The defending World Series champions head into the offseason without many holes on the roster, but first base is a notable exception. The Astros got just a .235/.285/.371 showing from the bat-first position this past season, and they’ve seen both Yuli Gurriel and Trey Mancini hit the open market.
With J.J. Matijevic and Yainer Díaz standing as the primary in-house options at the start of the offseason, the Astros are virtually certain to add first base help in some capacity. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reports Houston has set its sights on Anthony Rizzo as its top free agent target at the position. Rosenthal writes they’ve also expressed some interest in José Abreu and Gurriel as potential fallbacks.
Rizzo is back on the free agent market for the second straight offseason, although he’s facing a key decision in the first few days this time around. The Yankees tagged the left-handed hitter with a qualifying offer last week, just days after Rizzo declined a $16MM player option. Rizzo and his representatives at Sports One Athlete Management have until tomorrow at 4:00 pm EST to decide whether to accept that $19.65MM offer from New York or to turn it down — presumably in search of a multi-year pact.
Of course, the Yankees are among the most direct competitors to the Astros atop the American League. Houston and New York were top two in the Junior Circuit in regular season record and met in the AL Championship Series this year. The Astros handily controlled the Yankees in the postseason, but Rosenthal suggests the opportunity to poach a key bat from New York would be an added bonus for Houston as they try to remain atop the perch.
Doing so would require forfeiting a draft choice, as Rizzo would have to reject the Yankees’ QO to sign with Houston. The Astros neither paid the luxury tax nor received revenue sharing payments this year, so they’d be stripped of their second-highest pick in the 2023 draft and $500K in international signing bonus space to sign a qualified free agent. The Yankees would receive a compensatory pick if Rizzo signed elsewhere, but that selection would only come after the fourth round since New York did surpass the CBT threshold this year.
It seems far likelier the Yankees would prefer to see Rizzo stick around for another season than to collect that modest compensation, although it remains to be seen whether the first baseman’s camp will feel he could top the terms of the qualifying offer. Rizzo signed a two-year, $32MM guarantee (with the aforementioned opt-out capability) last winter coming off a .248/.344/.440 showing. He had a more impressive .224/.338/.480 line this year, matching a career-high with 32 home runs. It’d be understandable if Rizzo were looking to beat last winter’s deal building off a better platform season, but he’s now 33 years old and would require teams forfeiting a draft choice to sign him this time around — or, in the Yankees’ case, relinquishing the chance at a compensatory pick were they to bring him back.
Aside from Rizzo, the top free agent first basemen available are Abreu and Josh Bell. Neither player was eligible for a qualifying offer this winter, but each could prove more costly than Rizzo. Even after a down second half, Bell looks likely to land a three or four-year deal heading into his age-30 season off a .266/.362/.422 showing between the Nationals and Padres. Abreu is soon to be 36 and will be limited to shorter-term offers, but he hit .304/.378/.446 with the White Sox and could land the largest per-year salary of anyone in the first base class.
Gurriel and Mancini are among the lower-tier options, with the former having been a career-long member of the organization. Gurriel was the AL batting champion as recently as 2021, but he mustered only a .242/.288/.360 regular season showing this year before an excellent 12-game run in the playoffs. Mancini looks less likely to be back after struggling with the Astros following a deadline trade from the Orioles. Houston could also look to the trade market if they come up empty in free agency. They reportedly were in contact with the Rays about Ji-Man Choi before he was dealt to Pittsburgh, while Rhys Hoskins, Rowdy Tellez and Joey Meneses are among speculative trade candidates.
Hanging over all the Astros’ early offseason interest is a lack of front office clarity. After the team parted ways with general manager James Click last week, the team is without a presently stable baseball operations hierarchy. Owner Jim Crane is known to have taken an active role in the team’s decision-making, while Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reported over the weekend that assistant GM Andrew Ball and senior director of baseball strategy Bill Firkus were handling day-to-day operations.
It’s possible that Houston is just feigning interest to make Cashman pay more to keep Rizzo.
I’m not saying you’re wrong but do you honestly think GMs are wasting their time doing stuff like this?
Yes. They do. All the time.
Absolutely. Cashman famously took Carl Crawford to dinner very publicly when Carl was a free agent. The Red Sox ended up overpaying for him and it was a bad signing for them. That sort of gamesmanship is nothing new.
