The Astros are facing various questions around the health of their rotation and are now in “serious pursuit” of Blake Snell, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
At this point, it’s unclear if any kind of deal is close but it’s a noteworthy development and resembles an earlier situation for the Astros. Back in January, their bullpen took a hit when Kendall Graveman required season-ending shoulder surgery. Astros general manager Dana Brown initially downplayed the club’s desire to go out and sign free agents to address the problem but the club signed closer Josh Hader a few days later.
In the intervening two months, a lot has changed with the rotation. The Astros already knew that Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis García Jr. were going to be starting the year on the injured list, as both underwent elbow surgeries last summer, but this spring has seen a couple more dominos fall. Justin Verlander has been slowed by some right shoulder soreness which doesn’t seem terribly serious but it delayed him enough that he’ll start the season on the injured list. Earlier today, José Urquidy departed his start early due to some pain in his right elbow.
If Urquidy needs to miss time, then the Opening Day rotation would project to include Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown in the front three spots. J.P. France was also slowed by a shoulder issue this spring but seems to perhaps be on track to take over a spot at the back end. That would still leave one rotation spot open and Houston is a bit thin in terms of options to step in there.
Ronel Blanco has just 58 1/3 innings of major league work on his ledger and was only recently moved from being a primary reliever to more of a swing role. Brandon Bielak has a 4.54 ERA in his 174 1/3 innings but with uninspiring peripherals, including an 18.9% strikeout rate and 10.1% walk rate. Shawn Dubin has just nine innings of major league experience.
It seems the club is considering a notable strike in free agency to get out of this injury hole, similar to their move to grab Hader after Graveman went down. Brown again downplayed the club’s desire to add pitching, including Snell, though that was before Urquidy’s injury surfaced.
Some may question whether Snell is ready to help a club like the Astros since he hasn’t been pitching in official spring games and Opening Day is less than two weeks away. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Snell recently threw 60 pitches over four simulated innings to try to get ready outside of official Spring Training contests. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com relays the same info, adding that scouts from the Giants and Astros were in attendance.
Snell has lingered on the open market far longer than anyone anticipated coming off a Cy Young season. He turned in a 2.25 ERA over 180 innings with San Diego a year ago. He surely envisioned a long-term pact at the start of the offseason, but a deal to his liking has obviously yet to materialize. At this point, it looks as if he’ll follow in the path of Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman and turn to a short-term guarantee with opt-outs. Rosenthal and Rome report that he is believed to be seeking a three-year guarantee with a $30-32MM annual salary that would allow him to test free agency after each of the next two seasons.
The cost for the Astros would go beyond whatever it takes to get Snell to sign. They’re into luxury tax territory. RosterResource calculates their 2024 CBT number around $256MM. A contract anywhere near Snell’s expected price would vault them beyond the $257MM second penalization and the third threshold at $277MM.
Houston did not exceed the competitive balance tax a year ago, however. Unlike some other reported Snell suitors (most notably, the Yankees), the Astros are not facing exorbitant fees as repeat payors. They’d be responsible for a 20% tax on their next $1.3MM in spending, followed by a 32% tax on the following $20MM ($6.4MM) and a 62.5% hit on the ensuing $20MM. Signing Snell to a contract with a $32MM average annual value would come with an approximate $13.3MM tax bill for this year.
A Snell signing would also deal a small but not completely insignificant hit to the farm system because he rejected a qualifying offer from the Padres. The Astros forfeited their second-round pick (#64 overall) in the upcoming draft and relinquished $500K of international signing bonus space to sign Hader. They’d need to surrender another $500K from the international pool and their third-round pick (#102) for Snell. Meanwhile, pushing past the $277MM luxury threshold — which would be all but assured for a Snell signing — would move back Houston’s first-round pick in the 2025 draft by 10 spots.
F
GHIJKLMNOP!
This would also represent an apt response from a Mariner fan.
I’ll disown him as a Washingtonian if he signs with them.
@SODOMOJO: But I am not a Mariners fan.
Stop bragging!
OK, lol.
He won’t loose sleep over it lol.
Mariners, forever 3rd in the AL West. Hahahaha
Forever? They finished 2nd two years ago.
They weren’t competing with Houston without Snell. However, I see them being neck and neck with Texas for second.
The Mariners competed with Houston last year with a host of under performers,
and their roster is stronger this season.
And the Astros had injury concerns, under performing players and a horrible coach that’s is not there anymore. Seattle isn’t in Houston’s class. They are in the same class as Texas though. Solid wild card contender.
Nah, I’m not at all phased about the M’s until I see it. Their rotation looks promising, but keyword “looks.” I see them third place.
Astros had the luxury of playing the Diamondbacks to end their season and clinch AL West. M’s and Rangers had to face each other. Last I checked that division ended in a tie breaker.
All teams have “injury concerns”. I could easily say Rangers would have ran away with division if deGrom, Seager, El Bombi, and Jung was healthy all season.
You mean the best rotation in baseball
Who? The M’s have the best rotation? There is a lot to prove there
I like the enthusiasm TMQ and I believe the rotation has “best in the game” ceiling, I really do. But we have 2 babies on the back end both tinkering with new pitches. 1-3 I’d put us up against any other teams 1-3, not necessarily individually but collectively. I’m super excited about the pitching this year and long term but I agree with Chaim, there is much left to be accomplished before we throw that label around, even if it’s tempting
Seems like whenever there is an Atros’ rumor, it happens and fast. The rich get richer!
