Andrew Friedman, on @LADTerritory, says Kiké Hernández's signing isn't official but "it was Kiké or nothing" when it came to further position player additions. Noted his October leadership, "the best...I've ever seen."

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 10, 2025

Confirms there isn't any way Alex can send up in LA

Astros pitchers and catchers will hit the field Thursday in West Palm Beach, so I took a shot at predicting how the 26-man roster may look on Opening Day.

What do you think?https://t.co/JlBYEtmWac

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 10, 2025

From a Buster Olney article:

Quote:

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Olney: Alex Bregman, who is likely to land with the Red Sox, Cubs or Tigers soon; sources in the Astros organization are skeptical he'll return to Houston. If he goes to Fenway Park, he could pepper the Green Monster while relearning the nuances of playing in the middle infield. If he goes to Chicago -- likely on a short-term, Cody Bellinger-type deal -- he will have pressure to produce. And if he signs with the Tigers, it would be Detroit's de facto announcement that with Tarik Skubal two years from free agency, the team's window to win is now, and the expensive signing of Bregman would be an all-in move.

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If that's how this plays out I hope we go trade for another offensive weapon before the season starts

Sources: Cubs have discussed signing Justin Turner if Alex Bregman goes elsewhere. With @PJ_Mooney: https://t.co/QpFoyrxTU5

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 10, 2025

Any idea on what the left field split would be with Altuve, Yordan and I'm guessing Dubon? Like how many games each would start

Feels like 30-40 Yordan, 40-50 Altuve, the rest to Gamel/McCormick/Dezenzo/et al. Assuming that Altuve DHs about 15-20 games, and plays about half the time at second.

If the time in the OF goes well I can see it being leaned on more often.

(This presupposes that Breggy doesn't resign here. In that case I think Paredes would take 2B mostly with Altuve being primarily LF/DH in 75+% of his games)

((Not sure how Dubon would fit in exactly -- maybe going back to more of a CF/SS timeshare))

I have heard this as well.

Does he want to go to Detroit though? https://t.co/7UuMUQOwZF

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) February 11, 2025

EastCoastAgNc said:

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I have heard this as well.

Does he want to go to Detroit though? https://t.co/7UuMUQOwZF

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) February 11, 2025

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Baseball purgatory. Gross

EastCoastAgNc said:

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I have heard this as well.

Does he want to go to Detroit though? https://t.co/7UuMUQOwZF

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) February 11, 2025

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"This has been on my desk for weeks"

Justin Turner has been sneaky good late in his career. .354 OBP last year in 460 AB's at age 39.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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I have heard this as well.

Does he want to go to Detroit though? https://t.co/7UuMUQOwZF

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) February 11, 2025

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It's partially about the years, but it's mostly about the money.

If it's not $30M/yr, it doesn't matter that it's 6 years.

n_touch said:

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Beat40 said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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I have heard this as well.

Does he want to go to Detroit though? https://t.co/7UuMUQOwZF

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) February 11, 2025

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It's partially about the years, but it's mostly about the money.

If it's not $30M/yr, it doesn't matter that it's 6 years.

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Girth not length?

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It ain't long but it's skinny

the Tigers better have some protection built into the 6-year contract

Walk off home run!
Easiest one yet.

https://www.dailywalkoff.com/

Wall-off home run as well.

As we await the arrival of pitchers and catchers, here are a couple of questions for your consideration. Would enjoy reading your thoughts:

• What do you think the '25 Astros still need?
• What do you think Brown and Crane will do with roster additions, if anything?
• What do you think is the strongest position group (SP, RP, IF, OF)?
• Who are you most excited to see in spring training?
• Yes or no on LMJ or Garcia pitching a live batting practice (at a minimum)?

I'll start with mine:

• Outfielder
• Maybe a reliever on the cheap
• IF > SP >> RP >>>> OF (first two are close in my opinion)
• Cam Smith, Wesneski, and McCormick (lay off the slider!)
• Yes to at least one batter in practice

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/02/10/tailor-made-nike-fanatics-make-adjustments-to-mlb-uniforms-amid-backlash/



Explains the super cheap jersey dump by dicks a month ago

What do you think the '25 Astros still need?

I want one more significant bat. Sure, our offense right now will be good, but I want to be greedy. Bregman works, but I would prefer a big trade for someone with a few years on control and that hits RHP well.

What do you think Brown and Crane will do with roster additions, if anything?

I think the door is open to a lot of options. The most likely scenario is a few small signings or minor trades.

What do you think is the strongest position group (SP, RP, IF, OF)?

If we're counting Altuve as INF then how can it not be? Paredes, Walker, Altuve, and Pena is pretty strong. Defensively we might be sneaky good in the OF if we have Chas, Jake, and Ben. The arms aren't great but the range and routes are.

