It's a negotiated benefit for players, and they'd give something back for it (like lower AAV). If they don't it's no different than Bregman not being signed because he wants a longterm contract and a high AAV. If the players get low enough on the AAV the opt out or six years won't prove to be an obstacle.

Yordan Alvarez was named the top LF in MLB for 2025. Or should it be Altuve? pic.twitter.com/scNH57aYd7

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) January 30, 2025

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Yordan Alvarez was named the top LF in MLB for 2025. Or should it be Altuve? pic.twitter.com/scNH57aYd7

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) January 30, 2025

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Is Yordan to LF what Palmeiro was to 1B?

Who are your 4 pitchers in Mets history on Mount Rushmore?

Pretty easy 3. Seaver. Doc. Jake. #4 is the almighty question….#LGM🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/eS525rUa8T

— SheaHello (@shea_Hello) January 28, 2025

Who are the Astros pitching Mount Rushmore?

My choices:
Verlander
Wagner
Ryan
Oswalt

HM to Scott, JR, Pressly, Lidge, Dierker, & Wilson.

How much is the Draft Pick in value if we end up signing Bregman?

That's one reason I can't see us agreeing to any deal with opt outs. 1 year of Bregman only to opt out and you lose a pick by signing him to a contract he just abandons anyways?

I missed this today. Would have been a nice cheap 6th/7th inning piece.

Ryne Stanek’s deal with the Mets is for $4.5 million, per source. Stanek can earn another $500K in incentives.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 29, 2025

Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuuz said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Who are your 4 pitchers in Mets history on Mount Rushmore?

Pretty easy 3. Seaver. Doc. Jake. #4 is the almighty question….#LGM🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/eS525rUa8T

— SheaHello (@shea_Hello) January 28, 2025

Who are the Astros pitching Mount Rushmore?

My choices:
Verlander
Wagner
Ryan
Oswalt

HM to Scott, JR, Pressly, Lidge, Dierker, & Wilson.

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JR Richard
Mike Scott
Justin Verlander
Billy the Kid

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I love Mike Scott and how foolish he made guys look throwing the earliest version of the split finger (possibly scuffed) fastball. But he doesn't have the longevity to be up there. I'd start with Nolan and Billy since they are both in the HOF and probably put Verlander up there for his role in the championships. Beyond that, there are about 4-5 other guys who have a legit argument for that 4th spot.

Agree with you, take off Scott as hard as it my be & add Ryan.
My uncle took me to JR''s comeback start that didn't happen...we hiked up to the 2nd to last row of the yellow seats...little me thought I'd just climbed Mt Everest to get to our seats..

always a good discussion...

Mike Scott and Roy Oswalt should be locks, because their greatness was with the Astros...and solely with the Astros

JV, Nolan, Clemens, et al...belong on other teams' Mount Rushmores if that makes sense

Keuchel may be the guy from the championship era

Would you consider Cole? I know he was only here two years, but my God he was THAT good in those years.

mount rush

1. Wagner
2. Oswalt
3. Ryan
4. Dierker

JV with a statue at the bottom of the mountain on the viewing deck

So no Wandy Rodriguez????

With the most career wins as an Astro, Joe Niekro should be in any pitching discussion.

Marvin said:

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With the most career wins as an Astro, Joe Niekro should be in any pitching discussion.

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He is in the discussion no doubt, but not on MY mount rushmore.

Only if it has a gigantic cold sore

AustinCountyAg said:

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Marvin said:

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With the most career wins as an Astro, Joe Niekro should be in any pitching discussion.

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He is in the discussion no doubt, but not on MY mount rushmore.

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I was just irritated by the complete lack of mentions. Show some respect for Nail File Niekro!

Farmer1906 said:

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Who's ready for Bregman to sign 6/162 with the Astros?

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Ain't my money so I'm good with it.

Farmer1906 said:

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Who's ready for Bregman to sign 6/162 with the Astros?

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Nope

That's higher than what we previously offered. Why bid against yourself?

Stay on the 6/156 and we're good

Mr Rushmore

JRR
Niekro
Roy O
JV
Wags

The original design for Rushmore had 4 faces and the Entablature. JRR is my Entablature. The part that was never finished.

There isn't any more room for a another carving but under consideration were Don Wilson, Nolan, Joe Sambito and Dave Smith. If he signs a long term contract to stay, Framber is going to be hard to leave off.

Farmer1906 said:

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Who's ready for Bregman to sign 6/162 with the Astros?

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Did they increase their offer or is this just a hypothetical?

Marvin said:

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AustinCountyAg said:

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Marvin said:

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With the most career wins as an Astro, Joe Niekro should be in any pitching discussion.

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He is in the discussion no doubt, but not on MY mount rushmore.

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I was just irritated by the complete lack of mentions. Show some respect for Nail File Niekro!

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Joe's appearance on Letterman, when he came out with a tool belt on, shortly after getting tossed for scuffing was gold…

txags92 said:

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Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuuz said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Who are your 4 pitchers in Mets history on Mount Rushmore?

Pretty easy 3. Seaver. Doc. Jake. #4 is the almighty question….#LGM🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/eS525rUa8T

— SheaHello (@shea_Hello) January 28, 2025

Who are the Astros pitching Mount Rushmore?

My choices:
Verlander
Wagner
Ryan
Oswalt

HM to Scott, JR, Pressly, Lidge, Dierker, & Wilson.

---

JR Richard
Mike Scott
Justin Verlander
Billy the Kid

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I love Mike Scott and how foolish he made guys look throwing the earliest version of the split finger (possibly scuffed) fastball. But he doesn't have the longevity to be up there. I'd start with Nolan and Billy since they are both in the HOF and probably put Verlander up there for his role in the championships. Beyond that, there are about 4-5 other guys who have a legit argument for that 4th spot.

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Here's a list of guys I want you to look up:

#1: Pitched a no-hitter to clinch a division/playoff spot in the entire history of baseball.

#2: Won the MVP of a playoff series while a member of the losing team.

There's only 1 who has done either, and both are Mike Scott.

And I hate to die on this hill, but a lot of Astro fans conflate Nolan Ryan's accomplishment with the Angels and the Rangers as some kind of incredible time with the Astros, which he didn't really have. I hate WAR but it does prove my point.

Nolan with the Angels: 40.0 WAR in 8 seasons (5.0/per, high of 7.8)
Nolan with the Astros: 25.4 WAR in 9 seasons (2.8/per, high of 5.4)
Nolan with the Rangers: 15.2 WAR in 5 seasons (3.0/per, high of 5.1)

He broke 2 huge career records as an Astro - no-hitter #5 and Johnson's K record, but he was only "good" the rest of the time. Never higher than 4th in Cy Young voting, never hit 300 strikeouts again (he did this 5 times with the Angels and once with the Rangers). One no-hitter compared to 4 with California and 2 with Texas, and the numbers are good, but never great.

Here's how he did among the NL top 10 league leaders in the 1980s

ERA: 1st in 1981 (strike year) and 1987 (8-16 year), otherwise finished 7th in 1983
Wins: 7th in 1981, 7th in 1982
Strikeouts: 2nd in 1980, 4th in 1981, 5th in 1983, 3rd in 194, 3rd in 1985, 6th in 1986, 1st in 1987, 1st in 1988.

He's an all-time Texas legend and was the only guy to throw 100+ for almost 30 years, but there's no way his accomplishments from 1980-1988 are one of the four best Astros of all time. Joe Niekro in the same era blows him out of the water.