They’ll find an innovative way to cheat. Those cotton pickin cheating ash trays
Snell threw a 4 inning simulated game recently with 60 pitches thrown? When is the last time Snell got through 4 innings with 60 or less pitches thrown? More like a 2 inning simulated game for him!
I’m told “Trevor is waiting.”
Guess he will keep waiting.
No need to wait. Lots of employment opportunities out there… I hear Taco Bell is hiring.
I was going to write “Even Taco Bell has standards”, but I could not do it without laughing too much
Taco Bell has no standards whatsoever… That said, Did you want me to make that chalupa, supreme?
The Mariners played the Astros before playing the Rangers. Seattle lost 2 of 3 and Julio went 0 for the series, including an 0-4 with 4 Ks in the finale of the series.
We know what Trevor is really waiting for and he has the money to pay for it anytime he wants. Which is why his proclivities didn’t get him blacklisted from baseball,stupidity did.
Blacklisted for having rough sex?? Guess you’re ok with actual wife beaters Chapman and Ozuna are still playing .
Dude, when it becomes public and we find out he choked a girl out and continued his charade while she was unconscious, it’s a problem. We shouldn’t even know what his deviant mind is up to. You tools crack me up.
There is substantial evidence that none of that is true,
You realize that’s what SHE wanted right?
What gets me is the same people who want to hang Trevor Bauer are the same idiots who think Rose should be in the hall of fame.
Did you read the texts? Lol none of that is true.
drasco036, We’ll you’re wrong. I don’t want to hang Bauer. I don’t want to see him punished, let him go about his life. Just as long as that isn’t with my team.
I also hope Rose never gets into the HoF. It’s interesting though that you would mention those two, since both were subject to an investigation by MLB.
As to Bauer, what I don’t understand is why he’s considered a viable option by fans. Fans don’t have access to the investigation report, but you can be sure that teams do. And it’s why no team is ever going to sign him.
The reason why Rose is banned is different from why no team will sign Bauer, but both are out because of what’s in their investigation reports.
@BriarSo the Pasadena PD has all the evidence and they didn’t find a reason to press charges. But you do. Tell us how that is
Winslow Leach, The Pasadena PD doesn’t make that determination. The district attorney makes that decision. Whether they decide to pursue a case, or not, is based on the odds of winning the case.
DAs are elected officials. And because of that don’t pursue cases of this type without a large degree of success. They want a good win %, and losses look bad for reelection.
In Bauer’s case, with his ability to afford the best lawyers who can create enough doubt in the minds of jurors, the decision by the DA was a political one, not one of innocence or guilt. It does not at all mean no evidence of guilt existed.
I’m sure if Bauer could take it all back he would allow himself to get blackmailed by that woman.
Okay but the Pasadena PD are the ones who look for evidence to bring to the DA. After conducting an investigation they (PPD) didn’t find sufficient evidence to bring to the DA.
In fact the accuser tried to extort $$ from Bauer.
No one knows EVERYTHING about what happened. But the reason teams will not touch hime for fear of backlash.
But it’s okay for players to be in trouble for drug offense’s and what not. Whatever
Wrong. But nice try.
It is always the PD that brings the chages and DAs look at the evodence and decide whether to bring the charges to judges.
Rose has a dark cloud around his sex life too. A few women came out against Pete Rose and claiming they were minors…. 16! Not that I remember any charges being stuck… woman came out 30 years later.
Winslow Leach, You’re making an inference, that not enough evidence existed, when neither you nor I know if that’s true. There could be plenty of evidence, but again, it’s the DA that makes the determination whether to proceed, and that’s based on how good the probability is of winning.
Stating the obvious, that nobody knows everything, not only applies to the Bauer case, but every other case. Plus you’re assuming the reason teams are staying away from Bauer is the backlash, when you can’t possibly know that. It’s just as likely that teams have read the report on the investigation, and want nothing to do with him.
This is the USA. You are innocent until proven guilty. Not only did you skip the proven guilty but you threw out the investigation that said no charges were warranted and even worse the evidence of him being set up. Everyone deserves second chances and the ability to work.
So what is your solution?
Chages? Evodence? Those farging bastages!!!
@Mets6986
“This is the USA. You are innocent until proven guilty. ”
Not anymore.
This is an arbitrary economic zone where you get life-ruined for having opinions counter to those in power. This assuming you don’t get done up and put in prison for it on whatever pretext necessary.
It’s terrible. But that’s what it is.
“It’s just as likely that teams have read the report on the investigation, and want nothing to do with him.”
I find this conclusion to be unlikely given we’re talking about a league where anyone still wants/wanted anything to do with Aroldis Chapman, Roberto Osuna, Marcell Ozuna, Domingo German, or Jose Reyes, among others, after the despicable things they did became known. Clearly there is room for bad people in professional sports if they are talented enough athletes, and I’m not here to argue whether that’s right or wrong, but to suddenly act all moralistic and draw the line at Trevor Bauer especially when there is ample evidence that he got played in a shakedown scheme is a slap in the face to all of the very real victims of those abusers who faced little to no career consequences and got to resume playing even when we do know what they did.
There’s something about Marilu in that.
Maybe. The ones that defend him are definitely ‘Breitbart’ followers though.
You realize when both sides presented the facts to an arbitrator, MLB won.
You, sir, are ignoring an MLB investigation. It was presented before an arbitrator in Bauer’s presence. We don’t know what was in the report. It could have included the police case you refer to. It could have included the other women who came forward. It could have included other things that violated MLB rules that have nothing to do with those claims. What we do know is MLB won. I suspect, from Bauer’s lack of additional fight, he does not want MLB to make that report public.
MLB won? How so? When the arbitrator rules he immediately ended Bauer’s suspension.