Who are you most excited to see in spring training?

Young guys. Smth, Matthews, Dezenzo, & Blubaugh.

Yes or no on LMJ or Garcia pitching a live batting practice (at a minimum)?

In Spring training? I sure hope so. They would still need to build up with minor league games and knock the rust off. If the answer is no, then I would guess we don't see them until late May at best.

• What do you think the '25 Astros still need? Outfielder or bullpen arm
• What do you think Brown and Crane will do with roster additions, if anything? Bullpen arm (going conservative here)
• What do you think is the strongest position group (SP, RP, IF, OF)? Probably IF
• Who are you most excited to see in spring training? Miguel Ullola
• Yes or no on LMJ or Garcia pitching a live batting practice (at a minimum)? Yes to both

What do you think the '25 Astros still need?
Another outfield bat, and another arm or two in the pen.


What do you think Brown and Crane will do with roster additions, if anything?
Maybe get a cheap arm for the pen and probably sign another bench OF bat to a minor league deal with hopes of a call up later


What do you think is the strongest position group (SP, RP, IF, OF)?
Starting Pitcher and Infield with the addition of Walker.


Who are you most excited to see in spring training?
Seeing Cam Smith play, and who is healthy pitching wise

Yes or no on LMJ or Garcia pitching a live batting practice (at a minimum)?
Yes. I'd say McCullers

tylhair said:

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what would this accomplish?

many of you are so dang sensitive.

he's not immoral if he goes elsewhere. he's more "houston astro" than any of us will ever be.

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I think you misunderstood my intention. It wasn't about hurt feelings or loyalty, but rather if the team wants to improve on last year's performance, knowing who they have and who is going to play where would seem like knowledge you'd want to have as possible. With as many as 3 players in new positions / on a new team (Altuve, Paredes, Walker), it seems like you'd want to start building that chemistry as soon as possible instead of waiting around to see if you have a new 3B or the same old 3B.

Maybe that's not how modern ballplayers think, but when the Astros IF was Bregman, Correa, Altuve, Gurriel for multiple years, we wound up taking for granted how incredible they played together. If I were the Astros, I'd be pretty worn out at this point waiting to see who those guys are going to be for '25.

• What do you think the '25 Astros still need?

Left handed outfielder

• What do you think Brown and Crane will do with roster additions, if anything?

Reliever

• What do you think is the strongest position group (SP, RP, IF, OF)?

Starting Pitching. Which hopefully pushes some deserving guys to a bullpen making it stronger.

• Who are you most excited to see in spring training?

Nothing Astros specific. Just baseball in general.

• Yes or no on LMJ or Garcia pitching a live batting practice (at a minimum)?

Not sure if this was just ST specific. I think Garcia will pitch for us this year. So yes?
I'm really hoping LMJ actually gets back to baseball. It would be one of the top stories in baseball if he finally made the comeback.

Those players are going to be playing new positions regardless of Bregman.

So they're showing up to ST knowing very well they'll be playing new/multiple positions.

Hell Altuve has already begun getting reps in LF.

texasaggie2015 said:

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Who are you most excited to see in spring training? Miguel Ullola

---

Yes, please.

What do you think the '25 Astros still need?
A vocal leader in a very young pitching ranks. Another OF for the times where Chas and Jake are both miserable.

What do you think Brown and Crane will do with roster additions, if anything?
An OF with some wheels. A junkyard combo reliever / innings eater.

What do you think is the strongest position group (SP, RP, IF, OF)?
SP - IF - RP - 500 feet of crap - OF (no offense, Yordan)

Who are you most excited to see in spring training?
Cam Smith hitting so well they have to put him on the roster, making the Cubs look like the perennial dumb dummies they are.

Yes or no on LMJ or Garcia pitching a live batting practice (at a minimum)?
Garcia yes, LMJ I don't think ever pitches in a real MLB game again sadly.

New at ESPN+: As spring training begins, a look at who's left in free agency and on the trade market. Bregman, Arenado, Pivetta and plenty more big leaguers from last year remain available. A breakdown of where they could land and much, much more on ESPN: https://t.co/JL1fjPXqm8

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2025

Anybody got access to see if there's anything here we don't already know?

What do you think the '25 Astros still need?

What do you think Brown and Crane will do with roster additions, if anything?

What do you think is the strongest position group (SP, RP, IF, OF)?

Who are you most excited to see in spring training?

Yes or no on LMJ or Garcia pitching a live batting practice (at a minimum)?

-1 Outfielder (preferably leftie) and one relief pitcher.

-I think they ultimately sign Bregman (eye roll) and get a 5th starter type that can be converted to BP as we get some arms back from injury

-IF and SP

-Cam Smith

-I think they both see action this year. LMJ needs to be in the BP...I think he could be absolutely filthy in short outings. I think his days as SP are behind him.