OK, so I’m not sure how that proves that Cashman had no interest in Crawford other than to drive up his contract.
Read all about it:
espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7008129/new-york-…
*golf clap* you got me. That seems incredibly stupid on Cashman if he’s not just saving face.
the article notes that cashman refused to give up montero for cliff lee, which i could make fun of except for the fact that i believed montero was the next johnny bench
Why is it stupid of Cashman? A rival got burned on a bad contract.
I think Montero will be the poster boy for “overhyped Yankee prospects” for quite a while.
He can have dinner with Halo poster boy Adell.
Can go up and down the line on FA deals given out by Epstein.. Most all worked out bad to awful, from Crawford, to Heyward, even throw in middling deals such as Matty Clement. few worked out half way.. JD Drew/John lackey, but what never saw from him was any + signs. His trades didn’t usually end up a lot better and his “home run” drafts were before they changed the system and it couldn’t be gamed.
hire brilliant minds to surround himself with? u bet, but he sure got a lot more credit than he deserved and as far as a rival taking out a FA to dinner? laughable. Common practice.
That’s the definition of sore looser good job Fink Ployd
Yes Ployed, managers aren’t physics
Youre definitely not a ‘physic’ either.
So? Why does that matter?
Psychic! Sorry wrong one, and just because I used the wrong definition doesn’t mean you have to be that irrigate.
Clements not really fair to put in there… dude took a liner to the face and was never the same. He was pitching well before that.
Same could be said for Jacoby Ellsbury. Red Sox pretended to be interested in re-signing. Yanks got him for 7 years $153M.. Huge bust! At least the Sox dumped Crawford to the Dodgers.
“Looser?”
“Irrigate?”
Problem?
AAAAH again! Wrong definition
We all did for a bit, which is why if a deal comes along for a Volpe or Dominguez I’d make the move
@android, GM’s do always like to do things like chess moves. Back in the 2010-2011 offseason, the Blue Jays traded Shawn Marcum to the brewers and made sure they got Brett lawrie as part of the package. The blue jays gm from that time later admitted that part of the main reason for the trade was because the blue jays were interested in trading for Zack Greinke and knew the brewers were interested too and figured Lawrie would’ve been the centerpiece for what the royals would’ve wanted. But the brewers got Greinke anyways.
I think the reason so many people spell “loser” with a double “o” is that it’s logical.
Can you name another English word with a single “o” that’s pronounced with an “oo” sound?
Our wonderful, illogical language.
They wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t.
wasting their time
======================
It takes maybe ten seconds to do. Dawesome stops by Joey’s desk and says ‘spread the rumor’.
It could also be counter-intelligence. Maybe the Astros want to get Mancini back, and will feign interest in Rizzo to get some leverage.
More like Boras putting that out there. Why would a team do that?
I would consider that an unlikelihood scenario at best.
I doubt the defending champs with a hole at 1b would be overly concerned to get one of the richest franchises in the league to spend 5 million extra bucks
Did you see who played starting shortstop for the Yankees all year? These are not George Steinbrenner’s Yankees. They’re Hal’s.
… third in MLB in 2022 payroll lol.
Yes, third in payroll because when Hal lets Brian put big-money contracts on the books, his money often gets misspent. Then Hal obsesses over the luxury tax and Brian tries to be frugal — like when he precipitately threw a 7-year contract at oft-injured Aaron Hicks, thereby wasting more money.
The Yankees had $125M tied up in just five players this year.
The Yankees need to hire Constanza back into the front office.
Yes, but it us a payroll tied up in a relatively few players. Cashman regularly features a stars and scrubs team.
So? The Yankees are competitive year in and year out, unlike the Red Sox who yo-yo between bad and good.
And who’ve won four World Championships since 2001, the most in the majors, ChuckyNJ.
I expect the Astros to make a play for Bell now that Rizzo is back with the Yankees. The safety net is Yuli is still there at 1B and will be better than he was in 2022. Remember, Yuli won the batting title in 2021.
It also seems that if Houston has a choice to “prioritize” one over the other, Abreu would fit their roster better, stylistically. He’s a better contact hitter than Rizzo and he is RH, so that really short wall in LF should help boost his power numbers at home, I would think.
Plus, they can afford a little slack on 1B defense with Peña and Bregman as their left-side IF. Not like they have IKF throwing over to him.