Do you have a job? Seriously. Every time I log in you’re here commenting about Bauer.
Actually Rose said she was 16, which was the legal age of consent in Ohio, when confronted about it. She was actually 13.
This was the reason the Phillies revoked his invite a couple years ago
It’s a story about Blake Snell, drasco.
Cool story, Mike.
Do you know why there are no longer any Trevor Bauer stories on this site, drasco? Because he’s done in the MLB.
Aside from tools like you with all the time in the world to post about him, literally no one else cares. But you do you, tool. The rest are of us will keep going to our jobs and not being incels.
Oh I’m a tool 🙁 that really hurts.
You claim to not care about Bauer but you’re dead set on keeping this conversation alive. Weird. Anyhow, please throw some more insults at me, maybe about my toxic masculinity or something like that…
Fool and tool in my opinion mike Greenwell. Yes incels are like this drasco character idolize the Bauers of the world as the furiously pound johnny cursing the female species.
It’s Saturday, drasco. That means I go out and live my life and take care of family responsibilities. It’ll be just another day to you and I expect you’ll be here for all of it.
I hope it’ll be a fun weekend for you and all the other incels on Trevor Bauer’s unpaid PR team. The rest of us will be out interacting with actual human females in person.
The arbitrator upheld that Bauer deserved the longest suspension in MLB History. MLB just wanted even longer. Its not like Bauer was given all his back pay. That’s called winning.
I won the lottery last night!!! I mean it was just two dollars but that’s called winning!!!
“incels are like this drasco character idolize the Bauers of the world”
Can you tell me where he said anything remotely that suggests drasco “idolize”s Bauer? Why do people have to change what people are saying and make ridiculous exaggerations.
The hatred for Bauer is amazing. Its almost as if his political views dont line up with the posters here. Lol.
Rose should be in the Hall and Bauer is getting screwed by MLB.
Or that those of us that have actually slept with a woman aren’t into beating them up?
Name calling? Are you 12 years old?
DirtyWater04, I think missed my point. You say it’s unlikely because MLB allowed Chapman, et al, back. Yet there’s a clear difference between them and Bauer. While those on your list have found teams to sign them, no team has shown even the slightest interest in Bauer, for the second off-season in a row. Keep in mind that Bauer is a SP, which is an area of clear need for multiple teams.
It’s a matter of degree. No team would have signed someone like Chapman without reading the report on MLB’s investigation. I’d say that the reports on him and others included enough doubt, and mitigating factors to justify a team signing them.
I understand how you see a correlation between Bauer and those on your list. But until a team signs Bauer I believe that the report on Bauer is so much more damning than it is on the others that no team can justify signing him.
Chapman is a really bad example, Chapman got mad, went into his garage and popped off some rounds. There are a lot of things wrong with what he did but a lot of things right as well… he removed himself from the situation and used a different outlet other than violence, of course that outlet was illegal.
I better, but still not quite the same is Ozuna, Robert, who physically assaulted his partner and German who did the same. In Ozunas case, it was even more classless thanks to the Astros “thanking god” that got Ozuna.
The reason Bauer got such a significant suspension had less to do with what happened and more to do with Manfred being fed up with Bauer. Bauer needled Manfred and MLB baseball for years. Calling them out on their hypocrisy and mocking their rules by requesting 6,4296,969.69 in arbitration and then donating 420.69 for 69 days. As soon as Bauer finally gave Manfred a reason to suspend him, he gave him a death sentence. The perception thanks to the unprecedented suspension is why no team will sign him.
I said before, Bauer is setting himself up for a lawsuit against MLB. He said he would sign a league minimum contract, he said he would sign a minor league deal, then he positioned himself to face the Dodgers minor league players and dominated them, proving he is still a viable major league pitcher…. He set himself for a collusion and defamation of character case against Manfred and the MLB. The writing has been all over the walls since he was reinstated.
“…you threw out the investigation that said no charges were warranted…”
The investigation never said that. Here’s the quote from the DAs office:
“… the People are unable to prove the relevant charges beyond a reasonable doubt.”
There’s a big difference between what you said and what the DA said. Again, DA’s are elected officials and do not take cases like this to trial without a very good chance of winning. That is what the DA was saying. But it does not mean no evidence existed, or charges weren’t warranted.
Part of Bauer’s problem is that there had been similar previous claims from at least one other woman
But more importantly, I’m not condemning Bauer for anything, I have not assumed guilt on his part. All I am doing is looking for the probable reason why no team wants anything to do with him.
“But it does not mean no evidence existed, or charges weren’t warranted.”
I doesnt mean charges WERE warranted, or that he actually did anything wrong.
Stop making it sound like ‘he was guity but they didnt feel like prosecuting’. Thats not was was said either.
I made that assessment Elmer. Mike Greenwell pivoted at second,flipped the ball to me at short and I took over from there. I suggest you read into it your fear of your own incel leanings. Bauer politics and mental illness are separate issues.
Touche and ditto mike Greenwell.
Mike Greenwell is a very mature well educated 12 year old ….. In my opinion.
Privy to manfreds inner head thoughts incel man explains the rational behind expelling a social misfit Beat them up Bauer from America’s pastime. Tell us more.
The best hitter whoever wore a uniform YES PETE should be in the hall of fame. Case closed. Go home son. Go away. You insult the game. Mute yourself. Flag yourself.
“…Bauer is setting himself up for a lawsuit against MLB.”
He would be a fool to do so. If he did, that would be a civil case, with much different guidelines than the criminal case the Pasadena DA declined to pursue.
