Recap on where we stand payroll wise.

Projected Payroll
1. NYM - 305
2. NYY - 294
3. LAD - 289
4. PHI - 238
5. ATL - 229
6. HOU - 221
7. TOR - 221
8. TEX - 211
9. CHC - 191
10. STL - 178
...
14. LAA - 154
...
18. SEA - 130
...
30. OAK - 41


Luxury Tax Payroll
1. NYM - 318
2. NYY - 305
3. LAD - 301
--60% Surcharge 297
--42.5% Surcharge 277 (45% for each consecutive year)
4. ATL - 271
--12% Surcharge 257
5. PHI - 253
--Competitive Balance Tax 237 (20% year 1, 30% year 2, 50% year 3)
6. HOU - 236
7. TEX - 232
8. TOR - 231
9. SDP - 212
10. SFG - 208
...
15. LAA - 169
...
18. SEA - 150
...
30. OAK - 30


Astros Breakdown
80.3% Guaranteed% (9th)
15.2% Arbitration% (17th)
4.5% Pre-Arb (23rd)

65 M - 2025 Commitments (17th)

• I estimate 55 M in Arb & 10 M in Pre Arb - 130 M before you get into potential Verlander & Pressly options.
• That would mean 111 M to play with if we want to go up to the CBT.

66 M - 2026 Commitments (15th)

• I estimate <40 M in Arb & 10 M in Pre Arb
• That would mean 129 M to play with if we want to go up to the CBT

48 M - 2017 Commitments (14th)

• This is only Alvarez & Javier.
• Pena, Meyers, Brown, & Diaz will still be in Arb.

My thoughts on the Astros:

• We're going to pay someone, right? Even if JV vests, Pressly & the Astros agree on the mutual option (rare), and we extend Atluve at 25 M, we'd be 54 M under the CBT for 2025.
• 54 M = 35 to Tucker, 10 M to a star reliever, & 9 M to spare. (just using this as an example of the kind of space we'll have next year)
• I hope Crane bites the bullet this year and makes the medium-sized signings (Yariel? Moore? Stephenson?) to give us the best shot this year.
• The downside to that is the qualifying offer compensation draft pick drafts a few spots (after the 4th round) when Bregman leaves.
• As long as we get under in 2025, the compensation for Framber & Tucker will be higher.

My thoughts on the rest of FA:

• Who has room to add 20+ M players? I don't think anyone who is currently over the CBT will want to take on a Belli, Snell, Monty, Hader, or Chapman. That leaves TOR (it'll push them into the tax), TEX (into the tax + doubt they do much with the RSN issues), SFG, & CHC. Everyone else wants to stay or cut payroll.
• Who the hell is going to get all these FAs? I wonder if the bottom falls out and we get another Corra situation where he takes on a short-term deal.
• No insider info, but I keep thinking about getting Chapman on the cheap. Fangraphs valued his last 3 seasons at 32.6 M, 33.6 M, & 27.6 M. The defense is that good and the offense has another level potentially.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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This is the first interview Max and Gaby have given about their ordeal. After reading it, everyone will understand why Max sat out all of last season.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 12, 2024

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I was right where Max Stassi was 12 years ago when our twins were born 4-1/2 months early weighing 1 lb 8 oz and 1 lb 4 oz. They spent 126 and 141 days in the NICU before coming home. Work was just a means to an end for those months, and I spent every other waking moment at the hospital. Good on you, Max for prioritizing the big picture.

The first spring training workout for Astros pitchers and catchers is on Valentine's Day. First full squad workout is Feb. 19. Twelve Grapefruit League games will be broadcast on Space City Home Network. Full list: pic.twitter.com/sLJORtiXio

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) January 12, 2024

12 televised games in spring training

33 days!

Crazy story about Roy O I'd never heard. As told by Berkman

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0H-cKhuFHf/?igsh=MzFvaDl5ZnRub3Zo

Oh yeah that story I thought was pretty well known.

That one and the one about Billy Wagner teaching himself to throw left handed at a young age when he broke his right arm are pretty amazing.

PoppaB05 said:

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Call me crazy, but I think throwing resources at trying to have an elite bullpen usually turns out poorly. Relief pitchers, outside the absolute elite top 10-15 arms are unpredictable from year to year. Luckily we have 2 elite guys. I think we have enough options that someone will step up. If not, go get someone at the deadline.

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The question always comes back to what we are going to trade that has value and will beat offers from other teams?

Who would have thought they most fun playoff game I'd attend in 2023 would have been the Texans

tjack16 said:

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Who would have thought they most fun playoff game I'd attend in 2023 would have been the Texans

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Sequester whatever clothing you wore and use it for Astros games this year

tjack16 said:

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Who would have thought they most fun playoff game I'd attend in 2023 would have been the Texans

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Check your calendar buddy.

Sea Speed said:

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tjack16 said:

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Who would have thought they most fun playoff game I'd attend in 2023 would have been the Texans

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Check your calendar buddy.

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2023 season I should say*

I was mowing the yard before the great freeze hits tomorrow. My earphones broke, so it was just mowing, drinking and peaceful thinking.

You know what pisses me off? Multiple times per season, the sign stealing stuff still gets brought up during games, articles, etc. You never hear anything about the Yankees, BoSox, etc. but.. What makes it worse, is that you never really heard anything during the Michigan game. The Patriots don't continuously get talked about for spygate and inflategate. PedoU doesn't get mentioned, anymore. I could go on and on. A lot of this stuff was far more egregious, and with Michigan, much more recent.

I love sports, but there is/always will be cheating and scandals. It's just sad that we're the only one that gets brought up year after year.

/end rant

King Tuck has a Queen.

Is that Myles on his left?