Yes, Chicago has such a deep left field fence, moving to Houston should help….not!
An analysis published on the MLB site found Minute Maid to be the easiest park in baseball to hit a home run, stymeedone:
“Since the advent of Statcast™, 16.1 percent of home runs at Minute Maid Park have been neither barreled nor solid contact. Several have been among the most improbable hits in that span, including Alex Bregman’s home run into the Crawford Boxes on May 24 against the Tigers, which had an exit velocity of 88.3 mph and a launch angle of 27 degrees. A batted ball with that combination of exit velocity and launch angle had a hit probability of 7 percent, and had never before gone for a home run since Statcast™ was introduced.”
mlb.com/news/which-is-easiest-ballpark-to-hit-a-ho…
The RF wall isn’t much further than the LF wall (11 feet), plus it’s shorter.
Abreu would be nice, but having the switch hitting Bell would be better
That’s not right for Houston to try to trick and take advantage of a inexperienced rookie like Cashman.
The Marlins managed to. So, it appears, did Boras when he got Cashman to come to California, literally wining and dining and overpaying for Cole.
So that’s how Boras gets those big contracts! The old wine and dine. I gotta give mad props to the Pirates and Athletics for being able to be immune from that silver tongue devil’s charm.
I thought overpaying was how you got players? If they only got paid what they were worth then every contending team would be willing to pay them. They would probably just stay with their current team or where there home is. Wouldn’t be exciting if no team was willing to overpay.
The wine and dining were on Cashman’s tab, not Scott’s.
But Boras reaps the benefits, when other team overpays.
It’s even more stupider that the Dodgers traded for him and took on that contract.
Tell me you’re in first grade without telling me you’re in first grade:
“more stupider”
More grammar police. Its just a comment, aint no dissertation Everyone types a million miles an hour, they maybe gunna make mistakes.
@Fink Ployed-,Of course they are. Why would Rizzo want to go there? He doesn’t seem like he’s that type of person to run to Houston. Probably not happening. No worries and fake news.
He would go there to have the best chance to win a World Series
Leaked by agent to increase price.
I agree that this is the most likely scenario. Maybe his last “big contract”…fighting for a few more mil..
Yeah, I think the Astros planted this story. We don’t need that bum in Houston
No, you don’t. You’re well supplied in that department.
Why would a GM announce he wants to sign certain player to the media before signing him? Stupid on his part, drives up his own price too. GM’s know this
Rizzo resigns for $17 million in 2023 and 2024 with a $6 million buyout for 2025.
The Angels can subtract 6 loses by signing Yuli.
Are they moving on from Walsh? Granted he had a rough 2022 but his numbers in ’21 were strong
Can only be 2 things. 1 they are replacing Walsh with Yuli to regain that same magic they had with a aging 1b Pujols. Or 2 he is referring to Yuli no longer will destroy them when they play the Astros. I’m with you. It has to be number 1.
They can have him. Still decent but we should keep Judge and add to pitching.
He offers the best defense of the 1B options and the Astros value pitching and defense, but I don’t see him leaving the Yankees.
Why? Because their history together is so deep after a year and a half?
More of a hunch than anything, but I think he’ll accept the QO and renegotiate an extra year on similar to what Abreu did with the Sox.
Now there is something Click would not do. Prioritize signing a 33 year 1B that he would have to give up 2 draft picks to sign.
Astros and Yanks most likely squaring off again in 23 playoffs. Let the gamesmanhip begin. AR has a back issue. Likely hood he’ll be on the DL at some point(s) next year. Astros feigning interest is their hope that Cashman goes multi year on a DL candidate. Also, intention is to remove one less bidder for a Josh B’s services. Cashman will not fall for this. AR should be grateful for the QO and take it.
If I’m Rizzo, I want multiple guaranteed years over highest salary next year.
Agreed. If he does get that multi year offer and accepts it, pretty sure the buyer will put heavy emphasis on the back part of his physical examination before finalizing things.
And they probably shouldn’t. For a franchise that has given up multiple draft choices last couple years with the scandal that pipeline of young talent dries up quick.
He’s only giving up 1 pick and 500k of intl money.
Houston won’t have a wide open window forever. I’d probably not go for Rizzo and look for a cheaper trade candidate but the stros look to be in a 2-3 year window before things get dicey.