I would love it if he though. MLB would no doubt put the investigation report into evidence, which would then become public. I doubt Bauer wants that to happen
APBA, Stop making it sound like he was innocent, Stop being an apologist for Bauer, and trying to convince anyone that he’s innocent. You’re making a huge assumption that because it wasn’t taken to trial that he’s exonerated. Anyone that knows even a little about criminal law knows that is not true.
By claiming he did nothing wrong is willfully ignoring reality. If he did nothing wrong he would be an MLB roster. He’s not, and he never will be, because teams have more information than we do.
Why do you get to share your opinion but APBA cannot express his?
And Bauer is “innocent” as he was never convicted of being guilty of any wrong doing. He never faced any criminal charges and the civil lawsuit was dropped, not settled, dropped. That is literally as innocent as you can be.
MLB doesn’t have the burden of proof, they have the luxury of bias, just as you do (and I do and everyone else).
“Why do you get to share your opinion but APBA cannot express his?”
You’re commenting on my post but ignoring APBA’s post. All I did was take what he said on his post and turn it around. That you would single me out shows a considerable bias.
You are naive if you believe that innocent is the same as not being convicted.
Again, you, and a few other people, in your avid defense of Bauer, are misrepresenting what I’ve been saying. Which is that the reason for Bauer not being signed, and probably never getting signed, is teams having access to info that we do not have. That’s my opinion. You can believe the conspiracy theory you previously posted. That’s your prerogative.
You are innocent until proven guilty by a jury of your peers. That is the legal precedent.
And actually the term “settled” is what has been used officially in the termination of the suit. You want to give Bauer every benefit of the doubt. The woman dropped her suit when her insurance company agreed to award her $300K.
Do you really believe that Insurance companies are that free with their money that they would ignore any culpability on her part? Do you really think they would give her that money if Bauer was innocent?
Also, the lawsuit originated with Bauer suing her for defamation. She countersued, received $300K from insurance, and he settled without getting a penny.
Being innocent until proven guilty applies to a trial. There was no trial. There was no determination of guilt or innocence. Had he been tried and found innocent then your declaration would be apt. In this case it isn’t. His guilt or innocence is undetermined. I have never claimed him to be guilty because it’s not proven. But no one can legitimately claim him to be innocent either, since that is also not proven.
Jesus Christ mein fuhrer forget due process we have the Jean over here whose opinion is the gold standard. You must be a politician since laws don’t apply to your thought process
I see. To win your argument you’re going to assign all sorts of untrue aspects about me. That’s a poor attempt at a red herring.
You have your opinion. I have mine. You disagree with mine. I disagree with yours. I guess you must feel like you’re losing this back and forth to pull out the “mein fuhrer” and falsely accuse me of things I haven’t done.
What I’ve been citing is the law. You simply want to have your uninformed interpretation of the law to be accepted. Do a little reading about the law, see what innocent until proven guilty really means, and see what is considered innocent and what isn’t
I’m not a politician, far from it, but it’s clear to me you’re no lawyer.
Back and forth? I responded once. How was I losing? Thanks for the long rebuttal of nonsense.
What’s nonsense is your assumption that I was responding to you. Since we haven’t had much back and forth, and unless you called me a politician, it should be obvious that my post had nothing to do with you. I was responding to drascoo36’s name-calling post.
l accused persons are innocent before the law until proven guilty. Sometimes it’s easy to condemn another person without establishing the facts about the allegations. This is why the idea of “innocent until proven guilty” is entrenched in our constitution. There are many instances where people are charged and sentenced for mistakes or crimes they didn’t commit.
While the concept appears good on paper, it’s not as easy to practice the concept that someone is innocent until they are proven guilty. Many people rush to judge a defendant without interrogating the facts related to the case. The media often plays a significant role in influencing public opinion with regard to an accused person
Jean: I dont know if your lastest post is to me. You need to put names, or quotes to allow other people to follow you. This place is jumbled mess. This is basic MLBTR stuff, you seem to not be grasping that youre the one causing the confusion.
With that said, its a public forum and I’ll respond to any post I want. Get a private chat room, if you want a private conversation.
drasco036, You’re misapplying the concept. Guilty until proven innocent is applicable to those charged with a crime. Bauer wasn’t charged.
The intent of the concept is that the prosecution must prove it’s case. Had there been a trial, and the prosecution failed, then Bauer could have been declared legally innocent, just as he’d been legally guilty if the prosecution made it’s case. That leaves us with him being neither guilty nor innocent.
He wasn’t charged because the prosecution didn’t feel there was enough evidence to insure a guilty verdict. So he isn’t legally innocent.
You accuse me of condemning him which isn’t true. I’m not condemning him since no guilt was proven. You insist he’s innocent when neither you nor I know whether he’s innocent not.
I’m not insisting he’s guilty. The only thing we know is there wasn’t enough evidence to insure a conviction. But that doesn’t mean he’s innocent either.
Going back to my first post, my point was that teams are avoiding him. My theory was that teams have seen the investigation report, and unlike others accused of domestic violence, want no part of him. I never accused him of guilt. I was only stating my opinion on why that is case.
APBA, No it wasn’t directed at you. You’re right, I should have named the person I was responding to, as there was also confusion from another poster (Mets6986??).
Not sure where you got the idea though that I was implying you shouldn’t respond to my, or any other post. If you do, then you’re wrong. My belief is that it’s okay to disagree with each other’s opinion, as long as it’s respectful. But also everyone is free to express their opinion, whether I agree with it or not.
“Not sure where you got the idea though that I was implying you shouldn’t respond to my, or any other post. ”
So if comments are left vague, no one is allowed to respond? F Off, learn how to post.
