Farmer1906 said:

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It was in reference to potentially trading Pena.

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Still the question stands. What are we expecting to get with a trade involving Pena that would make such a questionable signing worth the risk?

jkag89 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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It was in reference to potentially trading Pena.

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Still the question stands. What are we expecting to get with a trade involving Pena that would make such a questionable signing worth the risk?

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Four 5 WAR seasons from Luis Robert.

In this hypothetical, Anderson would be a cheap low-risk option to mix with Dubon & Kessinger.

Blackbeard94 said:

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1836er said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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A stomach ailment has felled some 10% of the executives at MLB’s annual offseason kickoff. It’s serious enough that the league considered ending the whole thing early. The GM meetings have become the GI meetings. https://t.co/JFQsanfp1G

— Stephanie Apstein (@stephapstein) November 8, 2023

Yikes...

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Yeowch! That's pretty ****ty.

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The GM meeting has become the BM meeting

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Down the toilet https://t.co/gmhl1TX0qB

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) November 9, 2023

If Robert really is in play for us, no question I'd include Pena in the mix if the White Sox want him. The question is what else would it take? HB and a prospect? I think I'd still do it. But what if they want Pena, HB and Chas? Still do it?

texasaggie2015 said:

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In play, run(s)

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Well played!!

Quite a list of wagering options for #Astros next manager via @SportsBettingAG :
Joe Espada…..1/10
Will Venable…..8/1
Buck Showalter…..9/1
Brad Ausmus…..10/1
A.J. Hinch…..12/1
Carlos Beltran…..14/1 (!!!!)
Joe Maddon…..16/1
Don Mattingly….20/1
Joe Girardi…..25/1

— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) November 9, 2023

Wabs said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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Quite a list of wagering options for #Astros next manager via @SportsBettingAG :
Joe Espada…..1/10
Will Venable…..8/1
Buck Showalter…..9/1
Brad Ausmus…..10/1
A.J. Hinch…..12/1
Carlos Beltran…..14/1 (!!!!)
Joe Maddon…..16/1
Don Mattingly….20/1
Joe Girardi…..25/1

— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) November 9, 2023

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Espada or Hinch. Everyone else, no.

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Pretty much my list too.

Prosperdick said:

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Wabs said:

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If Robert really is in play for us, no question I'd include Pena in the mix if the White Sox want him. The question is what else would it take? HB and a prospect? I think I'd still do it. But what if they want Pena, HB and Chas? Still do it?

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That's a bit too much IMO. We're talking about a guy in Chas who at one point was top 10 in OPS in the entire league. Imagine what he could do without a manager always screwing with him and batting him 8th with Maldy as "protection."

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I hear you and am inclined to agree. But we'd be replacing Chas with Robert in CF, and we have alot of OFers in the pipeline.

Wabs said:

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Prosperdick said:

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Wabs said:

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If Robert really is in play for us, no question I'd include Pena in the mix if the White Sox want him. The question is what else would it take? HB and a prospect? I think I'd still do it. But what if they want Pena, HB and Chas? Still do it?

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That's a bit too much IMO. We're talking about a guy in Chas who at one point was top 10 in OPS in the entire league. Imagine what he could do without a manager always screwing with him and batting him 8th with Maldy as "protection."

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I hear you and am inclined to agree. But we'd be replacing Chas with Robert in CF, and we have alot of OFers in the pipeline.

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Offer them any 2 of the 3 but not all 3.

Wabs said:

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Prosperdick said:

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Wabs said:

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If Robert really is in play for us, no question I'd include Pena in the mix if the White Sox want him. The question is what else would it take? HB and a prospect? I think I'd still do it. But what if they want Pena, HB and Chas? Still do it?

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That's a bit too much IMO. We're talking about a guy in Chas who at one point was top 10 in OPS in the entire league. Imagine what he could do without a manager always screwing with him and batting him 8th with Maldy as "protection."

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I hear you and am inclined to agree. But we'd be replacing Chas with Robert in CF, and we have alot of OFers in the pipeline.

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True, but we don't have a lot capable at playing at Chas' level currently. To me, moving Pena is probably much more agreeable to moving either Hunter or Chas. I just see it more valuable to the Stros for Chas and HB either hold their current production or continue to improve or for Pena to improve some. Duby negates that increased value more.

I'd rather give up Pena, HB, and a keep Chas
or
Move Pena and Chas and keep HB. All 3 are too much in my opinion for a team that wants to blow everything up and rebuild anyway.

2 of the the 3 (with one being Pena) and an outfielder prospect would be fine.

The fact that Espada hasn't interviewed with anyone else makes me think they have an agreement and are just working out the details. Who knows why it's taking a while. Hell, maybe he's on vacation with the family and he'll sign the dotted line when he gets back.