Altuve and Bregman are approaching FA. Verlander may or may not be back but even if he is—you can’t reasonably expect more than 2 years out of him.,
May just go for it hard for a couple years before accepting a step back after.
It might be worth considering a move to first base for Yordan Alvarez, who’s played 865.1 innings there at all levels in his pro career and looks like a weak defender in left field.
I agree. Alvarez is not exactly a good fit for the OF outside of Minute Maid Park. Maybe try to re-sign Brantley or add another corner Outfielder (Wil Myers?) And sign Brandon Belt to DH and let Alvarez try 1B
Every time I’ve watched a game at Minute Maid, I’ve been struck by how dangerous-looking the walls in left field look. I’d be hesitant to keep the best hitter on the team out there when he doesn’t look very comfortable to begin with.
I hate putting guys at DH, but the dude is a beast with a bat in his hand.
This was suggested his rookie year and apparently he didn’t impress the fielding instructors. Yordan is a good OF and underrated. He’s made intelligent plays and his throws have been accurate and strong. He’s also not as slow as he looks. IF he was a liability in the field, obviously, he wouldn’t have played as much as he did.
I like rizzo. I don’t need a reason to root against him.
With a shortage of good first baseman I think the Astros interest is for real.
And with the Yankees, Padres and Giants all in need of a first baseman things are going to get interesting.
Padres could play Cronenworth at 1B if they don’t sign someone. Giants can play Wilmer Flores or LaMont Wade Jr. at 1B depending on what other acquisitions they make. Yankees have LeMahieu but need the LH power Rizzo brings probably more than the Astros, Padres, or Giants.
RSox: I think your point about Rizzo is a good one, and it’s two-fold: Rizzo also needs the Yankees (in a way) because Yankee Stadium is tailor made for him. I’m not sure if he will perform quite as well offensively, next season, somewhere else as he will in NY. I also think he realizes that. But money talks….
I think the Stros are looking for a well rounded first baseman which Rizzo is. He’ll do just fine in a lineup of Altuve, Peña, Bregman, Alvarez and Tucker. Will give them a 6th bat with 20+ HRs and a 5th bat capable of 30+ HRs. Abreu would also be good.
Yea, but Houston’s Park has a retractable roof for all those hot days. The ball will carry better in Houston.
The Astros don’t need an aging LH power bat.
It’s never open
Isn’t Cronenworth a good fielding 2B that hits for a bit of power? Why would they move a guy like that off 2B?
Go sign Abreu or resign Drury. If they need to save a few bucks, sign Mancini. Or sign Myers to a 1/5-6 deal. He hasn’t been terrible, just overpaid.
Cronenworth’s D at 2B is good, the only reason he would end up at 1B is if they’re playing some combination of Tatis/Kim up the middle. They basically have 3 starting caliber middle IF.
I don’t see them being in the market for Rizzo, Bell or Abreu, but a more affordable option like Mancini or even Myers like you mention makes a lot of sense for them.
I feel like that’s the move to make to shore up 1st. Now that Gurriel is gone there’s nobody there to block Alvarez from playing there. No additional contract commitments and no losing a pick.
Gurriel isn’t gone. He’ll probably resign.
The Yankees should consider DJL their everyday 1B. I don’t see an aging 230 something hitter as the direction the Yankees should be moving towards especially for the money he’ll be getting which will presumably surpass the 16M he made last year. If Cabrera won’t be given the opportunity to settle into one of the corner OF spots (which I think he should) then he’s the new UT guy once DJL settles into 1st.
So you are giving up all those homers for a POWER position (first base) and a LEFTie bat? Really? Considering we will get little power from the other infield power position (third base)—-where is the power coming from to outscore the ‘Stros?
First and foremost, losing Rizzo affects both the infield defense, and of course, robs a left handed power bat….combined with the glaring weakness at 3B with Donaldson, you’re corner infielders probably wouldn’t hit 30 HR’s next year and while DJ may offer contact hitting, Donaldson looks old and completely lost at the plate with his helicopter swings and it doesn’t seem that the Yankees are going to make a change there…………add in the possibility of Peraza at SS, or at the least IKF, the left side of the infield doesn’t exactly remind anyone of murderers row……now add in the fact that they then probably wouldn’t be able to trade Torres on the right side due to the need for infield pop……you get the picture……a game of dominoes that won’t exactly make Yankee fans hopeful for 2023 being our year.