APBA, What the eff do you want? I admitted that I was wrong about the format of my responses. I’ll say it again if you really need it. The way I responded was confusing, and needed to be better. Happy?
But, what is wrong with what I wrote that you’re quoting? If you think I did imply you shouldn’t respond, then that’s what you should be quoting. You can’t because I never said or implied that. Learn how to understand what’s posted.
Give a rest, man. Every freaking post.
Everything Trevor All At Once
It
Hell yes. Bring in JD Davis next
Snell pitching at Minute Maid? Very interesting…
Sportrac has the Astros at about $250M for 2024 payroll. Blake would blow that sucker up. Plus not sure where that leaves Bregman or Tucker…
It leaves those two the same place as before: leaving at the end of their contracts.
Snell would obviously opt out after this season, assuming he stays healthy. Wouldn’t affect those guys.
What if he stays healthy, but has his typical, unspectacular season? Bet he ops in.
All reports that I’ve seen are that they want to keep one of Bregman and Tucker. Assuming (or even banking on) Snell leaving after one year is a dangerous path.
Pads will perhaps swoop in last minute and offer restructured deal that keeps them under CBT.
Snell
Darvish
Musgrove
Cease
King
Lol no they won’t
okay, maybe not
They have 13m, that’s impossible
deferrrrrrr
Even with defer they aren’t getting it down to 13m.
then I defer my rumor to 2029
Just enough to sign Michael Lorenzen.
@simm another made up rumor from boras, figured he needed to change it up after the angels and Yankees weren’t working.
They’ll wait 5 years for him to pitch well again…
Snell will soon be joining Davis in Oakland. They have been holding onto their money for just such an opportunity!
Said the same thing about Hader.
No!!!!!
Boras laughing maniacally.
Yeah he really cleaned up with the Chapman and Bellinger contracts lol.
Well just wait to see what Snell and Montgomery make.
Is that because it’s common knowledge every player makes more money when they avoid ST, mainly because no GM’s have bitten all the last 4 months on boras and his generally, outragious demands?
This is Scott boras trying to get Texas to pay Montgomery and Yankees snell Astros won’t sign either one.
Rangers gonna screw the pooch and miss out on both. I swear if they don’t make a competitive offer and let one of them also go to Houston after the Hader debacle that’s it… Not like we need non injured starters or anything ya know. At this rate I’m wondering if CY is gonna go pitch as well to help the team
World Series champs can do what they want to do. Rangers will just sign Trevor Bauer if Houston doesn’t.
Honestly I’d be OK and happy with sighing Bauer for depth, but I feel like every team is gonna say he’s too much baggage.
And yes they won… With a good rotation that wasn’t injured. Could the current group get it done until summer, yea but I don’t have faith in 3-5 (dunnign, heaney and whoever 5 is) to be consistent. Unless they are gonna win game 13-12. Plus if nate gets hurt, which come on is more likely than not, you have no top of rotation.
I know alot of rangers fans think I’m hating, but I’m just trying to be realistic. It bothers me the one starter they did sign was already hurt when the whole issue was injuries in the first place. I think they could aslo use more/stronger bullpen arms since you’re taking dunning and heaney out of the pen to cover the injured starters.
Pass that Doober when you are done hitting it.
You think the rotation is going to be perfectly fine even if Nate got injured? Or are you saying that for the other person saying they’ll sign Trevor Bauer?
@Champ world champion Texas Rangers:
The thing is that the Rangers only just made the playoffs last year. They had the 4th best record of AL playoff teams and the only non-division winning team with a worse record was Toronto at 89 wins to Texas’ 90. Seattle missed with 88 wins. 2 wins fewer and Texas isn’t in the playoffs.
Historically, most champs have a hangover the next year, due in part to playing really late and having a shorter off-season as well as a slight reduction in motivation having just accomplished their mission.
When you add in some questions with the rotation to start the season, I think it could be a tough go for the Rangers to make the playoffs this season.
Back to back Championships have happened twice in the last 45 years.
“World Series champs can do what they want to do.”
But it doesn’t mean they’ll succeed
I believe Texas can do no wrong this year after that World Series and #7 farm system in baseball it’s going to be alright alright alright.
A-freaking-men. Even if it was all perfect I wouldn’t expect them to repeat because like you said it almost never happens. throw in the questions and by the time your hopeful saviors come back in July, the season might be too far gone. plus that’s assuming there’s no setbacks, and frankly it’s degrom… So like how they signed that deal with no insurance is beyond me.
Did I expect them to repeat – no. Did I expect them to go crazy and sign everyone like in years past – also no. Did I expect them to at the very least sign either Monty or a lock down closer to shore up weaknesses – yes. You don’t win the whole thing and then be like “ahhh it’ll be OK it went OK last year”
What was the Rangers rotation to start the season in 2023 again?
And it wasn’t good enough was it though… They went out and got max and Monty putting heany and dunning into the bullpen where they did better. It kept them close but also Houston didn’t have Verlander like they do now. Houston got better with JV and Hader and Rangers will be. Without half of its postseason rotation.
Could it be OK, yea I mean anything is possible. Maybe nate has another career year and smashes it until July and the rest of the rotation finds the consistency.
More likely though is nate misses time at least 1-2x in the first half, and/or the consistency from heaney and dunning aren’t there.
