuff?

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barnhtu01.shtml
I think we may have managed to find someone worse than maldy in barnhart.

KBO star CF Jung-Hoo Lee is indeed being posted today, the Kiwoom Heroes announced (via @Jeeho_1). 30-day negotiating window begins tomorrow. Padres, Yankees among many interested teams.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 4, 2023

Odds are probably extremely slim but if we signed him, extended Altuve, & extended someone way early (Brown, Chas, Pena, Diaz) I would consider this a strong offseason.

Farmer1906 said:

---

KBO star CF Jung-Hoo Lee is indeed being posted today, the Kiwoom Heroes announced (via @Jeeho_1). 30-day negotiating window begins tomorrow. Padres, Yankees among many interested teams.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 4, 2023

Odds are probably extremely slim but if we signed him, extended Altuve, & extended someone way early (Brown, Chas, Pena, Diaz) I would consider this a strong offseason.

---

Given the limits Crane has shown towards spending, I can't see us winning a bidding war.

Part of what has caused our farm system to take such a huge nosedive is the lackluster approach to free agency. We either make mind-boggling stupid signings (Montero) or we go grab guys off the scrap heap that amount to absolutely nothing (Odorizzi, Robel, Goodrum). At a certain point, you have to actually improve the team in free agency. Brantley and Neris are the only players I can think of that did that. I don't count Abreu in that category until he plays a complete season up to his potential.

The limp free agency approach means we have to drain the farm to make trades. The only way to avoid that is to spend big, and Crane has shown no willingness to do that except via trade.

Farmer1906 said:

---

KBO star CF Jung-Hoo Lee is indeed being posted today, the Kiwoom Heroes announced (via @Jeeho_1). 30-day negotiating window begins tomorrow. Padres, Yankees among many interested teams.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 4, 2023

Odds are probably extremely slim but if we signed him, extended Altuve, & extended someone way early (Brown, Chas, Pena, Diaz) I would consider this a strong offseason.

---

no way would I offer anything to Pena at this point

AustinCountyAg said:

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

KBO star CF Jung-Hoo Lee is indeed being posted today, the Kiwoom Heroes announced (via @Jeeho_1). 30-day negotiating window begins tomorrow. Padres, Yankees among many interested teams.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 4, 2023

Odds are probably extremely slim but if we signed him, extended Altuve, & extended someone way early (Brown, Chas, Pena, Diaz) I would consider this a strong offseason.

---

no way would I offer anything to Pena at this point

---

It would be a buy low moment. Even bad SS make money. Keke got 10 M last year, Aledmys Diaz got 2/14.5, Miggy Rojas got 2/11. These guys couldn't hold Pena's jock at SS. If we can buy a year or two of prime for 8-10 M, it could be worth it.

In the Crane era, how many of the prospects that we've traded have turned into everyday major league players? Teoscar Hernandez…who else? I'm sure there's a pitcher or two.

Our farm system also took a hit with the sign stealing penalties, so it hasn't just been trading prospects away.

Lastly, we've also done okay landing talented prospects via trade, like Yordan and Diaz.

There's no reason to spend big in free agency if that money is being used elsewhere, like locking up guys currently on the roster. Look at our payroll. Crane isn't afraid to spend. Keep it mind that a lot of the guys you'd like to go get in free agency cost you in draft compensation, so free agency isn't always the path to a better farm system.

The Abreu signing still has time to be a good signing. You could argue that his play down the stretch and in the playoffs has already made it an okay signing. Time will tell how that signing ultimately gets viewed.

Where do you draw the line of prospect vs already established MLB player?

Bryan De La Cruz
Cionel Perez
Josh Rojas
Max Stassi
Tony Kemp (not really a prospect anymore)
JD Davis
Joe Musgrove (not really a prospect anymore)
Ramon Laureano
Teoscar Hernandez

De La Cruz
Kemp
Davis
Musgrove
Laureano
Hernandez

adding:
Josh Hader


I'd say all of those are everyday players. Stassi I'd consider a backup catcher level guy. Has value but not an everyday starter. Perez is still in a wait and see although Baltimore has gotten some good innings out of him so far.

Winter Meetings update:

The Cardinals remain willing to move one of their controllable outfielders. After adding 3 starting pitchers, they aren't necessarily committed to acquiring immediate rotation help in return.@MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 4, 2023

Astros have been involved. They've also asked about Contreras.

W said:

---

the Astros paid Abreu $20 MM for a zero WAR season (per baseball reference)

it was definitely a bad signing

(ESPN lists him as having had a negative WAR season)

---

That negative WAR is the fWAR from FanGraphs. They have his worth for 2023 at -$5,100,000.

Their $ / WAR calculation over the last 5 years is 8.21 M per 1 WAR.

He's going to need back-to-back 4 WAR seasons to recover on this contract.

--

Some food for thought on Jeremy Pena. Based on his fWAR, he's been worth 49.9 M for his first 2 seasons.

Alex Bregman has been worth 281.9 M for his Astro career and 78.7 M for the last 2 seasons.

texasaggie2015 said:

---

Astros have been involved. They've also asked about Contreras.

---

Not sure that is the leadership we need for Diaz. But maybe he'd be a nice buy-low candidate.

The only OF I would want is Lars Nootbaar. I doubt he's the one they want to move though.

EastCoastAgNc said:

---

Winter Meetings update:

The Cardinals remain willing to move one of their controllable outfielders. After adding 3 starting pitchers, they aren't necessarily committed to acquiring immediate rotation help in return.@MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 4, 2023

---

I would not mind Tyler O'Neill.

Quiz time

Not exactly a household name, but I think there's still enough sickos on here that someone will get it quickly

2022-23, best four-seam mashers in terms of run value. Who's the missing row? pic.twitter.com/A8f7x72apQ

— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) December 4, 2023

Chas?

Banana Pudding helps

Hello from Nashville, where Astros manager Joe Espada will make his winter meetings podium debut at 4:40 this afternoon. General manager Dana Brown is scheduled to speak afterward, too.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 4, 2023

Fallout from last night’s Braves-Mariners trade: The Braves do not plan on keeping left-hander Marco Gonzales, sources tell @TheAthletic. Expected to be part of another deal. Destination unknown.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 4, 2023

The Braves are among teams still engaged with Shohei Ohtani, per @jonmorosi pic.twitter.com/Jdqh4RQx3a

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 4, 2023

TED doesn't give a **** about your VELO.

Maldy does tho.

376 hitters had at least 30+ PA end on pitches 95MPH+ last year. The top and bottom in run value is a fascinating list. I was surprised to see Schwarber there. pic.twitter.com/75OqwLlJ2l

— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) December 4, 2023