On the other side of the coin, Rizzo and his bad back bodes badly for even a 2-3 year contract….see Donny Baseball who once his back went was a shell of the player he was in his prime…….maybe a change of course for 1st base may be the best of both worlds…..
I agree. His back is a big problem. DJL is a great guy to plug in to most of the infield spots and can provide some hitting. But they have to find some lefty power for first base. Our farm system has been pitiful regarding first basemen. Do they not even look for them? I understand they are, or WERE, a dime a dozen for very long but we play our games at YANKEE STADIUM!
I would pass on Rizzo.
Can’t lie, as a Jays fan, nothing would make me happier if the Yankees lost both Judge and Rizzo. But you’d have to think they’d allocate that money somewhere else then, so they’d still be formidable to some extent. Hard to imagine they would be better, but maybe they’d go for a different style of team if they were to lose these guys, might lead to more playoff success. Giants won many World Series with contact hitters and pitching. Either way, the Yankees would still be a threat imo.
Having to give the Yankees anything sours the deal, but they must want the L,H bat enough to do it If Abreu is the fall back, that’s a pretty good fall back.
I hope that Rizzo does not sign with the Asterisks.
Why? Because they will continue to beat up your silly East or West coast team. Probably the LA Chokers.
Well they have a Cubs logo in their profile so perhaps they are neither west or east coast? Additionally, Cubs fans would probably rather see Rizzo on the Cubs.
Dude literally has a Cubs profile pic and you assume he’s a Dodgers fan lol, you Astros fans are slow
I do too. Doesn’t make sense in their lineup. Josh Bell would be more appropriate
Yankees could always sign Luke Voigt or Mike Ford to play first base. No big whoop.
As sad as it is, they probably won’t spend *that much* – haha.
The Astros should trade for Dalbec. He’d probably hit 40 home runs for them and be another dangerous bat in their lineup. He’s got the talent but seems to have stagnated in Boston. Maybe get a pitcher back.
No thanks
Would Hosmer waive his no-trade to go to the Astros and Red Sox get a mid-level prospect in return?
No interest in Hosmer
Positing this on every thread that pops up!!!! This is the problem with baseball. The writers determine everything! ESPN has Alcantara winning cy young in a landslide 13-0. Ok. Here are some FACTS!!!! 17 earned runs to Philly in 6 games…..7 earned runs in 2 games against the dodgers…..10 earned runs against the Mets in 3 games. 5 earned runs against Seattle in 1 game. That’s the cy young? really? He beat non playoff teams up! That’s the cy young! Are you kidding me?????
Why do you care so much about who wins the cy young? Are you related to or in some way financially supported by these other pitchers? You seem to care a lot more than the actual players and might want to a few deep breaths and get a life.
Harper won the MVP last season and in the last series vs the Braves he went 0-9 and lost the division. Is that your MVP? Really?
You conveniently left out the Braves, Cardinals, and Padres. I’m calculating about 2.50 ERA against all playoff teams.
So one of your arguments against Alcantara is that he had a whopping 3.16 ERA against the Phillies? How about 2.86 against the Braves, 1.06 vs STL, and 1.54 vs SD?
I also have Justin Verlander and Sandy Alcantara as one and two in MLB and therefore, Cy Young winners. Its overall stats vs head to head against teams with winning records. All pitchers pitch against good and bad teams and some pitchers have a team’s number and visa versa.
Those are decent numbers against good teams. Weird how this is your obsession
Get.a.life.
Few players in the league may benefit more than Rizzo from some limitations to shifting.
If the Astro’s sign Rizzo, the Yankees should return the favor by signing Verlander!
I’ll be ok with that.
Makes you wonder what Yuli will end up doing. If they are already being linked to 1B. Certainly, they could (and would be well served) to retain Yuli alongside a Rizzo contract. That just doesn’t seem likely.
I could live that compromise
Ryan Mountcastle + a decent prospect or two for Garcia or Javier?
For Garcia maybe. Javier is turning into a top flight pitcher.
I like both and either would immediately slot in as the Orioles’ #1 starter. I wouldn’t trade 4 years of Mountcastle for Urquidy though and he seems to be the Astros SP mentioned most frequently as trade bait.
Garcia isn’t “chopped liver” either…
Absolutely. I’d be thrilled to have him in Baltimore.