The offense looks great with Langford killing it and Carter picking up where he left off. I’m just saying winning games 13-12 isn’t gonna work long term, ask old rangers teams
I guess I’m just saying it’s alot of ifs
If Nate stays healthy and smashes it and If the rest can be consistent, and IF the offense smashes, IF the reinforcements come back on time and finally IF they are as good as new when they cone back, then yes playoffs here we come
But chances of all or even most of those happening…
“Houston didn’t have Verlander like they do now.”
I’m not sure I’d count on JV. At his age 41 season, the risk of injury is greater. But even if he stays healthy, being good is no guarantee. Father time will catch up sooner or later.
Fangraphs did and analysis of performance and age. Unsurprisingly they found that performance declined after 30, but that decline was gradual. But then the performance curve took a steep dive in the late 30s.
Verlander could be an exception, and duplicate something close to what Nolan Ryan did, but if I were an Astros’ fan, I wouldn’t assume he’ll be there, and be good all season..
That’s the point. Playoff teams are built during the offseason, World Series teams are built at the trade deadline.
Have noticed the trend that teams are willing to give guys contracts into their 40’s now? Ever wonder what that is?
A: MLB baseball allows hormone replacement therapy. HRT/TRT helps “balance” the playing field for older athletes. Players in their 20s are not allowed to juice they way they did during the steroid era but baseball is turning a blind eye to older athletes jacking their testosterone up to peak puberty levels.
But if the Rangers rotation falters and the team has a subpar season leading up to the trade deadline, then the trade deadline is irrelevant for them.
@goastros123 that was kinda my point. The reinforcements to the starters and potential trades at the deadline are Ll nice unless they are far enough behind Houston that they can’t play catch up. They just always seem to lose the division to Houston. Just look at last year. Everyone was sayin how rangers had such a Huge lead and thrn next thing, you look up and lost the division.
@jean matic. That’s a good Point too. Maybe he won’t be the same either
If 40+ players are juicing it’s a small club. Last season there were only 4 players 40 or older in MLB. Two, Nelson Cruz and Adan Wainwright retired, and Rich Hill might pitch mid-season.
Among those who would be entering their age 40 season, Miguel Cabrera and Craig Stammen also retired, and Greinke remains unsigned. That leaves only Verlander, Charlie Morton, Jesse Chavez, Joey Votto, and maybe Rich Hill playing at age 40+.
That’s something I never thought of. Why not take a cheap flyer on grenkie or Bauer… I know I know the pr nightmare but Jesus the man has been cleared legally and anyone reading those texts sees she was just Tryin to get money.
Would grenkie or Bauer be a miracle savior – not likely, but as a #4 or #5 or bullpen arm to see what they have, why not
Except Degrom will be back by then. Nice little addition.
Whaaaaaaat?!
2023 OD rotation… DeGrom, Eovaldi, Gray, Heaney, Perez
Why do they need either? They have some of the best pitchers in baseball coming after the all star break.
The Astros are one of the few teams that seems to have a decent working relationship with Boras. With no Verlander, no McCullers, no Urquidy and no Garcia to open the season its very feasible that the Astros have legit interest. Through in some opt-outs and the fact that Astros have legitimate chance at a championship every year and why wouldn’t Snell want to play there
Meanwhile, Perry Minasian sulks in a corner of his office.
Looks like Urquidy is toast then …..
No No No No!
Maybe this breaks the trend but every time I’ve seen Astros ‘seriously pursuing’ someone they get their guy
I think that’s the way of saying Jim Crane says make it happen. When he says it they tend to do it.
absolutely brilliant article with Crane getting involved
si.com/mlb/2019/10/01/houston-astros-zack-greinke-…
Now is the time to get a better deal on Snell.
Let’s see what Snell gets.
Only two seasons where he exceeded 130 innings pitched, but he is quite good for 5 innings when he can take the mound.
I wouldn’t want to be the one who has to come up with a contract for him, I’m too risk adverse.
At times the Padres fans wanted to run him out of town. And then at times he wad an ace. Contract year. He exceeded expectations for his forever home.
We’ll count you out of the running then southi
FULL THR- wait, wrong team.
Houston is one of the few teams willing to deal with Boras and with the Mets paying the lions share for Verlander i guess why not?
The Beatle’s said it best with the song “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” Any team signing Snell will have to do that to keep him interested. If not coddled, he will fall apart. Ask Don & Mud. It might have even been part of their contract to take Snell on shopping trips. Brutal but true.
Digging deeeeeeeeeep for that comment.
I dig a pony
Normally I’d be skeptical since the Astros aren’t known for pursuing free agents like Blake Snell, but Ken Rosenthal is more reliable than if it was Jon Heyman reporting. Jose Urquidy must really be hurt, and Verlander is already going to start the season on the IL, so this rumor has legs.
Wonder what it does to the odds of bringing Bregman back if they get Snell.
Joe,
Hypothetically speaking, if Cashman isn’t able to sign Soto next free agency, and if the Astros aren’t able, or aren’t willing to bring back Bregman, would you want Cashman to pursue him? Your question made me think on this little scenario.
Would say no on Bregman. I think if the Yanks are signing a vet infielder they would resign Gleyber.
I’d be against signing Bregman. He’s going to be 31 and the Yankees already have too many guys on the wrong side of 30 as it is. Not to mention that I’m not super excited for former Astros signings. Cole being an exception.
“Wonder what it does to the odds”…
Zero chance if they get Snell. Crane isn’t going over the Luxury tax line.
Crane isn’t going over the Luxury tax line.
====================
I thought they were already over.
Cashman really does need to pull out all the stops next offseason for Soto. His age alone is already a plus for an aging Yankees team. And yes, I agree that Crane won’t bring Bregman back if they sign Snell.
