Are we surprised that Gamel was released or did we pick Singleton over him for bench lefty bat? Does this foreshadow either Dezenzo or Smith getting a nod in the OF with Chas/Meyers at 4th OF?

Yep.

tjack16 said:

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TRM said:

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Latest @astros moves per @brianmctaggart
Ben Gamel has been released,
Luis Guillorme was told he won't make the roster.
Jalen Beeks had an option and granted a release.
Miguel Castro was informed he won’t make the club
This leaving 8 healthy pitchers in camp:
Hader, Abreu,…

— Htown Wheelhouse™️2X World Series Champs '17, '22 (@HtownWheelhouse) March 22, 2025

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Well I guess no Beeks in the bullpen

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Is that legit?

Probably a hot gun like Chandler said

Trade news: The Cleveland Guardians are sending infielder Tyler Freeman to the Colorado Rockies for outfielder Nolan Jones, sources tell ESPN. Freeman should play a lot with the Rockies, and Jones came up in the Cleveland organization and is headed back for a second stint.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 22, 2025

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Trade news: The Cleveland Guardians are sending infielder Tyler Freeman to the Colorado Rockies for outfielder Nolan Jones, sources tell ESPN. Freeman should play a lot with the Rockies, and Jones came up in the Cleveland organization and is headed back for a second stint.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 22, 2025

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Pretty big fall for Jones. That org is so bad who knows, might turn back into a good player.

Taggart doesn't think Smith makes opening day. Hurts his ROY chances

Hope he's wrong and we get rid of Singleton

https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/ben-gamel-jalen-beeks-released-by-astros

Yeah that's where I'm leaning. Zach also has a little more positional flexibility, specifically 1B if Walker needs more time off to start the year.

astros4545 said:

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AggiEE said:

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Taggart doesn't think Smith makes opening day. Hurts his ROY chances

Hope he's wrong and we get rid of Singleton

https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/ben-gamel-jalen-beeks-released-by-astros

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Dezenzo has now had a better spring than Smith agruably

Why bring Smith up and burn a year, when Z has earned it the same

IF it came down to those two players, I dont see why you wouldnt choose Z

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Why not bring up Smith as well and rotate him around just like Dezenzo and give other guys some more rest? I think we could probably find ways to give them both some decent amount of ABs

They dont need rest in April

You want Dezenzo and Smith..Then they need to cut Singleton (i'd be fine with it, but dont think its happening)

astros4545 said:

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They dont need rest in April

You want Dezenzo and Smith..Then they need to cut Singleton (i'd be fine with it, but dont think its happening)

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I don't see any value in keeping Singleton. He's not looked good at all this Spring. I don't care that he bats left.

You always need rest, even in April. I want to see Altuve, Yordan, and Walker get some regular rest early to help prevent injury later on.

AggiEE said:

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astros4545 said:

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They dont need rest in April

You want Dezenzo and Smith..Then they need to cut Singleton (i'd be fine with it, but dont think its happening)

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I don't see any value in keeping Singleton. He's not looked good at all this Spring. I don't care that he bats left.

You always need rest, even in April. I want to see Altuve, Yordan, and Walker get some regular rest early to help prevent injury later on.

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For the first six full weeks of the season, we have an off day built in. There are five Thursdays in a row that we don't play. I'm not sure how much more rest the guys need that early. Maybe rest them in one of the afternoon games following a night game, but I think they'll be fine. The interesting thing will be to see what we do with Diaz when Caratini catches. Does Yordan go to left and Altuve to second?

The value that Singleton has is being the perfect guy to sit the bench and not need regular at bats. Dezenzo and Smith both need ABs.

GigEmMortis said:

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iBrad said:

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I 100% support Smith starting in the minors. It's fun to think about him starting in right and continuing to rake, but the odds are heavily stacked against him. Start him in AA. Bump him to AAA if he keeps it up.

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I agree about starting him in the minors, but I don't see any reason why he should go back to AA. Send him to Sugar Land and make him the everyday RF and call him up if Chas and/or Jake struggle

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Less hitter friendly parks (home and away). Probably slightly better pitching. Fewer AAAA types that aren't big league talent.

The last one. pic.twitter.com/f23lCROsvs

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 23, 2025

Probables for the Astros-Space Cowboys games in Houston:

Mon: Ronel Blanco vs. Aaron Brown
Tues: Hayden Wesneski vs. AJ Blubaugh

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 23, 2025

Sources: The Rangers have placed Dane Dunning on outright waivers. Any team can claim him and assume his $2.66M salary for 2025. If he is not claimed on waivers, Texas can outright him to the minors.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 23, 2025

I have no idea how the Rangers are going to pitch enough this season.

SpaceCityAg05 said:

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I have been puzzled by the prognosticator optimism for the Rangers this year. Pitching is a mess, and everyone seems to assume that last year eas the aberration and the 2023 offense was the real version.

They may be offensively better than last year, but anyone with a critical eye could see that the 2023 Rangers were a product of every hitter having a career year at the same time.

They look like a decent-to-good offense with poor pitching to me.

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It's all about the offense with them. Which we've seen can carry you if it's good enough. I think they'll be better this year but probably like us living around that 85-88 win range

Source: RHP Rafael Montero has made the #Astros Opening Day roster. pic.twitter.com/7COp3mZPvy

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) March 23, 2025

Source: RHP Luis Contreras has made the #Astros opening day roster. pic.twitter.com/Z6RePz54gn

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) March 23, 2025

The Astros informed Jon Singleton that he will not make the Opening Day roster, Joe Espada said.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 23, 2025

Rafael Montero, Bryan King, Steven Okert and Luis Contreras have made the Astros’ Opening Day bullpen.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 23, 2025

No VanWey