KFloch, I’m digging this Mountcastle angle. Thanks. Young and controllable with proven power. Why would Baltimore give up on him? Answer. Something was off with him in 22. I betcha Mt. Waltimore got in to his head. Time for a change of scenery. Hello Houston!
I think Crane will do what he wants to do. Rizzo and Abreu are both good alternatives lengthening the lineup. Yuli fell off the cliff last year and is 39 years old. I wouldn’t be surprised as to who they go after this winter.
Rizzo doesn’t look to fit what the Astros do.
After missing out on 1st and 2nd rd picks in 2020 and 2021, and with a farm system weak in impact talent, I think they would prioritize players w/o QO attached.
This looks to be an agent trying to stir up interest and increase the $$$ of a contract.
That said Crane was disappointed that Click refused to make an offer to Marte last year and upset that he did not fill the perceived hole in the offense from losing Correa.
Jim Crane wants to add thunder to the lineup this offseason so who knows.
I still expect it to be Abreu, Bell, or a trade from pitching depth though.
I know it doesn’t actually mean anything in the real world, but the Astros AI signs Bell after 2022 in pretty much every franchise I play on MLB The Show 22 lol.
I think Abreu would be a good fir there and his power numbers may increase a bit from 2022 with the short porch in left.
What about Brandon Belt? He’s from Texas, may be a cheaper option. Very good player when healthy.
Imagine if the Yankees lose Judge and Rizzo…yikes.
Any respect I have for Anthony Rizzo will instantly vanish if he signs with that fraudulent organization.
And he wouldn’t care, nor would the rest of us, if he were to lose your precious, all-important respect for signing with the Astros.
As of now, he’s still on my Christmas card list. Unfortunately for you, you’ve now fallen off.
Oh well.
Not sure who will play first for Houston. But a couple spots curious on are LF. Yordan does not look like a LF at times but can see why used at home or other parks. But will Houston resign Brantley and what will he have in the tank. CF is another spot. I do not see Meyers in that spot Dubon I do not see either or Chas as full time. Yes Chas came through at times but consistently. But I guess we shall see how much of the players remain, how better we get even with a crazy front office we do not have
Meyers was doing well after his callup.
It was before Click was fired but the Astros already announced the intention of Alvarez being the starting LF for 2023.
If the Yankees hitter make CONTACT they win the WS. 50 millions dollars lost already with Donaldson and Hichs,with Rizzo,Stanton,Torres, they do not make contact…bring ABREU o Guriel, Mancini they make contact. Stop thinking in Fence wall.hit line drive more often
I’d hate to see Yuli go – he’s one of our favorite players on the team and has been awesome for Houston. Yes, he had a down year offensively last year, but really picked it up in the playoffs. I know he’s also 38, but would still like them to bring him back.
Rizzo would be a good fit and a definite offensive upgrade.
In LF, Brantley has said he wants to come back.
Regarding the FO, I hope they sort it out soon.
Gotta let Brantley go for obvious reasons. He was great while he was here but the team needs athleticism in the OF. Yuli’s defense was stellar again and would be an asset off the bench.
IMO why would Baltimore want to get rid of their young 1B a decent bat and still controlable player in a trade? When they can go to the FA market for a pitcher? Also, who would play 1B for them?
Yankees are fools not to sign Rizzo. If he goes to Houston it will say a lot about Hal and his interest in winning
I don’t think the Astros acquire Anthony Rizzo. I can see Yainer Diaz taking Yuli Gurriel’s spot but not J.J. Matijevic just because he bats LH. I also think CF Justin Dirden will get a look in CF. 3B/OF Corey Julks could replace Trey Mancini at DH and possibly 1B too if he’s protected from the Rule 5 draft.
If Julks was any kind of prospect he would’ve been called up before the age of 27. There were multiple opportunities to call him up this year prior to signing Dubon, injuries to Alvarez, Brantley, Diaz, Bregman, and Peña or during McCormick’s and Meyers struggles.
Regardless of age, Julks earned a call up. If he’s not a legitimate prospect, get him off the roster for someone who is a prospect.
Astros should offer Joe Perez and Forrest Whitley for Rowdy Tellez.
I don’t know if star players coming up are deciding to play other positions/teams want them at other spots. But 1B is an old position.
Most of the games best 1B are past their 30th birthday. Kinda interesting.