JoeBrady,
The Astros would be crossing the first tier with Snell, I believe they’re 3 or 4 million away, but I don’t think Crane would cross the next threshold.
Trashman only does what Hal tells him to do. Its very simple, once we got our marque player we make our fan base think we’re working as hard as possible, but under no circumstance do not sign any high priced players….anyone can make the playoffs. and we will scam the fan base.
They crossed the first tier with Hader’s signing.
Don’t you think Cashman learned from the Stanton contract? Signing someone who should really be a DH to a long term contract at top dollar is never a good thing. Only way to consider it is if Soto will accept DH money. But he won’t, because there is not a lot of intelligence among the owners.
Zach Dezenzo is rising fast through the Astros system and like we saw with Jeremy Pena when they let Correa walk the Astros aren’t afraid to give the reigns at a position to a rookie. With or without Snell odds aren’t very good they even try to bring Bregman back
League is cooked if they get Snell
Bauer is more Houston’s kind of guy.
You should mute yourself after that ridiculously ridiculous comment.
Bauer and Bregman in the same clubhouse is probably a very bad idea
Bauer is being black balled!
Bauer likes his women black and blue
So did Roberto Osuna.
Blake snell is drag it out to far
Snell’s pace
Snell looks like a guy you’d find under your car at night trying to hand saw your catalytic converter.
Perfect fit for Houston!
I laughed way too hard at this.
That picture is kinda creepy.
that picture is kind of realistic.
With some fentanyl-laced pills in his pocket
At this point I don’t care who signs Snell or Montgomery. We’re 2 weeks from opening day. Just sign a 1 year deal. Test Free Agency again for the ’25 season. I think there’s like 7 or 8 Boras clients that are FAs next year. Including Soto. The FA market for next year is stacked. Are than this off season.
Dang, the Astros would be sitting pretty with Snell on a short-term deal.
The Cheating Astros and Bauer would be a match made in HEAVEN!!!
Gulp huh ?
Dipoto and Stanton major L
I think this is happening, peeps. Astros don’t play like my Yanks do.
Yankees better pounce on Michael Lorenzen while there’s still time. They’re whiffing on everyone else.
Whatever happened to Forest Whitley, is that guy healthy? I’d throw him or one of those other flamed out prospects in the #5 spot and hope for the best before bringing in Snell. Jordan Montgomery wanted to stay in Texas until the Rangers ghosted him, and wouldn’t cost them a pick or international pool money. I’d lean towards him, but I’m not an Astros fan.
He’s hurt and he got moved to the pen.
Whitley is hurt again and will no longer be a starter. Bullpen is his fate now unless goes elsewhere
He will be a yankee my mid night
Tiger’s FO.
Asleep.
Tigers need a RH power hitter. Snell ain’t that.
Skubal
Maeda
Flaherty
Manning
Mize
Olsen
Why would they waste money on another starter? They have Gibson-Long, Brieske, Flores, Madden, Englert, and Jobes waiting in the wings for depth.
Exactly. Manning, Mize, Olsen and Skubal can start the season in the minors leagues. The Tigers can assist the Boars’ players reach thier salary goals on a one year salary and team option for what they are asking for with a complete waiver of any no trade rights. Can you remember how some teams help make trades happen? Do you think we could a get top prospect? I think so.
They.should.hire.the Superfife.
I’m kinda sick.ofmthe bs. It’s all turned.into a giant B.fight.
As a bonus, our real pitchers come up mid-season, fresh.
Hire the Superfife!
File under: Discussions I Should Not Have Had in Public
Are you really saying that Tarik Skubal is not a real pitcher/should start in the minors?
I do not hate the Houston Astros enough to wish them luck in getting Blake Snell.
I do dislike the Astros enough. Anyway, interesting when rotation takes a hit where are the Red Sox and Mets in trying to stay competitive as far as Snell/Montgomery/etc?
When all are healthy, that’s going to be one hell of a staff. And bullpen as well.
Jose Urquidy must be done for the year
That and Verlander is probably hurt more than people realize.
Astros have no prospects unlike the Rangers.
You need as much help as possible when you can no longer cheat.
Where you guys coming up with such original material? You should be a comedian, my man. You and Camden.
this is not good
Come on Arte. Step up!
Umm …
Winners gonna win. Haters gonna hate. Deal.
Exactly!
This makes sense with all their pitching injuries.
Bummer – I was hoping nobody bails out Boras – will see.- whoever signs Snell/Maritinez/Montgomerry should be able to pick them up on the teams terms or even on the cheap
Roscoe says they’re in “hot pursuit.”
Also a passable John Cusack flick
Sheriff Buford T. Justice says “high-speed pahsoot.”
Somebody is going to get a good deal on Snell on a one year deal or a multi year deal with opt outs.
No. Someone will overpay on a short term contract, rather than a long term contract. They will still overpay.
That would kill there draft this year
Sacrificing a draft pick and international money would make this a very questionable move. Obviously Blake Snell has got talent, but he’s kind of like Cody Bellinger in that there is injury and inconsistency to worry about.
I wonder if they are talking to Montgomery since he doesn’t carry that baggage.
That lack of baggage is huge, but apparently the Astros just want the best talent that’s on the market. I would say add bullpen arms, pass on both of them. Bregman and Tucker contracts are coming up and the money should go there.
What remaining bullpen arms would you want them to add?
The Houston Padres
So are the Giants.
The Astros pitching staff is depleted. They might be struggling this year.
The move would signify one last all in with this group.
The two teams that want Snell the most, the Yankees and the Astros, both have to pay more than double the money to sign him.
And the Angels are the Angels.