I don't think anyone on that list is in play except for maybe Venable. I wouldn't worry about any of the other names.

Dana likes Espada a lot. That's his guy. If they go a different direction, that would likely be a Crane decision and would make me really concerned about this team going forward and says a lot about how much Crane trusts Dana. He really needs to step back.

The question is, can Chas keep playing at Chas' current level?

iBrad said:

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The question is, can Chas keep playing at Chas' current level?

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I would guess not, but I think he'll continue to play above-average defense and be very good (not great) on offense. The slugging # is where I thnk he takes a step back.

Farmer1906 said:

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iBrad said:

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The question is, can Chas keep playing at Chas' current level?

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I would guess not, but I think he'll continue to play above-average defense and be very good (not great) on offense. The slugging # is where I thnk he takes a step back.

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Didn't Chas have some of, if not the, worst numbers in MLB against non-fastballs in '23? Maybe I dreamed that...

I thought he was interviewing with the Brewers since he was actually no longer under contract and didn't need our permission?

Fangraphs Top 50 Free Agents

Top 15

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP, Age 29

Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 13/527 (40.5)
• Median Crowdsource - 10/450 (45.0)

2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Age 25
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 7/196 (28.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 17/175 (25.0)

3. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Age 28
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 6/150 (25.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 6/144 (24.0)

4. Aaron Nola, SP, Age 31
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 5/140 (28.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 6/150 (25.0)

5. Blake Snell, SP, Age 31
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 5/140 (28.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 5/125 (25.0)

6. Jordan Montgomery, SP, Age 31
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 5/140 (28.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 5/105 (21.0)

7. Matt Chapman, 3B, Age 31
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 5/120 (24.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 4/80 (20.0)

8. Sonny Gray, SP, Age 34
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/78 (26.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 3/63 (21.0)

9. Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Age 31
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 4/92 (23.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 4/76 (19.0)

10. Josh Hader, RP, Age 30
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/70 (23.3)
• Median Crowdsource - 4/72 (18.0)

11. Marcus Stroman, SP, Age 33
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/66 (22.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 3/66 (22.0)

12. Shota Imanaga, SP, Age 30
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 4/88 (22.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 4/66 (17.0)

13. Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Age 30
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/45 (15.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 3/36 (13.0)

14. Jung-Hoo Lee, OF, Age 25
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 4/60 (15.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 4/52 (13.0)

15. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF, Age 30
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/45 (15.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 3/36 (12.0)

Others of Interest

17. Mitch Garver, C, Age 33
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 2/26 (13.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 2/20 (10.0)

29. Brandon Belt, 1B, Age 36
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 1/10 (10.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 1/9.5 (9.5)

32. Jordan Hicks, RP, Age 27
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/30 (10.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 3/27 (9.0)

33. Yariel Rodriguez, RP, Age 27
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/30 (10.0)
• Median Crowdsource - N/A

36. Michael Brantley, OF, Age 37
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 1/10 (10.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 1/9 (9.0)

37. Reynaldo Lpez, RP, Age 30
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/27 (9.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 2/12 (6.0)

43. Brent Suter, RP, Age 34
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 2/18 (9.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 1/4.7 (4.7)

45. Robert Stephenson, RP, Age 31
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 1/10 (10.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 2/10 (5.0)

48. Joc Pederson, OF, Age 32
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 1/12 (12.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 2/24 (12.0)

Marvin said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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iBrad said:

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The question is, can Chas keep playing at Chas' current level?

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I would guess not, but I think he'll continue to play above-average defense and be very good (not great) on offense. The slugging # is where I thnk he takes a step back.

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Didn't Chas have some of, if not the, worst numbers in MLB against non-fastballs in '23? Maybe I dreamed that...

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He wasn't great in 2022. But he was fine in 2021 and fine last year.

Astros (no min), vs all none fastballs, 2023

The Brewers have interest. He hasn't interviewed with anyone.

Contract wise, it seems these are pretty similar in cost. Assuming we don't make a trade and do go FA, which would you prefer and why?

Outside of team fit, I guess it depends on how long we feel it will take for our OF minor league talent to be ready. 1-2 years, 3 years, or 4-5 years.

14. Jung-Hoo Lee, OF, Age 25
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 4/60 (15.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 4/52 (13.0)

15. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF, Age 30
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 3/45 (15.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 3/36 (12.0)

48. Joc Pederson, OF, Age 32
Contract Estimate:

• Ben Clemens - 1/12 (12.0)
• Median Crowdsource - 2/24 (12.0)

My biggest take away from that is we need to get Singleton in a cage all damn offseason with someone that can teach him how to fend off breaking balls for strikes. We don't even need him to be able to hit them, just foul them off. With his great eye, it would increase his walk rate and potentially get him more fast balls to hit.