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By Mark Polishuk | at
Email a copy of 'Offseason Outlook: Houston Astros' to a friend
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AstrosWS20
My Astros postseason wish list:
1. Sign Keuchel long term.
2. Trade for a closer. Kimbrel and Chapman would be excellent, but expensive. If neither of them can be had for a reasonable price Drew Storen might be a good option as well.
3. Sign Alex Gordon or Jordan Zimmerman as that marquee free agent that we need. Gordon would fit in nicely in left field and Zimmerman would be a great #2 behind Keuchel. Keuchel, Zimmerman, McCullers, McHugh and Velasquez/Fiers would be a great rotation.
4. Resign Tony Sipp and Joe Thatcher to be our lefty relievers.
5. Let Colby Rasmus walk. Thanks for your service Colby. You did well, but your postseason was an outlier. We can’t pay over $10M for someone who is a borderline 3rd/4th outfielder.
6. Get something for Carter or non-tender him.
Joe McMahon
Signing Keuchel, Gordon, Zimmermann, Sipp and Thatcher and trading for Kimbrel/Chapman would add like $70M to the Astros payroll. They have significant budget room, but I don’t think they have nearly that much.
David233
Thatcher?? Are you serious?
Bob M.
I think you hit one name I think that makes the most sense, is a short term contract to Justin Morneau. I think they will pursue Gordon as well. I dont expect Carter to be back and if Gattis is back he will not be a full time player unless he earns it.
If they do look to spend money on a starter, I think through an analytical aspect you have to expect Greinke to age the best. He doesnt pitch off velocity and has an outstanding ground ball rate.
Though if a pitcher really is the target, I think the Astros will open up their currency in prospects and not the check book right now. They could use those prospects to get themselves in line with friendly contracts, like Quintana and Carrasco. Marisnick is a right handed plus plus CF and combine him with Velasquez and Appel, you might get Carrasco.
Id prefer the Astros to do the same for a reliever. Ken Giles can be had and his financials are much cheaper and could cost the same as Kimbrel prospect wise. Carter Capps is another name. Both Capps and Giles have the same stuff and impact as Kimbrel.
Alex Bregman, Daz Cameron and Kyle Tucker can be traded now. Velasquez, Feliz, Musgrove, Appel, Martes (hopefully off limits) are joined with a glut of players at Triple A, a lot of teams would love to have because they will be on their big league roster in 2016. The LJ. Hoes, Dan Straily, Robbie Grossman’s, the Jon Singletons, the Tyler Whites. They are pieces that can be combined with those top prospect names in packages.
Prospects are currency like money, and they can be used to get you in a position to acquire players whose contracts wont handcuff you in 6 years. I expect the Redsox to do the same.
hozie007
I admit I didn’t think much of the team that Luhnow had assembled last off-season but I was wrong. He did a nice job with what he had and the players performed well. Good job guys……but was this a flash in the pan or a build for the future?
budman3 2
Acquire James Loney from the Rays and add a LH’ed high contact, low KO guy who hits to all fields as a compliment to a predominately RH’ed all or nothing line-up. Only a one year 8 million dollar commitment allowing Reed more time and not blocking him. They can non-tender Carter and only add about 2 million to payroll.
Offer a mid prospect at the most and, if wanting to save money, send Singleton over to the Rays (if they want him) providing more money to use for FA’s.
R.D.
Long term deal to keuchel and resigning sipp should take priority.
I understand moving one of Carter or gattis but moving both seems ridiculous. Non tended Carter if need be and let singleton get a chance to prove his worth.
The rest of the money going towards Gordon, incentive based relievers (Eric O maybe?), And a second tier sp like shark or kazmir seems like the best idea. Getting Carter and rasmus out of there and plugging in Gordon and singletons would really cut back k rates and make this a more formidable offense and defense
AvidAstrosFan
I do agree with locking up Keuchel. I agree with the idea of signing Justin Morneau to a short 1-2 year contract at a discounted price which I am sure is conceivable. Put a good offer in on Gordon and if we get him then we can use either Marisnik or Tucker along with a Gattis and a good prospect to trade for a top tier pitcher (#2). Resign Sipp. Work with VIncent Valazquez on heaters……
David233
How does Castro & Carter warrant $4.6 million and $5.6 million, respectively in arbitration? Why does it always seem that everyone gets a raise in arbitration regardless of performance? Castro and Carter should make less than they did in 2015.
Bob M.
cause thats how it works…
Bob M.
A team isnt forced to tender a player an offer. To force a player under team control, they should be getting raises.
jb19
A lot of different ideas out there on the message board. I wouldn’t put all my eggs in one basket. I think going out and trading for Storen or signing Tyler Clippard would be better than trading for Kimbrel or Chapman.. Another idea I think worth thinking about is converting Velasquez to a closer or setup role, we want a power arm in the bullpen, right? Well Velasquez throws 95+ and rarely appears in long relief.. Starting pitching depth is really good right now and no one even mentioned Joe Musgrove in AA, plus Martes and Appel. One thing is for sure, sign Kuechel long term… I don’t think anyone will oppose doing that. Buyout his arbitration and make sure he’s an Astro until he retires.. Going out and getting Alex Gordon for $80+ million or Justin Upton sounds crazy when you have Springer and Gomez already in the OF. I am making the assumption that Rasmus will be an Astro for at least one more year, plus Marisnick and Tucker. I would stay put in the OF. Astros need to address the 3B and 1B positions. I think Carter needs to go, I personally like the guy but his cold streaks are… well… ‘historically abysmal’ is the best term for it. May as well get rid of Valbuena too. Morneau seems like the best addition that I can think of at 1B while Lowrie is over at 3B, hopefully he stays healthy this next year (long shot). I would trade Feldman. One of these bottom feeder teams need inning eating arms at a reasonable price. I think the Stros would be crazy not to dump him just for budget moves.. The best outcome for the Astros would be Reed and Moran are up late 2016 and get their feet wet… Resign Sipp.
TheAdrianBeltre
It would be fantastic for the Astros to an Alex Gordon or Heyward, but with the their budget and lineup, I think Ah Seop Son’s skill set could help: lefty outfielder with high contact rate and on base ability. Though he is unproven, would be a steal if he resembles anything half the player he was in Korea(the last 5-6 years he has been very good, with the last three being great). Also, 28 in March. Also a Morneau signing or(less likely) a LaRoche or Loney trade, and maybe a Gallardo, Chen, or Kazmir signing. Hope Sipp returns.
JD-Astros
I guess my main concern would be on pitching rather than batting. Keeping Marisnick and Tucker in LF could give the ~270 ave and 25Hr we want. The Morneu idea on 1B is good, specially with the rookies pushing the way they are. For 3B I would trade Lowrie (never liked his expensive deal) and keep valbuena and Marwin. Marwin had a great season and people seems to keep forgetting him. Starters, looks like a great mix at the moment given tha Keuchel can be extended but McHugh is a strong 3rd rather than a 2nd picher in the rotation. Cueto looks like a great fit…. And definitely the relief/closer situation needs improvement. Gregerson back to setup and get a 1st tier closer