Not the best spot to be in.
I have zero stake in it, yet it kills me to think of Snell leaving that $150 million on the table. Yeesh.
The Astros wouldn’t “have to pay more than double the money to sign him.” The article explains the details.
At this point in time, I’m sure it’s killing Snell as well.
I am not a LAA but I can em/sympathize not wanting to get burned on another bad contract by signing Snell.
The 1st 10 times hurts and then you just get Numb and paralysis by overanalysis sets in – kind of
10X burned, 5x Shy.
I like a lot of the moves the LAA have made.
They built a solid deep bullpen.
They could use one more impactful offensive player, young players to bloom and better health eg Rendon, Trout etc.
LAA 2024 The Post Ohtani Blues Season
I believe they are a borderline WC team
But I’ve been wrong before
John Tudor 2.0
You can compare their overall stats but from my memory Whitey Herzog managed StL Tudor was a vital BIG game LHSP and a thorn into why the NYM didn’t make it to more than 1 WS in 1985, 1987. No wildcards available back then of course
Tudor was better in the games that really mattered.
Another lefty Hurst and Mike Scott just about cost the NYM a WS in 1986. Almost
Not really in 1988 other reasons like that Bulldog Orel
It appears Scott Harris has been secretly auditioning for Luke Nelson’s band…..
who knew…..?
Teams should avoid opt outs unless they have the opt out decision.
What? You want all the power with teams? Why? They already underpay players their first 6-7 years.
The Astros are probably looking for a trade partner but Blake Snell I seriously doubt.
Astros going to overpay for a 5-inning overrated pitcher.
They really like his trash can banging
Wow, how original Mr.Camden. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.
Keep y0ur day job, chief.
This is NOT across the finish line YET or maybe never but apparently HOU is NOT conceding the World Series to LAD, ATL, BAL, TEX and other
“better teams on paper”
HOU may have a relatively small window before Bregman and Tucker possibly leave plus Altuve skills start to decline
Not to pick on NYY but they are at a Crossroads after having good years since 2017.
Injuries, poor judgement, bad signings, prospects never reach their potential abound but NYY have a lot of company in organization dysfunction
On another front I have a “serious headache on the S L O W never ending drip, drip, drip of this Free Agency period.
Good Grief WTF? Argh
… to mix metaphors
We all knew the Astros weren’t stepping back when they signed Josh Hader with further confirmation by extending Altuve. I have no idea what “dysfunction” you are talking about. Every big market team have made poor acquistions in hindsight.
The smart move is either Clevenger or Lorensen!
Yeah If I wasn’t already cynical about most issues – many rumors may be totally made up (or at least exaggerated) to get teams to finally sign the long holdout player.
Please can we just have Snell, Monty, JDM, ML and MC just sign with Japan or Korea or an Independent baseball team so we can just move on to other issues like the disaster of the new uniforms
Let’s get Bauer. Snell would be awesome and Montgomery good, but I think we need $$ for extensions. Bauer made mistakes in how he handled his business and he’s paying for it. Astros should have some sense of dealing with past mistakes. The Astros are never going to win over the general public’s perception and we as fans have to understand that’s just the way it is. So f it and go get Bauer and extend Tucker and Bregman.
MLB is done with Bauer.
What is the fascination with bauer? the massive off field issues aside. Its not like this guy was all that great when he was in mlb ..consider this he pitched in all or parts of 10 mlb seasons he was average or downright bad in all but 2.5 really good ones. So lets not get it twisted here hes now 3 years removed from mlb competition alot has changed ie pitch clock..no more tacky stuff..there is more reason to believe he will not be any good if he returns than some savior…sure hes willing to pitch for the minimum..but most times in life you get what you pay for..good luck with bauer.
When Bauer was an active MLB pitcher he had more than 12 wins in a season once. The time period he was dominant was not long and is definitely over.
The last thing any MLB team wants is to have Bauer on their pitching staff and to have a big playoff game up with a lot attention on it, then the media dredges up all the horrific stories of him beating up women.
It doesn’t take a Marketing degree to figure that he’s simply bad for business and not worth the hassle
Ken Rosenthal carries water for Scott Boras. Until the strike, he was a respected commentator. Now, a report from him saying anyone is in ‘serious pursuit’ translates for me as Boras concerned he’ll blow another one. this offseason.
How’s that “serious pursuit” coming?
Let Snell and Montgomery sit out the season. Boras and his greed.
The Astros and Padres love to swoop in at the last minute and get their man. Good for them for trying, unlike most of these supposedly poverty-stricken teams.
I see an awful of of comments from those sucking on the free teat. Pony up.
Super Genius Wile E Coyote chases the Roadrunner. Dog chases cat on a hot day. The Slowskis those charasmatic tortoises with their slow internet speed. Any Day Now. Yawn.
If Snell goes to Hou shame on you Texas Rangers. You have a dynasty in the making. New stadium big time revenue bring back Monty or sign Snell.
Bring back Monty!
The Rangers are good enough to not need Snell’s occasional brilliance, whereas Montgomery’s steadiness and innings keeps some pretty bad pitching at the back end off the mound.
Snell “is believed to be seeking a three-year guarantee with a $30-32MM annual salary that would allow him to test free agency after each of the next two seasons.”
—-I’d much rather pay Snell something like 1/40m without giving him the option of hanging around for 93m total is he’s bad.
What happens if you sign him to the rumored deal and he puts up the expected 1.5 WAR season (the average of his 2019-2022 seasons)? You get a second year for another $31m. And quite possibly a third, never mind that he’s now in his 30s and decline’s a-coming.